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crybabybea's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.25
Of course, there are moments of "action", in which the characters have to fight their way out of dangerous situations and survive, but the scenes move quickly without much detail, and instead the action serves to further the development of the main character, Lauren, and her relationships with her community. Lauren's narration is matter-of-fact and brutal. She observes the world through the lens of survival, and her idea of what it takes to survive evolves as she experiences more and more violence. Moving from quiet anticipation, to uneasy vigilance, to cautious magnanimity, her understanding of the world is showcased through her development of her spirituality called Earthseed.
Earthseed is something that I think can be analyzed in so many different ways and is definitely a huge reason why this book is as highly praised as it is. It highlights the knowledge of Black activists, but especially Black women. Motherhood in all of its forms is incredibly important to the formation of the burgeoning Earthseed community. Lauren also believes in the importance of intersectionality, embracing diversity and change. The questions of climate disaster and Lauren's seed collecting also point to indigenous wisdom. In developing Earthseed, Octavia Butler critiques people's cautiousness around changing traditional values, beliefs, and systems, and instead asks us to listen to the people around us, especially those with diverse opinions and experiences.
There are so many layers to unpack with this book, that I'm sure have been unpacked by people much smarter than I am. There are parallels to so many things. It kind of started to feel a little meta because while The Parable of the Sower presents parallels to issues that have affected different marginalized groups (but especially those of the global south and Black Americans), Lauren is somewhat privileged, at least via class, and the people in her community refuse to see the danger closing in until it begins to affect them personally. Which, of course, is similar to the mindset of white people in America. Y'know the whole "first they came for the communists" kinda thing.
Read it. It's still timely and clearly inspired many works of modern fiction. Be wary of trigger warnings.
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Mass/school shootings, Cannibalism, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Alcohol
jadams89's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
theodora_parianos's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Colonisation
sophiesmallhands's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Cannibalism, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Trafficking, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
sjking's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Grief, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Kidnapping, and Cannibalism
desihre's review
- 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? N/A
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Rape, Slavery, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, and Murder
balsamum's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Torture
Minor: Animal death and Police brutality
magicinavalon's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Blood, Excrement, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Trafficking, and Death of parent
cromb's review
- 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? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Rape, Torture, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Slavery, and Police brutality
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Racism, and Trafficking
laur_shares's review
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Child death, Death, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship