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finch_kid's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-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? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Violence, and Racism
Moderate: Rape and Sexual violence
elv0723's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
tense
fast-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? Yes
5.0
Octavia Butler is a new must read author, 1000%. The parables are next.
shmabbyabby's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Suicide attempt, Violence, Suicide, and Slavery
debitoni's review against another edition
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
andrea2023's review against another edition
5.0
Another hit from Octavia Butler, I'm obsessed with her writing. Which one of her books should I read next? Okay let me check out the Hulu tv series of the book. Finished the series, I'm hoping there is a second season, first was good and was getting better.
lucija0's review
5.0
I did not know how long ago this book was written or of the importance it holds for women of color in science fiction. But I did not need to know anything to realize this book was amazing. It read completely modern but also transported you into a time when you felt completely hopeless.
In the terms of plot a lot of times not much was happening but somehow I was still completely gripped and wanted to read further because the stakes were always high.
I think it showed wonderfully how it would be to have a modern perspective in such times. It felt truer than a lot of other fiction with only the historic part of the thematic, because Dana was looking at and feeling the horror of the time with modern eyes. That made it much more shocking and contrasting.
I also liked the depiction of an abuser. It is not very clear from the beginning but I found it more and more true. Spoiler Rufus was at first a gentle little boy, who Dana saved. Than he became more and more a man of his time, but more than that, he always promised things and said he will protect Dana, but again and again he was awful and a reason for many hard things happening to her. I have always wondered how it is possible that women (or men of course, but here it is more relevant for women) just stay with a person who abuses them (except when they are completely dependant on the abuser financially or for example in a society where women cannot do anything without a man). But I understood for the first time. Spoiler Dana loved Rufus and could see that he was doing the things he was doing because he loved her in his twisted way. He actually thought that she should like him for all he has done. And she couldn't bring herself to hate him even though she aknowledged that she should. It was a codependent relationship but he understood more and more how he has more power than her. In a way Rufus was more awful than his father because he pretended to be her protector but in the end always made things hard for everyone. But the author still somehow managed to make me care about him. He was charming and we knew him from a young age when he was honestly good.
The only thing not my taste was the ending, as I don't really like abrupt endings. I know that it was an artistic choice and that Octavia Butler meant to leave you unsettled but I can't help not liking it despite understanding. Spoiler What happened to everyone? Weren't there supposed to be two more children? Also why didn't Dana just tell Rufus that he was her (however many) great grandfather? It could maybe solve the problem in the end. And was Kevin good or bad? Because he became very weird.
Still it was an amazing story and I am glad I read it.
In the terms of plot a lot of times not much was happening but somehow I was still completely gripped and wanted to read further because the stakes were always high.
I think it showed wonderfully how it would be to have a modern perspective in such times. It felt truer than a lot of other fiction with only the historic part of the thematic, because Dana was looking at and feeling the horror of the time with modern eyes. That made it much more shocking and contrasting.
I also liked the depiction of an abuser. It is not very clear from the beginning but I found it more and more true. Spoiler Rufus was at first a gentle little boy, who Dana saved. Than he became more and more a man of his time, but more than that, he always promised things and said he will protect Dana, but again and again he was awful and a reason for many hard things happening to her. I have always wondered how it is possible that women (or men of course, but here it is more relevant for women) just stay with a person who abuses them (except when they are completely dependant on the abuser financially or for example in a society where women cannot do anything without a man). But I understood for the first time. Spoiler Dana loved Rufus and could see that he was doing the things he was doing because he loved her in his twisted way. He actually thought that she should like him for all he has done. And she couldn't bring herself to hate him even though she aknowledged that she should. It was a codependent relationship but he understood more and more how he has more power than her. In a way Rufus was more awful than his father because he pretended to be her protector but in the end always made things hard for everyone. But the author still somehow managed to make me care about him. He was charming and we knew him from a young age when he was honestly good.
The only thing not my taste was the ending, as I don't really like abrupt endings. I know that it was an artistic choice and that Octavia Butler meant to leave you unsettled but I can't help not liking it despite understanding. Spoiler What happened to everyone? Weren't there supposed to be two more children? Also why didn't Dana just tell Rufus that he was her (however many) great grandfather? It could maybe solve the problem in the end. And was Kevin good or bad? Because he became very weird.
Still it was an amazing story and I am glad I read it.
maevedora's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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? It's complicated
4.25
magis1105's review against another edition
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
4.5
lishiak's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0