You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
meg1996'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
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
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
jrudydb's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Death, Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
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
siddiqio'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Drug use, Violence, and Trafficking
Moderate: Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, and Trafficking
pm_reads's review
- 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? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Animal death, Gun violence, Violence, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Incest, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit
biggestbenis's review
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Cannibalism, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
missa303's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Sexual assault and Cannibalism
thatchickcanwrite'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
5.0
But, to speak of the story itself, I really fell in love with the main character. Her sharing ability reminded me of the importance of radical empathy and of the importance of building community and mutual aid. It was introspective, soft at times, terrifying at times, spoke of the lengths that parents will go to to protect and care for their children (as well as some horrible things parents can do to children), and overall nigh impossible to put down.
I read this via audiobook, but am planning to get a physical copy that I can reread and annotate later in the year; see how much is still the same as in this incredible and yet terrifying book!
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
jchonbahl'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? No
5.0
Minor: Child abuse, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Trafficking, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury