A review by bookwormsarah
Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Young Lauren Olamina lives in dystopic America, where poverty and scarcity of ressources force neighbourhoods like hers to build high walls and keep to themselves. Outside is dangerous, full of poorer, hungrier, more desperate people, ready to steal and kill to survive. They keep trying to get inside, and Lauren is convinced that one day they'll succeed. Even if the rest of her neighbors don't want to face that possibility, she keeps herself ready. Despite her Baptist upbringing, Lauren starts to create a new religion: Earthseed.

I really enjoyed the diary format of this book. Written in the 1990s, it starts in 2024, the year I am reading this, and it is scary how plausible the dystopia is. Lauren's character is interesting, and I like that she tries to create her religion based on what she believes to be true, not for personal gain.