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felinity's review
4.0
I remember reading this before, in 2 separate books, and wishing I hadn't read the second, but that was as a young adult. Book I was about hope, somewhat uplifting, while book II showed the struggle, setbacks and complications. I didn't want to think about the complications; I wanted a simpler happy ending. Now I'm older, I can appreciate the increased realism. It certainly isn't as fun, nor as easy, but it resonates at a different level.
Parable of the Sower is set in the United States in the near future, 2024, a nation slowly crumbling. It's no longer safe to go outside enclosed communities, dangerous drugs are now rampant, and life seems more like survival rather than progress. Lauren Oya Olamina is a relatively normal teenager, but her questioning leads her to build, or discover, a new life philosophy she calls "Earthseed", one that offers hope. But if she wants to develop Earthseed farther, she risks everything she knows and has, including her own life.
Parable of the Talents takes the story one step further, and is told from journals of different people. Some are from the future, looking back at older journals, giving a sense of foreboding: we know what will happen, but must watch to see how. History repeats itself; political leaders rise and fall, and communities or nations rise and fall with them.
It's impossible to read this and not consider your own beliefs. Olamina doesn't follow any established religion, making Earthseed almost more of a cult, though it is a more benevolent one. Much of Earthseed is consistent with many other tenets of faith: build a community, live together harmoniously, be the best you can be. Olamina's dream takes it past that though. The scary part of Talents is because most people - if honest - will have to question their own likely position: What would I do? What would I say? Would I act, or watch? Would I stay, or would I flee? Some of those cannot be answered, but I hope that in preconsidering, I would make better choices now.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Parable of the Sower is set in the United States in the near future, 2024, a nation slowly crumbling. It's no longer safe to go outside enclosed communities, dangerous drugs are now rampant, and life seems more like survival rather than progress. Lauren Oya Olamina is a relatively normal teenager, but her questioning leads her to build, or discover, a new life philosophy she calls "Earthseed", one that offers hope. But if she wants to develop Earthseed farther, she risks everything she knows and has, including her own life.
Parable of the Talents takes the story one step further, and is told from journals of different people. Some are from the future, looking back at older journals, giving a sense of foreboding: we know what will happen, but must watch to see how.
Spoiler
The sense that everything would have been fine if Olamina had kept her focus small, just on Acorn rather than Earthseed, seems to show the difference between people focused on the present and those who are leaders, grasping for the stars to pull us forward and upwards. I don't believe Olamina was as manipulative as Marc and her daughter perceived her to be though.It's impossible to read this and not consider your own beliefs. Olamina doesn't follow any established religion, making Earthseed almost more of a cult, though it is a more benevolent one. Much of Earthseed is consistent with many other tenets of faith: build a community, live together harmoniously, be the best you can be. Olamina's dream takes it past that though. The scary part of Talents is because most people - if honest - will have to question their own likely position: What would I do? What would I say? Would I act, or watch? Would I stay, or would I flee? Some of those cannot be answered, but I hope that in preconsidering, I would make better choices now.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
shiradest's review
5.0
Wow. What a reread. I wasn't ready, I suppose, when I first read these books back around 10 years ago, in 2011 or 2012. They did move me, but after another 10 years of experiencing enough denial, enough of people simply refusing to believe the truth, now I can see this book very differently, particularly Parable of the Talents.
And now, having written two more books, I can see the process that Olamina went through to build a seed, and the need for a major difficult goal and a plan to get there.
That's what I've been working on intensively over the last year, but actually since about 2009 pondering the ideas.
This book, and the three movements that it spawned, have given me hope that my own book, that lays out a plan for kind of society in about 60 to 80 years, is possible. Education and adaptability are both possible.
And empathy, even too much empathy, is not a bad thing.
Thank you to our prophet, to Octavia butler.
And now, having written two more books, I can see the process that Olamina went through to build a seed, and the need for a major difficult goal and a plan to get there.
That's what I've been working on intensively over the last year, but actually since about 2009 pondering the ideas.
This book, and the three movements that it spawned, have given me hope that my own book, that lays out a plan for kind of society in about 60 to 80 years, is possible. Education and adaptability are both possible.
And empathy, even too much empathy, is not a bad thing.
Thank you to our prophet, to Octavia butler.
daniellelouise99's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
vcm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
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? No
5.0
nsaphra's review
4.0
I really liked Parable of the Sower. Solid post-apocalyptic setting, great characters.
Parable of the Talents introduced Asha, who I couldn't stand. She has access to all these journals and records, and yet she chooses her uncle? It's just hard for me to sympathize with. I get that Butler likes to make us empathize with apparent villains by showing us characters who love them, but it just didn't work here as well as in the rest of her work.
I also didn't enjoy
Parable of the Talents introduced Asha, who I couldn't stand. She has access to all these journals and records, and yet she chooses her uncle? It's just hard for me to sympathize with. I get that Butler likes to make us empathize with apparent villains by showing us characters who love them, but it just didn't work here as well as in the rest of her work.
I also didn't enjoy
Spoiler
how she killed the lesbians.lxdia's review
adventurous
dark
reflective
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? No
5.0
laureenh's review
5.0
These books wrecked me. As one of my friends said, "They are so prophetic of the times we're living through now, I can't make myself re-read them."
Yes, that. Chilling, nauseating, hopeful, crushing, thoughtful, miserable, uplifting... I am totally in awe of Butler. This writing would be enough were it merely this human, but the way she sees what is going on *right now* verges on the psychic.
They are a must-read, but they are not an easy or simple read. I couldn't read them before bed; I had to find times to sit in the bright sunlight to ward off the chill that reading them brought.
I only hope she's more wrong than she appears to have been, so far.
Yes, that. Chilling, nauseating, hopeful, crushing, thoughtful, miserable, uplifting... I am totally in awe of Butler. This writing would be enough were it merely this human, but the way she sees what is going on *right now* verges on the psychic.
They are a must-read, but they are not an easy or simple read. I couldn't read them before bed; I had to find times to sit in the bright sunlight to ward off the chill that reading them brought.
I only hope she's more wrong than she appears to have been, so far.