Reviews tagging 'War'

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

54 reviews

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!

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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

lynxpardinus's review against another edition

dark reflective sad

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexual assault, Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Rape, Violence, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Addiction, Gore, Adult/minor relationship, Slavery, Child death, and Grief

Moderate: Sexual content, Blood, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Suicide, War, Sexual violence, and Incest

Minor: Fatphobia, Excrement, and Vomit

Adult/minor relationship warning is also for a relationship between a grown adult and an 18-year-old.

puppyphant's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing sad fast-paced

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

5.0

I suspect Octavia E. Butler may actually be able to see the future. She wasn't dead on, but alarmingly close. And it's an amazing novel overall. It's never boring and is a perfect balance between the horrors of an apocalyptic setting and the comforts of a community. After reading I felt more appreciative of what I have but also more aware of my own capability to adapt to change.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, War, and Death

Moderate: Gore, Slavery, Child abuse, and Child death

Minor: Rape and Mental illness

unsuccessfulbookclub's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful fast-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

Wowwwwwww. Dark, fascinating, exciting, deep, complex… a perfect dystopia. With an end filled with a strange hope. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Slavery, War, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Vomit, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Child abuse and Child death

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

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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

kjperry97's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Murder, Racism, Trafficking, Drug abuse, Slavery, Rape, War, and Sexual assault

mmestitches's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

5.0

Powerful boo, but stressful to read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Child abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Cursing, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Classism, Ableism, Cannibalism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Hate crime, Incest, Body horror, Child death, Grief, Colonisation, Death, Gun violence, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Mass/school shootings, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Hate crime, Pedophilia, Murder, Grief, Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Physical abuse, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Fire/Fire injury, War, Trafficking, Torture, Suicide attempt, Slavery, Sexual content, Self harm, Sexism, Rape, Gore, Police brutality, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, and Dysphoria

theliterarylair's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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? N/A

4.0

Octavia Butler's "Parable of the Sower" is a captivating journey into a dystopian future that eerily resembles the challenges of our present day. From the moment I picked up this book, I found it impossible to put down, captivated by its narrative and the striking parallels it draws to our world today. It masterfully blends elements of science fiction with social commentary, making it a compelling and relevant read.

Butler's storytelling is nothing short of masterful, drawing you into the mind of the protagonist, Lauren Olamina, with an authenticity that vividly portrays her growth from a sheltered, introspective teenager to a resilient and empathetic leader. The novel's portrayal of hyper-empathy, a condition Lauren possesses that allows her to share in the physical and emotional sensations of those around her, bridges the gap between fiction and reality. It encourages readers to reflect on the power of empathy and the profound consequences of truly understanding the suffering of others.

In a world marked by economic disparities, debt slavery, and corporate exploitation, "Parable of the Sower" unflinchingly delves into the pressing issues of capitalism. It paints a haunting picture of a society where the gap between the affluent and the destitute is insurmountable. The struggles faced by the characters mirror the real-life consequences of unchecked capitalism, serving as a stark warning about the dangers of economic disparity. 

Butler's exploration of systemic racism is poignant. The story vividly portrays a society where racial hierarchies persist, resulting in discrimination, violence, and segregation. The characters' struggles to survive in this context serve as a powerful commentary on the enduring struggles faced by marginalized communities. Amidst these themes, the narrative also addresses environmental degradation, depicting a world ravaged by climate change and colonialism.

"Parable of the Sower" is not just a work of fiction; it is a powerful call to action, imploring us to address these themes before they manifest as a bleak prophecy. It reminds us that, if we choose to heed the warning it offers, we have the potential to come together and enact positive and lasting change in the face of adversity.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, War, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Addiction and Rape

denlia's review against another edition

dark sad 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Violence, Gun violence, Death of parent, Death, Sexual assault, Rape, Fire/Fire injury, Vomit, Torture, Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Cannibalism, War, and Sexual violence

studydniowka's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Najlepsza książka, jaką przeczytałam w tym roku. Wybitna, miażdżąca, inspirująca. Uważam, że każdy powinien ją przeczytać i wziąć sobie do serca tę historię, dobrze, że mam drugi tom na półce, bo nie wytrzymałabym bez kontynuacji tej historii.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, War, Physical abuse, Violence, Murder, and Death

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Cannibalism, and Child death