Reviews

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

maddie_oz's review

adventurous challenging dark inspiring 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

4.5

goatsrsexy's review against another edition

challenging dark sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

I've been meaning to read this book forever since my cousin loves it. I'm glad I finally got to it and buddy read it with my friend, we'll be doing the second book in July which I'm glad there's a gap because wow this book sure was depressing (but very good). 

It was kinda surreal to read this in 2024 since it starts in 2024 and I didn't even do that on purpose. The writing was super accessible which I think works really well since the subject matter is so dark it's better to have simple writing. The insights into the future were so interesting to read, and while I'm glad society now isn't at the state it is in this book, it definitely still hits pretty close to home. It's always interesting to read near future books written in the past because you're reading about an imagined future in the actual future.

This story definitely isn't for the faint of heart, the descriptions of violence and poverty were super detailed and vivid, but if you can handle the subject matter, this is a very very good read.

mcnemma's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative 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

3.75

anicesogiar's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative reflective 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

4.0

heather_g's review

adventurous dark hopeful medium-paced

3.75

Interesting story of a young woman living in a future (well, 2024 isn't future at this point) where there is lawlessness and violence everywhere.  In her little community she is surviving with her father, step-mom and brothers.  Lots of loss.
She also has extreme empathy where she feels other people's pain.
She ends up leaving her community, being forced to leave, and heads north, picking up a small group who want to join her and her "cult."  It's a good story so I'll definitely be reading the next book.

tylerclarkmclendon's review

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? It's complicated

4.0

marinhein2000's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark reflective fast-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, War, Rape, Drug abuse, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual violence, and Child death

yolanda_h's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, Rape, Death, and Fire/Fire injury

louisahr's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark hopeful

5.0

ikiteahill's review

dark reflective 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 was hard to read. It's billed as scifi/fantasy but it's really more focused on a dystoipian society. Taking place in the USA starting in the year 2024, it's an alternate universe but parts of it hit really close to home with how eerily similar they are to society today. Some of the content was hard to stomach. But it brings up such interesting philosophical concepts. Like, what is God? What is religion? What does that do for people? What is human nature? How do we respond as a species under threat? You have to be in the right mindset to read this one but it's worth reading. I think this one will stick with me for a while, even if I'm not sure I'm ready to read the sequel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Hate crime, Gore, Gun violence, Slavery, Trafficking, Death of parent, Blood, Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Animal death, Classism, Death, Excrement, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic, Police brutality, Racism, Religious bigotry, Vomit, Medical content, Torture, Cannibalism, Child death, Murder, Violence, and Mental illness

Moderate: Misogyny, Abandonment, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcoholism, Drug use, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Miscarriage, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Abortion, and Incest