Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - Parable of the Sower

I have only read two books by Octavia Butler and both have been 5 star reads for me. Butler's writing sets the readernin the scene as if they are there themselves, it is no question as to why she is considered one of the best authors in the sci-fi/dystopian genre.

Like "Kindred", this book will probably haunt me for a long time. The world has gone to shit, to put it mildly. People have not learned from our mistakes and everyone is paying for it- except the rich, they're just fine. In the 2020s, climate change and economic crises has led to water shortages, groups of vagabonds that do anything to survive, rabid packs of dogs, and people to live in walled communities, "protected" from the outside world if they are lucky. Lauren has grown up in one of these places, raised by her preacher father and suffers from hyperempathy. Lauren sees what is coming- destruction to all they have known- and the adults of her community fail to see it. However Lauren has prepared herself, through actions and through the belief of a new God, a new religion. Earthseed.

What I believe haunts me the most about this book, is that I see it happening currently. While this was written before the 2020s, the way people behave and the decisions of people in positions of power make sense. They reflect the reality of what I see every day. It is terrifying. That we are so predictable. That we continue to not learn out of fear of the unknown without the ways we have always known. The old ways linger in our minds, the wanting of returning to the past is always there. The hope of returning is always there. That we, humans, will always find a way to adapt. Adapting is the only way to survive, basic "survival-of-the-fittest" Darwinian theory. Women will always be the first exploited. Will always have the most to fear.

Altruism is the rise and downfall of humans.

I have so many thoughts about organized religion, and how people will cling to faith when times are tough/scary. It is interesting how easy it is for the character Lauren to create a new religion and find purpose and followers so easily. How easily do people give in when they have a higher purpose for a God? Is it a cult or a religion? Is there a difference? Lauren's end goal is to end up in the stars, so it is much different from any religion I have been exposed to.

I have so many thoughts about this book, and I am looking forward to reading this book again when I'm older. Like the foreword from N.K. Jemisin, I believe that I will have different takeaways each time I read it. Butler does an excellent job writing a novel that accurately reflects human nature and what would happen to the U.S. if certain events came to pass. Honestly this is one of the best dystopian novels I've ever read, because I was right there in Cali with Lauren as her family was taken from her and her life as she knew it was taken away.

I can't reccomend this book enough.

Content Warnings

ksrkat's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

4.5

Content Warnings

nojerama's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-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? Yes

5.0

Terrifyingly plausible, absolutely gripping, should be required reading everywhere.

Content Warnings

gagereadsstuff's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

Content Warnings

boba_n_books's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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? Yes

3.5

I think this would’ve been a very interesting novel to read for a high school AP class or a college English course.

Lauren, the main character and narrator, is an odd person. She never quite feels that she fits in her home neighborhood because she naively believes she is the only one who sees that trouble is coming. However, these beliefs are what lead her to create Earthseed—a religion whose main belief is that “God is change.” I found this to be an interesting concept as Lauren grows up and leaves her neighborhood.

The journal entries were an enjoyable way to read the story, but it makes me wonder how reliable a narrator Lauren really is.

I would have loved to see more of Lauren’s “sharing” abilities. They seemed to only come into play when it was convenient, but it was an interesting concept to bring up that is more prevalent in the latter half of the novel. I’m curious to see what the author does with that aspect of Lauren’s character in the next novel.

I loved the dynamic between Lauren and her father. I felt that he left or possibly died too soon in the story, but it’d be a good move in my opinion if Butler brought him back to reunite with Lauren in the next novel.

Content Warnings

dean_'s review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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

5.0

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