Reviews tagging 'Classism'

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

215 reviews

sirchancelot99's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

A delicate balancing act between prescient terrors of the future and inspired insight of the artist. The stubborn, youthful hope that Octavia Butler infuses into her protagonist is both necessary as a contrast against the darkest parts of her (Butler’s) imagination and serves as a reminder that the most challenged, most vulnerable members of our society have the greatest insight into its machinations. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Rape, Slavery, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Police brutality, Trafficking, and Kidnapping

Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Blood, Cannibalism, and Alcohol

marena02's review

dark emotional hopeful sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I don’t know how to feel about this book as a whole in terms of plot and story. I will say what I loved most about it were the characters and the world building. Octavia Butler has a way of making these dystopian landscapes feel so real in more ways than one, and having these characters interact in a way that’s genuine and authentic. Lauren as a main character is an interesting perspective to read from. She’s not necessarily considered a chosen one archetype that’s usually in these types of stories. She’s very cynical, a know-it-all, and just a girl who slowly becomes a cult leader. I liked her. I was overwhelmed with the amount of side characters at the beginning of the book and at some point couldn’t keep up with who was dating who or the child of who, but as the book progressed it got easier to digest. Her ending with up a 50 year old man was a choice. I really don’t know how to breakdown my thoughts about this book, but the gist is I liked it. The second half more than the first.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

grimendale's review

challenging dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

A depressingly prescient read. Things haven’t quite gotten as bad as in the book yet, but it feels like we’re on the way. 

It’s a very somber meditation on change, both embracing the good and surviving the bad. It’s about building community and being careful about those who want to tear them down. Butler’s prose is as poetic and compelling as always, making this an even more important book than ever.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Slavery, Violence, Trafficking, and Classism

yarisbooksandbevs's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

What a hauntingly beautiful and terrifying book. So much can be related to today. There were many times I forgot Lauren was a kid. This book definitely made me think and reflect. Really great work.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, Slavery, and Classism

Minor: Child abuse, Cursing, Racism, Sexual content, Police brutality, and Cannibalism

cvibert's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Colonisation, War, and Classism

Moderate: Gore and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Addiction, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, Torture, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

anawntrr's review

challenging reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Octavia Butler, puts America under a microscope speculating about the future of the country based on past patterns. The book mimics our current political climate as it takes place from 2024-2027. I thought the prose was beautiful and heart shattering and it felt as though Lauren’s story shattered my heart and pieced it back together again. Earthseed, as she calls it is the cure we need for the world.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

quinnpjd930's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

madshill3617's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I consider this book a valuable read but a very difficult one. I began reading it in text then moved to audio because of its graphic nature. I don’t regret reading it, but I don’t plan on ever picking it up again. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

jaimeslibrary2000's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Classism

margaretpeebles's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Trafficking, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism