Reviews with content warning for Suicide - Parable of the Talents

Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler

77 reviews

astridrv's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

I almost gave up halfway through because of how horrific and depressing it got - much more so than the first book, which is really saying something. But I loved the complexity of that too, where I am used to saga's going "upwards", Butler made the brave choice of having someone who's arc is to build see everything destroyed and go through worse than ever before. I'm not sold on the second perspective we get in the book, and I would have loved the last chapters to last way longer (there is a slight pacing problem between micro and macro story there) but otherwise this is definitely the most remarkable work of fiction I read this year. I will never forget Earthseed, and the claustrophobic,terrifying, hopeful, strong, heart wrenching, generous, crushing journey it was to share this story.

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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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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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