Scan barcode
A review by boba_n_books
Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
3.5
I think this would’ve been a very interesting novel to read for a high school AP class or a college English course.
Lauren, the main character and narrator, is an odd person. She never quite feels that she fits in her home neighborhood because she naively believes she is the only one who sees that trouble is coming. However, these beliefs are what lead her to create Earthseed—a religion whose main belief is that “God is change.” I found this to be an interesting concept as Lauren grows up and leaves her neighborhood.
The journal entries were an enjoyable way to read the story, but it makes me wonder how reliable a narrator Lauren really is.
I would have loved to see more of Lauren’s “sharing” abilities. They seemed to only come into play when it was convenient, but it was an interesting concept to bring up that is more prevalent in the latter half of the novel. I’m curious to see what the author does with that aspect of Lauren’s character in the next novel.
I loved the dynamic between Lauren and her father. I felt that he left or possibly died too soon in the story, but it’d be a good move in my opinion if Butler brought him back to reunite with Lauren in the next novel.
Lauren, the main character and narrator, is an odd person. She never quite feels that she fits in her home neighborhood because she naively believes she is the only one who sees that trouble is coming. However, these beliefs are what lead her to create Earthseed—a religion whose main belief is that “God is change.” I found this to be an interesting concept as Lauren grows up and leaves her neighborhood.
The journal entries were an enjoyable way to read the story, but it makes me wonder how reliable a narrator Lauren really is.
I would have loved to see more of Lauren’s “sharing” abilities. They seemed to only come into play when it was convenient, but it was an interesting concept to bring up that is more prevalent in the latter half of the novel. I’m curious to see what the author does with that aspect of Lauren’s character in the next novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Child death, Trafficking, Death of parent, Slavery, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Death
Moderate: Rape, Suicide, Police brutality, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Blood, Cannibalism, and Classism
Minor: Animal death and Sexual content
There are a lot of content warnings for this novel. Make sure to check them out before you read since there are a lot of triggering moments.