Reviews

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

elijahbit's review against another edition

challenging dark sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Wow. This book made me feel so much. Thanks octavia! From one sharer to another. 

hrobinsonoden's review against another edition

Too hard to read bc of triggers

slefebvre95's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful tense slow-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

4.25

ahatley's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

4.0

mschwartz315's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.5

melissawi's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

mtankersley17's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

nsfinch's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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

 I had been kind of afraid to read this book, especially during this pandemic, because I had heard it was difficult and sad and scary. And it was those things, but it was also hopeful and optimistic, and, obviously, beautifully written. Butler is trying to warn us of things to come and show us a better way. Her predictions are all too realistic--she could clearly see 30 years ago what the world would be like today. We haven't quite gotten to the point she wrote about in this book, but we're well on our way, since we don't seem to have learned any lessons and changed our trajectory. I hate it when speculative fiction writers are so good at predicting the future!

One thing I thought about while reading was what kind of person I would be during a societal collapse--a more obvious collapse than what we're seeing now. Unfortunately, I would be the person who makes all the wrong decisions out of fear. 

inspo4cloud's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

• 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? No

4.0

arianna_w's review against another edition

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? Yes

3.75