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scmiller's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Pedophilia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Alcohol
jodean's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Hate crime, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Minor: Incest, Infertility, and Miscarriage
sophiesmallhands'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Police brutality, Trafficking, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Rape, Sexual violence, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Minor: Alcoholism, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol
celesteleila'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
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Murder, and Sexual harassment
mald626'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Miscarriage, and Death of parent
lillithofthepants's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
larskat'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Slavery, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Blood, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
aksmith92'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? Yes
5.0
When all is said and done, this book may be sci-fi/fantasy (I believe Butler noted that she would call it "grim fantasy" in an interview since there was nothing scientific about it), but it's more real than we would like it to be. It's about race and an incredibly dark time in American history. Butler manages to intersect historical records and research with the time-traveling trope in a fascinating and beautiful (but, as most books about this time, horrible) way. It is incredibly well-written and emotional. It pained me to read this, but it was so important to read it at the same time.
As a note, Butler has decided to forgo a lot of explanation around this somewhat science fiction novel and has instead relied on metaphor and allegory during the more "fantastical" times of the novel. We don't get intense descriptions of the time travel or the "science" behind it - we just know it happens and its impacts. This is no spoiler and won't take away from the story, but those who are itching for more detail may find themselves frustrated. But, for a book of this caliber, I don't think it was at all needed.
I loved it and yet hated it so much because America at this time was awful. I had all the feels reading this book, but I thought it was incredibly well done. I'm sure excited to read more of Octavia Butler's stuff in the future.
Graphic: Death, Gore, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Alcoholism and Alcohol
twistykris'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Slavery, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Torture, and Pregnancy
elliexreads'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
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail