Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

474 reviews

thirdtimesacharm's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual violence, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Gun violence

Moderate: Drug use, Child abuse, Death of parent, Classism, Slavery, Racial slurs, and Child death

Minor: Vomit

nogoodtulip's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

5.0

Set in a very plausible and not-too-distant future collapsed american society, Parable of the Sower is enthralling in its character’s struggle for survival against a world consumed by destitution, violence, and corporate oppression. The blossoming of our main character Lauren’s new religion of Earthseed and the vision of a new and transformed world that it brings drives the story forward and teaches us that we cannot build something new without first risking everything.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Police brutality, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Violence

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Cannibalism, Addiction, Drug use, and Xenophobia

rauvolfia's review against another edition

dark hopeful 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Rape, Sexual violence, Gun violence, and Murder

Minor: Slavery, Child death, Animal death, Cannibalism, Domestic abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

reneerianne's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad 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? No

4.5

What an amazing read. I can see why this is compared to the likes of 1984 and The Handmaid's Tale, though I did find it to be a completely different type of book. I loved reading this in the year 2024, which is also where the story begins. Though we're not quite there yet in terms of climate change and climate refugees, we are, unfortunately, well on our way to get there. It's remarkable how (despite the dates) this story stands the test of time. It still feels very modern even though the book is more than 30 years old. I really loved the characters and the elements of found family. I did find some scenes hard to read due to the violence and injuries (check the trigger warnings!), but they added to the overall feeling of powerlessness. I didn't relate as much to the parts about religion. However, I think it's very fitting to turn to religion in dire situations like these. Overall, a very good read and plausible exploration of what might happen over the next couple of decades as climate change gets worse... Now onto a happier read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, Death, Gun violence, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Cannibalism, Slavery, Sexual assault, Rape, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Addiction

pola_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad 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? No

4.5

This book is one of those books that will stay with me for a while. It’s a difficult one to read because of its frighteningly relevance of themes that we sadly see today. It’s a brilliant read. It’s my first read of Octavia Butler’s, but it definitely won’t be my last.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Gore, Gun violence, and Police brutality

maggiegirouard's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Sexual content, Suicide, Sexual assault, Addiction, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Death, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Animal death, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Drug abuse, Rape, Murder, Sexual harassment, Violence, Blood, and Gun violence

bookishstone's review against another edition

It had too much religion for me in a world too close to our own. Plus, I don't think I'm ready for a dystopia that feels this close to reality. I tried but it's too hard.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use

whoa_is_me's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Addiction, Sexual assault, Murder, Gun violence, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Rape, Child death, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Police brutality, and Slavery

lindseygcarden's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Drug use, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Torture, Rape, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Eating disorder, Gore, Grief, Murder, Blood, Sexual violence, Car accident, Death, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Infertility, Sexual harassment, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Trafficking, Violence, Classism, Drug abuse, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Child death, Chronic illness, Gun violence, Incest, and Pregnancy

coslyons's review

challenging dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.25

Reading this in 2024 is a weird vibe ngl

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Violence, and Gun violence

Moderate: Rape and Cannibalism