Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

455 reviews

tashba's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, Slavery, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Sexual content and Cannibalism

angievansprang's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring tense medium-paced

• 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

Wow this was incredible. I know this has been said many times, but not only was Butler vastly ahead of her times, she also essentially predicted many parts of the future (our current reality) back in the late 90s/early 2000s. I am so impressed at her introspection and ability to formulate a novel religion that is so community-centered. It is very true that is what the world, especially here in the US, need right now. I adored our main character Lauren, who is wise far beyond her age and very believable. While this book covered deeply brutal topics, there is an air of hope by the end that I appreciated. It highlights that no matter how bad things get, we will prevail if we rely on one another. Community is Everything & God is Change.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Blood

Minor: Child abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, and Classism

hazelgirl21's review against another edition

challenging dark tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Blood

Moderate: Death of parent and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Addiction, Animal death, Cannibalism, and Fire/Fire injury

emerentina's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

cobraforhire's review

adventurous dark fast-paced

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

3.0

It’s fun speculative world-building, but the actual story is a little ho-hum.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy

catz0rz's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

valliegator's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

5.0

Honestly a challenging read but in the best possible way. The book is 30 years old but feels incredibly current and almost too real these days. There are challenging topics but at its core it’s reflective and contemplative about the human experience and what we owe to each other and the world. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child death, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and War

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Cannibalism

lexlinski's review

2.75

I think this book is relevant, especially now, and important to read....However, I didn't enjoy reading it at all, there were a lot of times i nearly DNFd it.... specifically because of the amount of rape mentioned and described. Also really bumping against that a teenager is just coming up with a totally new religion and is so sure it's 100% correct, and their destiny is to escape the planet and flee to space... Lauren was correct that their community shouldn't stick their heads in the sand, but at the same time was mostly insufferable throughout, with the verses and Earthseed stuff. The world also felt inconsistent, and i wish there had been a little nore explanation as to at least how things had gotten to the point they were? Or what was happening anywhere other than CA/OR/WA....I don't know. I have very mixed feelings. Glad I read it, but don't know that I'll read the next one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Slavery, Blood, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

shay143mb's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

viporras's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Incest, Infertility, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail