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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
dark
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book is both disconcerting given the state of the world and an interesting ponderment on just how bad things can get. It reflects so many of our current social norms through fictionalized musings, making it feel disturbingly familiar. While Butler also theorizes on a path forward through acceptance of the growing change in the world - overall, would recommend, but fair warning that you may feel unease
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
This book surprised me. I was long overdue and reading it, and I thought I was gonna love. And don't get me wrong. There were some things that I really appreciated about it. Octavia Butler is such an important writer and I can see why this book has the rep that it does. The world she builds feels frighteningly possible. It definitely made me stop and think about where our society is headed especially right now as our democracy crumbles around us.
That being said, I struggled to enjoy this one. The characters often felt flat to me and I had a hard time connecting with them. The romance between an eighteen year old and a man (who reminded her of her of her of her father) old enough to be her grandfather grossed out. I also found myself frustrated with the heavy focus on Earthseed. It didn’t click for me. I am not someone who resonates with religion at all so the whole “this is the way” mindset was a miss. Andrew reading it in today’s world made it feel heavy in a way that was hard to push through when I wanted reading to be an escape.
Even with all that, I still respect this book. It is bold and unique and was way ahead of its time. I might not have loved it but I can acknowledge how powerful it is that it continues to make people talk and think decades after it was first published.
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
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:
Complicated
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Overly preachy, the entire earthseed thing was unnecessary dribble, and a 18 year old does not need to marry a 57 year old. I would tell people to not waste their time reading this.
challenging
dark
inspiring
reflective
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:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Its insane that I'd never heard of Butler until someone on social media recommended this as a warning of the world and things to come. A brilliant though dark book and such a breath of fresh air after reading cis white straight men sci fi. My only complaint is that it's a bit hetero. Also the quote by John Green on the cover really irritated me, but a brilliant read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Cannibalism, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Slavery, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Racism, Rape
dark
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes