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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
reflective
dang that was dark
octavia e butler knows how to write the dark side of humanity. every moment of this felt real and like something we aren't far from. you can see echoes of things in this novel happening in the US and the world today more than you could when she published this in the 90s but she could see it even then.
I didn't like Lauren or her relationship in the last quarter of the book or the religious aspect of the book, but I think some of those were intentional. this book is out to make you uncomfortable and upset as a warning. it does a very good job at that but it's hard giving it a high rating after feeling that way for 330 pages. I'll probably come back and change the star rating later once I'm less emotionally raw
octavia e butler knows how to write the dark side of humanity. every moment of this felt real and like something we aren't far from. you can see echoes of things in this novel happening in the US and the world today more than you could when she published this in the 90s but she could see it even then.
I didn't like Lauren or her relationship in the last quarter of the book or the religious aspect of the book, but I think some of those were intentional. this book is out to make you uncomfortable and upset as a warning. it does a very good job at that but it's hard giving it a high rating after feeling that way for 330 pages. I'll probably come back and change the star rating later once I'm less emotionally raw
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Drug abuse, Racism, Slavery
Minor: Rape, Violence
Only could Octavia Butler create an apocalyptic dystopia so relevant to everyday life.
"All that you touch, You Change. All that you Change, Changes you. The only lasting truth Is Change. God Is Change."
This story is complex, horrifying, and beautiful. Our main character, Lauren, is brilliant and wise beyond her years. She has the strength to withstand brutal hardships--both physical and emotional--and walk away from them a better person.
"Moral: The weak can overcome the strong if the weak persist. Persisting isn’t always safe, but it’s often necessary."
"We’ll have to be very careful how we allow our needs to shape us."
The setting of this story is terrifying and the things Lauren witnesses are gut-wrenching, but despite that, this is a story of hope. It's a playbook on how to overcome great loss, withstand hopelessness, and find love and family in the most unlikely places.
"In spite of your loss and pain, you aren’t alone. You still have people who care about you and want you to be all right. You still have family."
The story is told in a journal entry style which means Lauren skims over some important details. Lauren has a tendency to be overly blunt, so much so I have to re-read sections because I missed a great tragedy because she mentions them so casually. While that made reading a bit more involved, I found it to be a strength rather than a weakness of the writing style. She wastes little time with emotions like panic and distress. Instead, she thinks critically, she adapts, and she moves on.
"The world is full of painful stories. Sometimes it seems as though there aren’t any other kind and yet I found myself thinking how beautiful that glint of water was through the trees."
"All that you touch, You Change. All that you Change, Changes you. The only lasting truth Is Change. God Is Change."
This story is complex, horrifying, and beautiful. Our main character, Lauren, is brilliant and wise beyond her years. She has the strength to withstand brutal hardships--both physical and emotional--and walk away from them a better person.
"Moral: The weak can overcome the strong if the weak persist. Persisting isn’t always safe, but it’s often necessary."
"We’ll have to be very careful how we allow our needs to shape us."
The setting of this story is terrifying and the things Lauren witnesses are gut-wrenching, but despite that, this is a story of hope. It's a playbook on how to overcome great loss, withstand hopelessness, and find love and family in the most unlikely places.
"In spite of your loss and pain, you aren’t alone. You still have people who care about you and want you to be all right. You still have family."
The story is told in a journal entry style which means Lauren skims over some important details. Lauren has a tendency to be overly blunt, so much so I have to re-read sections because I missed a great tragedy because she mentions them so casually. While that made reading a bit more involved, I found it to be a strength rather than a weakness of the writing style. She wastes little time with emotions like panic and distress. Instead, she thinks critically, she adapts, and she moves on.
"The world is full of painful stories. Sometimes it seems as though there aren’t any other kind and yet I found myself thinking how beautiful that glint of water was through the trees."
adventurous
dark
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
challenging
dark
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A little to real in these times, but a great read. So much to unpack about the human condition and how we act in desperate times, brought on by so many things happening around us. Lessons learned: learn a trade for the apocalypse and get to know your neighbors.
I enjoyed the more conversational prose. The content was much more violent and graphic than I was expecting, but I felt appreciative of how real it was. There is a lot of intelligent commentary in both the world-building and Lauren's narration, but so much was addressed that I don't think it could be fully interrogated in this book. I'm excited to see about the sequel or a future re-read!
I for one liked the Earthseed content. It reminded me of my old manager, a 37 year old 5'5" white guy who was super into Gwar. He would always say things like, "the only constant in life is change," which is a philosophy I have unironically lived by ever since.
My copy also had a forward by N. K. Jemisin that I found very insightful!
I for one liked the Earthseed content. It reminded me of my old manager, a 37 year old 5'5" white guy who was super into Gwar. He would always say things like, "the only constant in life is change," which is a philosophy I have unironically lived by ever since.
My copy also had a forward by N. K. Jemisin that I found very insightful!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
tense
slow-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:
Complicated