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30something_reads'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? Yes
4.75
I'm so torn between wanting to pick up the next book immediately but also needing 2-3 business days to process everything that happened.
Graphic: Confinement, Xenophobia, Colonisation, and Violence
Minor: Cursing, Death, Grief, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, and War
monstrouscosmos's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
Relationships: 3/10
Atmosphere/Setting: 6.5/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Plot/Intrigue: 7/10
Internal Logic: 9/10
Entertainment: 3/10
Overall: 45/70, 3.25*
I read this for a challenge prompt, and chose it because I've struggled with other things I've read/listened to by Butler. while I'm glad I made it through and am grateful for the experience overall: this just wasn't something I could enjoy. I know that's kind of the point, so I'm glad I chose to listen to this when I knew I'd have the emotional bandwidth for it.
I listened to the Book 2 preview at the end and won't be continuing in the series, but I understand why it's so popular! it's just not for me.
Graphic: Confinement, Violence, Suicide attempt, Xenophobia, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, Medical content, Blood, Murder, Body horror, Bullying, Forced institutionalization, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, and War
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Incest
nigerianturtle's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Confinement and Colonisation
Moderate: Rape, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, and Violence
kri13's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Pregnancy, Cancer, Self harm, Sexism, Transphobia, Homophobia, and Suicide attempt
miraclesnow'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
4.5
Graphic: Homophobia, Gaslighting, Murder, Emotional abuse, Colonisation, Infertility, Racism, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: War, Child death, Death, Medical content, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, and Car accident
Minor: Cancer
malessia's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.25
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
stefhyena's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
There are a couple of attempted rapes by human males and Lilith fights them as she does not fight other non-consensual stuff. The result is a "naturalisation" of rape. At one point we are told that the men were angry because being non-consensually taken by the aliens positioned them as women. Even if this is some sophisticated, ironic point Butler is making I don't find that useful. It just made me hate all the characters.
As far as Lilith goes I did invest in her early on and stayed more or less loyal even though I did not agree with things. Treating her as a character is if anything cruel optimism because any agancy she has turns out to be an illusion. To the aliens, for all they call humans "trading partners" what they are doing is colonising and enslaving them. This is possibly a good point to consider but then the humans in the book are evil and horrible too and it leaves you feeling like there is nothing to hope for or strive for - sentient life is just rotten. There are no good guys whatsoever in this.
As I said it was well written and easy to dip back into every time I got a free moment. I wanted to know what happens next because I wrongly thought (this being the first of a series) that we'd be given a moderately happy and hopeful ending.
Graphic: Violence, Xenophobia, Rape, and Medical trauma
Minor: Suicide, War, and Suicide attempt
haylzno'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? No
5.0
I loved the introduction to the Oankali, their world, their customs, and their demands of the surviving humans.
Truly, Octavia Butler is a genius.
Graphic: Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Child death, War, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Terminal illness, Grief, and Genocide
allyreindl33's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Moderate: Sexual content, Xenophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, and Body horror
Minor: Sexual assault and Suicide attempt
thenonbinaryc's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Car accident, Suicide attempt, Rape, Kidnapping, War, Abandonment, Pregnancy, Incest, Sexual content, and Child death