Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

187 reviews

junglejelly's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gun violence, Violence, Slavery, Death, Body horror, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Death of parent, Slavery, and Racism

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Drug abuse, Cannibalism, Incest, Trafficking, Rape, Physical abuse, Murder, and Domestic abuse

hurlyburlywitch's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-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? Yes

5.0

This was so profoundly emotional. I picked it up as a frequent reader of junky dystopia, and instead found myself thrown into a meaningful consideration of the human condition and the nature of God. I am getting the urge to discuss this with everyone I know. The slow development of a relationship with the characters offered rich rewards as the horrors of their world, and their own personal depths, became apparent to the reader. I chewed through this in a single sitting, and I can be certain I'm coming back for this time and again. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Murder, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Racism, Rape, and Child death

dwarrowdams's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.5

A fresh and interesting take on the dystopia genre, but with a lot more death and violence and other horrors (and a lot more detail about those things) than I personally care for.

I did like Butler’s writing style, and definitely plan to pick up some of her other books that are more in my wheelhouse.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Body horror, Child death, Death, Murder, Blood, Cannibalism, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Animal death, Death of parent, Trafficking, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, and Child abuse

Minor: Rape, Racism, and Police brutality

miorinsa's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

The first half of this book reads like a prologue in that our narrator is preparing for a journey and we learn everything she does in that time. The first half is definitely a necessary part of the book to understand the journey in the second half. There were some odd aspects of the narrative in that some small things were described in great detail and some more important plot points were glossed over. Overall, the concept of the book is gripping and the main character, Lauren, is a strong, adaptable, and determined heroine with unparalleled compassion in a world that lacks it. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Child death, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Death, Rape, and Slavery

Dystopian

keyradiator's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative tense fast-paced

• 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? No

5.0

This book is really a marvel. Octavia Butler's writing is accessible, evocative, crisp, and visceral; reading her and Ursula K. Le Guin made me realize I took entirely too long reading several mediocre science fiction books from more mainstream authors.

There is a thing or two in this book that are structurally suboptimal, but overall, the pacing is biting and cohesive, the characters have deeeeep stories and flaws, and the world building is some of the best I've ever read.

This book is dark. You can't quite prepare yourself for just how dark it gets, yet, somehow Butler manages to make a beam of hope cut through all of the noise that carries you through. Please read this book!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Police brutality, Child abuse, Classism, Gore, Grief, Pandemic/Epidemic, Sexual content, Gun violence, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Abandonment, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Slavery, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Excrement, Murder, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Car accident, Sexual harassment, Violence, Child death, Medical content, Trafficking, Self harm, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness

Moderate: Police brutality, Cannibalism, Body horror, Animal death, Vomit, and War

Minor: Self harm, Car accident, Child abuse, Addiction, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Excrement, Animal cruelty, Confinement, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, and Racism

retiredepisodian2robloxian's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

I really enjoyed Parable of the Sower, it’s message overall is compelling to read within the year it takes place in. I want to read the second book as I am interested to see where it will go. I highly recommend this novel and found myself always entertained and fully immersed when reading.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Murder, Torture, Sexual violence, Child death, Trafficking, Slavery, Rape, Violence, Animal death, Death, and Sexual content

pindsvin's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

1.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Gun violence, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, and Physical abuse

melusa's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This book is fiction and yet feels so real and a telling of the near future. Some of the themes and realities seem far fetched when imagining them happening to the USA. However a lot of what is described is in one way or another happening in other countries. 

I suggest everyone should read it and schools should examine the storytelling, social and psychological issues it brings to light and of course the plausibility of it all with the younger generation.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, Cannibalism, Grief, Physical abuse, Violence, Sexual violence, Death, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Blood, Child death, Child abuse, Rape, Kidnapping, Slavery, and Incest

julieallison's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective 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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Slavery, Incest, Physical abuse, Torture, Child abuse, Violence, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Cursing, Cannibalism, Child death, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Pregnancy, War, Addiction, Classism, Death, Police brutality, Rape, Sexual assault, and Drug use

audwild's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cannibalism, Slavery, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Gore, Death, Racism, Addiction, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Trafficking, Sexual violence, Grief, Murder, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, and Kidnapping