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speculativeshelves's review against another edition
dark
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
4.0
Parable of the Sower is quite a dark and bleak dystopian story but not entirely without hope. The first chapters of this book take place in 2024 and it's eerie to see parallels between the society depicted here and issues we are actually facing in 2024 in the United States (and around the world) today. Even though this book was written in the 90s, the issues the characters face here exist but this book depicts them a more extreme and dire level - climate change, corrupt government and police, extreme poverty, legal slavery by corporations, etc. Books like 1984 and The Handmaid's Tale get brought up a lot in comparing contemporary society to dystopian works of fiction but I feel that if we're close to any of them it might be this one.
It's a slower paced and more character focused story than I expected and so it took a bit for me to get fully invested. However the social commentary, exploration of religion, and the emphasis on community make this book quite compelling and there are lots of interesting threads set up to be explored in Parable of the Talents.
It's a slower paced and more character focused story than I expected and so it took a bit for me to get fully invested. However the social commentary, exploration of religion, and the emphasis on community make this book quite compelling and there are lots of interesting threads set up to be explored in Parable of the Talents.
stlake's review against another edition
5.0
I have my college students read this. The religion of your parents needn’t be yours, may not be good enough to address the current moments, but this does not mean there isn’t a god whose power will be developed in the community you gather through survival. An invaluable lesson. Lauren is an all-time favorite character of mine.
Hope as, “I intend to survive.”
Hope as, “I intend to survive.”
bookgeek809's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
4.0
averagehuman85's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
It was more culty than I expected, for that reason I found the main character niave and somewhat unlikable. I hope this book was just pure set up for the next book, because the character development was pretty dry and empty, despite the heavy subject matter I feel almost nothing for them.
pcooms's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.5
murray3's review against another edition
adventurous
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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Slavery, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Death, War, Grief, Rape, Violence, Child death, Gun violence, Murder, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Blood, Police brutality, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Body horror, Suicide, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, and Sexual content
Minor: Animal death
This has probably like every trigger warning ever to some degree, far warning. Also it includes elements of religion if you are not into religion. It also talks a lot about politics and government. This is the first book of a two book series.adrianr's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
makocat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.5
vivian_m_anderson's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.75
so fucking fantastic, and i say that as someone who doesn’t usually love sci fi. butler has got a fabulous literary voice, and the plot and characters kept me completely hooked (to the point where i bought the sequel before even finishing the first book.) as one of the reviews notes, this novel feels profoundly prescient of our current time. and i couldn’t leave a review without pulling a quote that lives in my head rent free “drowning people / sometimes die / fighting their rescuers”
landostex's review against another edition
4.0
Really good book. It is the second that I have read from Octavia Butler.