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eve81'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: Addiction, Confinement, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Death, Medical content, Sexual assault, Blood, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Gore, Genocide, Grief, Racism, Rape, Torture, Infertility, Mental illness, Slavery, Violence, War, Child death, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Classism, Islamophobia, Medical trauma, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, and Xenophobia
kexinmeng'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
3.75
Graphic: Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Violence, Torture, Kidnapping, War, Slavery, Sexism, Pedophilia, Incest, Homophobia, Rape, Religious bigotry, Trafficking, and Physical abuse
bootrat's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Rape, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Child abuse, Medical content, Gun violence, Homophobia, and Murder
Minor: War
goldenjunegem's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Murder, Rape, and Slavery
rorikae'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
Somehow even more so than with Parable of the Sower, Parable of the Talents is a harrowing story. Lauren's life is an incredibly hard one and this book has every trigger warning possible. Butler dives into what the world would look like as it falls apart and how different people would choose to find their place. Some find it in fascism and having power over others. Other people seek out small communities and look to the stars.
Lauren is never the most likable character, which is part of what makes her such a fascinating protagonist. She has a very strong goal but this goal often comes before other people, including her direct family. Butler does an exceptional job of creating a character study of one woman seeking to find power and influence in life through what she believes is a calling. The other perspective that runs through this novel (which I won't spoil) is a helpful contrast to Lauren's perspective. After an entire book of Lauren's journals with Parable of the Sower, I think one of the reasons why Parable of the Talents is somehow even better is because of this contrasting point of view. We get to see how other people view Lauren and how some of the choices she makes look to those who are not in her own head.
This is one of the best duologies that I have ever read. Butler is considered one of the greats in SF for a reason. This book is a must read, especially regarding how scarily close some aspects are to our current reality.
Graphic: Confinement, Grief, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Sexism, Murder, Body horror, Bullying, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Child death, Blood, Child abuse, Trafficking, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Self harm, and Violence
Minor: Pedophilia, Death of parent, and War
random19379's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Self harm, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Genocide, Child death, Slavery, Rape, Sexism, War, Violence, Trafficking, Suicide, Sexual violence, Racism, Police brutality, Pedophilia, Homophobia, Grief, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, and Confinement
moonlitmeda'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
4.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Trafficking, and Violence
Moderate: Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Child death, and Gun violence
Minor: Addiction, Alcohol, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Incest, Infidelity, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic
lunaliz'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
4.75
Graphic: Physical abuse, Slavery, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Death, Grief, Sexual assault, Homophobia, Rape, and Sexism
Minor: War, Racism, Vomit, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, and Suicide
kurumipanda's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Torture, Slavery, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexism, Outing, Murder, Genocide, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Death, Kidnapping, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Racism, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Rape, Gun violence, Violence, Confinement, Child abuse, and Blood
Moderate: Medical content, Police brutality, Child death, Classism, Suicide, and Child abuse
Minor: Eating disorder, War, Islamophobia, Dementia, Fire/Fire injury, and Bullying
franklola's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Sexual assault, Torture, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Outing, Abandonment, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Gaslighting, Religious bigotry, Suicide, Trafficking, Violence, Child abuse, Homophobia, Death, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Rape, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, and Slavery
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, Body horror, Death of parent, Pedophilia, and Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol, Islamophobia, Antisemitism, Vomit, War, Deadnaming, Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, and Xenophobia