Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler

62 reviews

luami's review against another edition

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adventurous inspiring sad 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

5.0


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fiveredhens's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • 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

favorite quotes:

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

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frogs_are_cool's review against another edition

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dark emotional inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

4.25


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catsy2022's review against another edition

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dark emotional inspiring tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 Rating: A

The continuation of Olamina's story is equally brutal and emotional. With dual perspectives of both Asha and Olamina (through diary entries), we can see how the idea of Earthseed grew and changed. This story just didn't stop with the emotional scenes and the terror and dread. I felt the absolute despair when the group were facing down Christian America. I saw shades of history and the present America throughout this book. Radical Christians kidnapping heathen children to brainwash them into being good Christians, yet their own religion is rife with corruption and sin.

I really empathise with Olamina's desire to grow Earthseed and how she is surrounded by doubt and question. She anticipates that and so runs gatherings to encourage discourse. The concept of God representing Change really makes sense in their world as a religion to follow due to the unexpected outcomes and danger - normal people can't travel anywhere without being attacked.

I also liked the story coming together at the end and we see how despite the circumstances, the viewers may not get the ending they want.

Tragic all around and very human.
 

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leekaufman's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad medium-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

4.0


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vlawton's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5


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andhe's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • 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

5.0


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pinzapo's review against another edition

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dark emotional inspiring sad 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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achingallover's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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emhunsber's review against another edition

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adventurous dark reflective sad medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Thought-provoking and complex, Talents continues the story of Lauren and her Earthseed community, following the struggles and triumphs of establishing both a physical community and a religious movement. Striking a balance between macro- and micro-focused storytelling, Butler's prophetic writing speaks to the struggles of racism, sexism, and economic inequality intertwining with a politician who thrives on polarization inflamed by fear and instability, and examines the downfall and rebuilding of a nation quick to scapegoat for survival. Both introspective and acutely perceptive, Talents invites readers to imagine a future in which a grassroots movement can create lasting and effective change, while depicting characters and storylines that are realistic and loveable.

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