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queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
"The human species is a kind of animal, of course. But we can do something no other animal species has ever had the option to do. We can choose: We can go building and destroying until we destroy ourselves or or until we destroy the ability of our world to sustain us. Or we can make something of ourselves. We can grow up."
Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler is the second book in the Parable duology. In this book we find Asha Vere (Lauren's daughter) compiling a book of her mother's writings along with some journal entries of her father and her uncle. Interspersed between the journal entries are Asha's thoughts and reactions to both her mother in general and the things she wrote about. Although this was an exploration of a mother daughter relationship, it doesn't have a happy ending. I think it shows the complexity of relationships along with the conflicting duties of self, family, community, and purpose.
We start out back at Acorn, Lauren's Earthseed community, as she tries to grow the community and push them toward Destiny. "The Destiny of Earthseed is to take root among the stars." Acorn is eventually found out and followers of the ultra conservative presidential candidate, Jarret (who runs on the slogan "make America great again. Sound familiar?), raids Acorn, steals their children and enslave the rest. Those left alive suffer unimaginable brutality all in the name of "civilizing heathens."
Although Parable of the Talents is just as gut wrenching a read as Parable of the Sower, it again leaves you with a sense of hope. This book is a profound piece of hope and an ode to the resiliency of humans. Throughout the book, Lauren talks about humans needing a purpose to motivate them to become better, to become more than what they are. It's not enough to just survive. Just like in the 1960's when people wondered why should we waste time and resources in space with so much suffering on Earth, we do it, because we can, and we must if we are to grow up.
I could be here all day breaking down every prophetic thing Butler wrote or how eloquently she breaks down religious evangelicalism as a play for power and control that ultimately will lead to the break down of civil and human rights. Everything Butler writes is poignient, and similarly to Earthseed, a collection of truths. Butler also weaves in themes on environmentalism and the importance of education and community.
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Gun violence, Rape, and Child death
Moderate: Slavery, Sexual violence, and Suicide
simonemaybe's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Child death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Slavery, Trafficking, and Violence
haileybones'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
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia, Murder, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Trafficking, Violence, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Vomit
Minor: Abandonment, Death of parent, Medical content, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, War, and Xenophobia
larbster90'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: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, and Slavery
Moderate: Death, Kidnapping, Medical content, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Trafficking, and Violence
Minor: Murder, Pregnancy, Racism, and War
luami'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? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Trafficking, and Child abuse
Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
fiveredhens's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Interesting that they fear Edward Jay Smith's supposed incompetence more than they fear Jarret's obvious tyranny.
They say we have no business wasting time or money in space when there are so many people suffering here on Earth, here in America. I wonder, though, where the money received in exchange for the installations has gone. I haven't noticed any new government education or jobs programs. There's been no government help for the homeless, the sick, the hungry. Squatter settlements are as big and as nasty as ever. As a country, we've given up our birthright for even less than bread and pottage. We've given it up for nothing—although I'm sure some people somewhere are richer now.
The child in each of us
Knows paradise.
Paradise is home.
Home as it was
Or home as it should have been.
How stupid and pointless that he should die at the hands of men who didn't know him or care about him or even intend to kill him. They just didn't know how to use the powerful weapons they possessed. They gassed Zahra to death by mistake because they didn't take her size into consideration. They shocked Bankole into a heart attack by mistake because they didn't take his age into consideration.
i liked this a little bit better than the first because of the complex relationship between lauren and her daughter
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Trafficking, and Violence
Moderate: Pregnancy, Suicide, and Torture
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Incest, Islamophobia, Racism, and Vomit
more graphic and upsetting than the firstsimonamiller'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Child death, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Physical abuse, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
yope'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? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Kidnapping, Murder, Police brutality, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Genocide, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, Miscarriage, Trafficking, and Gun violence
Minor: Drug abuse
emhunsber's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Slavery, Sexism, Physical abuse, Murder, Hate crime, Gun violence, Genocide, Emotional abuse, and Death
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Torture
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
bradypus's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Graphic: Slavery, Rape, Medical trauma, Child abuse, Violence, and Trafficking
Moderate: Drug abuse, Torture, Suicide, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Gun violence, Grief, and Death