Scan barcode
Reviews tagging 'Racism'
A Handful of Earth, a Handful of Sky: The World of Octavia Butler by Lynell George
3 reviews
jessthanthree's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Classism
Minor: Bullying
laurareads87's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
A Handful of Earth, a Handful of Sky: The World of Octavia E. Butler is best described in author Lynell George's words: it is "not a biography, or is it a study of [Butler's] literary legacy" [20]; rather, it is "an examination of Octavia E. Butler's step-by-step, quotidian process and life path" and "a book of ideas, prescriptions, and possibilities" [21]. I was not entirely sure what to expect of this book based only on the description on the cover but I am so glad I picked it up. George has, via a deep exploration of the ephemera of the Octavia Butler Papers archive, woven a story of Butler as creator of not only her science fiction, but of herself. I feel immensely appreciative of George's work here: I know the joys and frustrations of archival research, all the tangents and trails one can find oneself on, and what Lynell George has produced from her exploration of Butler's archive is truly extraordinary. I am inspired and grateful. Highly, highly recommend, and cannot wait to read more of Lynell George's work.
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism and Sexism
anna_hepworth's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
This biography of Octavia Butler is amazing. I don't have the oomph to write a proper review, so from my reading notes:
Intro does a good job of putting both Butler and biographer into context, as well as a feel for the kind of archive Butler left, which is boggling in the fineness of the detail.
Intro does a good job of putting both Butler and biographer into context, as well as a feel for the kind of archive Butler left, which is boggling in the fineness of the detail.
Love the way this flows - the voice of the biographer is subsumed into the voice they are giving Butler. There is ever that sense of reading both fact and fiction simultaneously, as must be the case when working from written records, even those as personal and complete as these appear to be.
But what I am getting the whole way through is a sense of being neuro atypical. The vagueness and failure to perform in primary school, the endless lists and rigorous lifestyle chosen, the hyper fixation.
This biographer can really write. Not sure how much of the text is Butler’s unedited work, but flows together so beautifully - I almost feel like I’m reading poetry
And there is a bit towards the end that made me cry - a quote from 1999 about what Butler might achieve with another 30 years. Butler is one of the few writers whose death was a terrible shock, a jarring unexpected change in the world that made me angry with the Fates.
This biographer can really write. Not sure how much of the text is Butler’s unedited work, but flows together so beautifully - I almost feel like I’m reading poetry
And there is a bit towards the end that made me cry - a quote from 1999 about what Butler might achieve with another 30 years. Butler is one of the few writers whose death was a terrible shock, a jarring unexpected change in the world that made me angry with the Fates.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Racism
More...