Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

225 reviews

ains_reads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Addiction

timmytunter's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower is a harrowing and immersive dystopian narrative set between 2024 and 2027—a world uncomfortably close to our own reality. Butler masterfully crafts a terrifyingly plausible future, where environmental collapse, greed, and power imbalances have pushed society to the brink. I was entirely absorbed by the vivid, desolate landscape Butler shapes, filled with as much danger as it is potential for hope.

At the heart of this grim world is Lauren Olamina, our compelling and deeply interesting protagonist. Lauren begins the story at age 15, living in a gated community that offers some semblance of safety amidst the chaos outside. She possesses a unique condition called “hyperempathy,” which forces her to feel the pain and emotions of others as though they were her own—a vulnerability she must conceal to survive. This condition becomes particularly perilous when Lauren is driven out of her sanctuary and forced to defend herself against murderous scavengers. If she wounds her attackers, she feels the pain as if inflicted on her own body; if she kills them, she endures their agony up until their final moments. This constant struggle adds a deeply personal and visceral layer to her journey, making her already treacherous path even more harrowing.

Lauren’s character is captivating not only because of this physical condition but also because of her unique perspective on the nature of God and human existence. Raised by a pastor father, she develops her own belief system, Earthseed, which serves as both a coping mechanism and a driving force behind her actions as she grows into a spiritual leader.

The narrative flows well, with the early chapters offering rich backstory that helps contextualize Lauren’s journey and her evolving beliefs. As Lauren navigates the brutal world beyond her community, we witness her fledgling (no pun intended, Butler fans) leadership and her evolving philosophy, which begins to shape those around her. Though some of Lauren’s ideas and theological musings feel a bit immature and repetitive at times, it’s a reflection of her youth and the accelerated maturity thrust upon her by the collapsing world around her.

Parable of the Sower is not just a dystopian novel; it’s a thought-provoking exploration of resilience, faith, and the human need for connection amidst chaos. Butler’s prose is sharp, immersive, and unflinching, making for an intense reading experience that lingers long after the final page. I’m eagerly looking forward to continuing Lauren’s story in The Parable of the Talents and hope the sequel lives up to the high standard set by this unforgettable novel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Police brutality, and Classism

ourlamp's review against another edition

dark inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Sexual assault, Slavery, Police brutality, Trafficking, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Cannibalism, and Death of parent

Minor: Excrement

iamcarlib's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Gun violence, Slavery, Violence, Cannibalism, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

geminisoul's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

aemorrison2001's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Cannibalism, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

miggyfool's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Sexual content

rachelle_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

4.5

Here’s some dystopian fiction that feels awfully prescient about our current times. Written in 1993, this book starts in July 2024 and unfolds over a few years’ time. It’s the first part of a duology, and I do plan to read the next book. 

The characters and the plot kept me turning the pages, as well as the protagonist’s consideration of religion and meaning in life. There is a lot of violence in this book, including many deaths on the page. The protagonist reports these in a matter of fact way. But never fear - somehow, we feel hopeful at the end, seeing the seeds of humanity poking through the awful destruction. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Rape, Slavery, Violence, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Addiction and Drug abuse

kyrag96's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring reflective 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Addiction, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Cannibalism, Murder, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury

aniloracccc's review against another edition

challenging dark 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Drug use, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, and Cannibalism