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A review by littlepepperguy
Clay's Ark by Octavia E. Butler
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
When I first started reading it I thought the reviews must have been exaggerating about the gratuitous assault and violence aaaand then I got about 75% of the way thru the novel and yeah it started to make a lot of sense.
The story is compelling, in the way that Butler is a master of scifi/fantasy writing and her unique prose style and timelines are intriguing. But yeah I really didn't see the literary value added by sooooo much violence against women and rape and illusions of incest. It just didn't serve a purpose to me and I think it muddled the meaning of the rest of the novel by the inclusion. I also did not appreciate the tone that was used for a majority of it as if the victim was consenting bc of a virus, yeah just dubious.
The story is compelling, in the way that Butler is a master of scifi/fantasy writing and her unique prose style and timelines are intriguing. But yeah I really didn't see the literary value added by sooooo much violence against women and rape and illusions of incest. It just didn't serve a purpose to me and I think it muddled the meaning of the rest of the novel by the inclusion. I also did not appreciate the tone that was used for a majority of it as if the victim was consenting bc of a virus, yeah just dubious.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Rape, Death of parent, Car accident, Sexual violence, Murder, Torture, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Confinement, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Incest