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

dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Not going to lie: I generally prefer fantasy over sci-fi and this book was part of a list I had to read for class. That being said, I'm glad this book came across my path. Even though it was written in the 90s, the issues it tackles still rings a frightful warning to us in the 2020s. Butler tackles issues of race, religion, climate change, and more in such a way that forces reflection upon the modern world. My copy is literally full of annotations. If you want to think and reflect on the world, read this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Murder

So, I started putting content warnings but realized that I would be there all day. Butler's writing is very blunt and that is part of the appeal. You cannot mis-read any of the commentaries she is trying to make. This is definitely a heavy book -- focusing on the faults of humanity and, while there is hope, those faults can feel overwhelming at times.