Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

Bloodchild and Other Stories by Octavia E. Butler

16 reviews

lycheejelly's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional mysterious reflective fast-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? Yes

4.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

doctorw0rm's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

savvylit's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.5

Butler's skill as an author is just as present in these short stories as in her more well-known and critically acclaimed novels. If anything, Butler's talent combined with the short length of each tale leaves readers desiring more. The stories in Bloodchild cover a wide variety of speculative topics: alien contact, life-altering disease, utopia, medical ethics, and more. Not every story is incredible but most of them are, and that's quite an accomplishment for a short story collection.

Lastly, one of my favorite features of this particular collection was the afterwords written by Butler explaining her reasons for writing, which appeared after each story. This is the first time I've read a collection with that level of behind-the-scenes insight into an author's mind and I really appreciated it!

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

trips's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Its been quite a while since I've read Butler. And wow, I forgot how she had these crazy ideas come out of her head and turned them into compelling, beautifully written stories. Some of her stories made me shudder, and some made me reflect on what I had just written in a way no other book has done in a while.
I don't really want to spoil anything, so here is how I felt about each story in a few words: 

Blood Child: Oh wow, that is terrifying.
The Evening And The Morning And The Night: Creepy, yet made me feel empathy towards the characters.
Near of Kin: Eh? Huh?...Why?
Speech Sounds: Powerful in an unexpected way.
Cross over: Haunting.
Positive Obsession: I loved this!
Furor Scribendi: Beautiful and helpful!
Amnesty: What did I just read?? 
The Book of Martha: I wonder how it would work!

That is all I will say. I hope to read more Butler in the months to come, her words are always so powerful and gripping to me.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

noahsingh's review against another edition

Go to review page

medium-paced

4.25


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

readingsofaslinky's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

So very excellent! My first Octavia Butler, and I’m now a fan for life ♥️

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

elisanisly's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

szuum's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.5


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

mrsdarcylynn's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

More than 10 years after being handed this book in a college level English class, I have finally read beyond the titular short story!

There is something compelling about Octavia Butler’s writing. Something that pulls you into her world and leaves you wanting more. 

I’m so glad I finally finished this collection of short stories. I will think about and come back to many of them for quite some time. And, if anything else, I hope I walk away from this reading experience and persist. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

jodunn_'s review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark reflective fast-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? Yes

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings