Scan barcode
A review by speculativeshelves
Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
dark
tense
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? Yes
4.0
Parable of the Sower is quite a dark and bleak dystopian story but not entirely without hope. The first chapters of this book take place in 2024 and it's eerie to see parallels between the society depicted here and issues we are actually facing in 2024 in the United States (and around the world) today. Even though this book was written in the 90s, the issues the characters face here exist but this book depicts them a more extreme and dire level - climate change, corrupt government and police, extreme poverty, legal slavery by corporations, etc. Books like 1984 and The Handmaid's Tale get brought up a lot in comparing contemporary society to dystopian works of fiction but I feel that if we're close to any of them it might be this one.
It's a slower paced and more character focused story than I expected and so it took a bit for me to get fully invested. However the social commentary, exploration of religion, and the emphasis on community make this book quite compelling and there are lots of interesting threads set up to be explored in Parable of the Talents.
It's a slower paced and more character focused story than I expected and so it took a bit for me to get fully invested. However the social commentary, exploration of religion, and the emphasis on community make this book quite compelling and there are lots of interesting threads set up to be explored in Parable of the Talents.