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reads2cope's review against another edition
5.0
I can't believe it took me this long to read Parable of the Sower, but any time since it's publication has been the perfect time to read. On Instagram, @bookishcrimson pointed out how Zarah recommended sucking on a plum or apricot pits to stave off thirst while Palestinian mothers are giving their babies dates to suck on because of the lack of milk and all other foods in the genocide on Gaza.
Every time the political race came up in the book, it felt so much like the USA race today. Describing one of the candidates as "a symbol of the past for us to hold on to as we’re pushed into the future. He’s nothing. No substance. But having him there, the latest in a two-and-a-half-century-long line of American Presidents make people feel that the country, the culture that they grew up with is still here — that we’ll get through these bad times and back to normal.” That exactly explains the current candidates to me.
The disease and environmental collapse is so obviously on-point that it hardly feels worth mentioning. COVID-19 has been on constant high waves, disabling and killing people in horrifying numbers? Ignore it. Every season is warmer than ever and every marker for irreversible damage is being met? "'These things frighten people. It’s best not to talk about them.” “ But, Dad, that’s like… like ignoring a fire in the living room because we’re all in the kitchen, and, besides, house fires are too scary to talk about.'"
The only thing I didn't like about this book was Earthseed. While I understand Laura wanting to have a clear mantra to help her through societal collapse, the "belief" in Earthseed seemed less religious to everyone around her and more a unifying idea. By which I mean, her friends and fellow travelers were happy to hear about it and agreed with some basic points, but no one gave up worshiping a different God or fully believed in the space travel promise of Earthseed. I was annoyed that Lauren wanted to make a religious cult rather than a commune, but as her main focus was survival, it didn't take up too much of the book.
Graphic: Slavery, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Religious bigotry, Child death, Rape, Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Police brutality, Pregnancy, Cannibalism, and Drug abuse
nyst'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? No
4.5
Graphic: Cannibalism, Grief, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Murder, Drug use, Death of parent, Violence, Death, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Rape, Trafficking, and Sexual content
chadconnecticut's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
And while there’s much handwringing over this, it seems anything current readers are grasping for is simply reinventing the wheel that Butler shaped nearly 30 years ago. This book is sobering and pulls no punches, but it also grounds itself firmly in the hope and possibility of community.
Butler is one of the greatest to ever do it.
Graphic: Cannibalism, Gun violence, Blood, Drug abuse, Animal death, Slavery, and Murder
Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, and Trafficking
Minor: Rape
tafeeeeee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
The narrator's voice is amazing. I want to listen to more of her narrations.
Graphic: Drug abuse, Addiction, Death, Gun violence, and Slavery
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Cannibalism, Physical abuse, and Blood
teresabg's review against another edition
4.5
The writing is beautifully accessible and easy to get buried into, but the unflinching exploration of violence and destruction really tested me. Ultimately though, I think it is this very uncensored description of gutwrenching things that makes this book feel so sincerely hopeful. Lauren Olamina is unafraid of looking right into the heart of pain despite the fact that she will be wounded by it also and see in destruction a possibility for a new and more beautiful world.
In the current climate of the world, I think I really needed to meet Lauren, to peer into a hope that is not ignorant of pain but that fearlessly accepts it and continues to flourish into hope. What good is hope if it is only used to dismiss the reality that is tugging at the heart?
Thank you Nish for knowing me well enough to recommend this book at this time in my life.
Graphic: Death of parent, War, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual violence, Rape, Murder, Drug abuse, Cannibalism, and Slavery
gustgustgust's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
The story is beautiful. the main character, Lauren Olamina, is such a beautiful, complicated character. The relationships are complicated and dense and tentative. The real shining moment is just the world Bulter weaved. It felt not only like it happened, but that I was watching it happen in front of me. It's not for me to adapt, but it is definitely something that would make an incredible series if given full opportunity to be as dark, grim, and haunting as it needs to be.
The only thing that knocked it down for me was there was a lot of violence, and I understand that the world needed it so it's just a personal taste thing. I don't think anything was don't to scandalize or be outrageous, it was true to the world, I just got pulled out going "oh no, this is too much, too real"
Graphic: Police brutality, Racism, Rape, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Gun violence, Misogyny, Child death, Death of parent, Torture, Classism, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Slavery, Murder, Pedophilia, Religious bigotry, Sexism, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault
bexrecca's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual violence, Slavery, Animal cruelty, Blood, Child death, Violence, Sexual assault, Rape, and Racism
msmamabirdy's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Trafficking, Slavery, Drug abuse, and Rape
daysanchez'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
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Blood, Child death, Drug use, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Violence, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Colonisation, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Animal death, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Cursing, Medical trauma, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Torture, and Sexual content
tamaralh7'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
4.5
Graphic: Rape, Slavery, Murder, Cannibalism, and Racism