Reviews tagging 'War'

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

73 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: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Vomit, Police brutality, Cannibalism, and War

Minor: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Confinement, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Car accident, and Toxic friendship

lynxpardinus's review against another edition

dark reflective sad

4.25

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Content Warnings

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

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

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: Death, Gun violence, Violence, and War

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

Minor: Mental illness and Rape

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

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: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Mass/school shootings, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, War, and Classism

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

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

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

nic_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: Physical abuse, Violence, Murder, and War

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

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

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