Scan barcode
sweaterdad's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.75
Although I really appreciated it, I often found myself having to put it down—primarily due to the copious mention of sexual abuse, physical and emotional abuse.
I think the social upheaval, economic disparities, and climate disasters also hit super close to home and would sometimes cause me to panic or feel worried about our current world.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and War
This book deserves almost every kind of content warning, so please beware! It’s incredibly brutal, so please make sure to take breaks and check in with someone as needed.rorikae's review
- 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
Somehow even more so than with Parable of the Sower, Parable of the Talents is a harrowing story. Lauren's life is an incredibly hard one and this book has every trigger warning possible. Butler dives into what the world would look like as it falls apart and how different people would choose to find their place. Some find it in fascism and having power over others. Other people seek out small communities and look to the stars.
Lauren is never the most likable character, which is part of what makes her such a fascinating protagonist. She has a very strong goal but this goal often comes before other people, including her direct family. Butler does an exceptional job of creating a character study of one woman seeking to find power and influence in life through what she believes is a calling. The other perspective that runs through this novel (which I won't spoil) is a helpful contrast to Lauren's perspective. After an entire book of Lauren's journals with Parable of the Sower, I think one of the reasons why Parable of the Talents is somehow even better is because of this contrasting point of view. We get to see how other people view Lauren and how some of the choices she makes look to those who are not in her own head.
This is one of the best duologies that I have ever read. Butler is considered one of the greats in SF for a reason. This book is a must read, especially regarding how scarily close some aspects are to our current reality.
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pedophilia, Death of parent, and War
derik_rochlitzer's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, War, and Classism
random19379's review
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Genocide, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Trafficking, Grief, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and War
risaleel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and War
moonlitmeda's review
- 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
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic
lunaliz's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Physical abuse, Slavery, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Grief
Minor: Racism, Suicide, Vomit, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, and War
atalea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
As an apocalyptic book, it is one of the strongest I have ever read. Events and motivations felt real and possible, which made the book even more scary. The main portion of the book felt like a true apocalyptic survival story á la The Walking Dead and I could totally see this as a movie.
Graphic: Confinement, Rape, Slavery, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, and Deportation
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, and Suicide
bugle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, Torture, and War
kurumipanda's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Suicide, Police brutality, Medical content, and Classism
Minor: Bullying, Eating disorder, Islamophobia, Dementia, Fire/Fire injury, and War