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A review by vrkinase0411
Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I can now see why people find this work to be prophetic. When we stand still long enough to look around us we can absolutely see what our hypo-empathetic and lack of history will turn us into.
I can't say I'm not offended, however, in Butler's portrayal of poor and homeless people along with conflating middle class "privileges" as something inherently communal. While, she does draw attention to the widening rich-poor gap, the ACTUAL poor seem to figuratively discarded for a sympathetic view of middle class destruction. Not sure that was her intention, but the demonizing of addicts and actual poor people while engendering sympathy for the loss of the middle class feels on brand for neoliberalism.
Aside from that, it was pointedly written to examine our current conditions and really look at where we are headed.
Olamina makes stark obersevations and creates a coping mechanism that drives her to action while allowing herself to submit to change.
I can't say I'm not offended, however, in Butler's portrayal of poor and homeless people along with conflating middle class "privileges" as something inherently communal. While, she does draw attention to the widening rich-poor gap, the ACTUAL poor seem to figuratively discarded for a sympathetic view of middle class destruction. Not sure that was her intention, but the demonizing of addicts and actual poor people while engendering sympathy for the loss of the middle class feels on brand for neoliberalism.
Aside from that, it was pointedly written to examine our current conditions and really look at where we are headed.
Olamina makes stark obersevations and creates a coping mechanism that drives her to action while allowing herself to submit to change.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Incest and Cannibalism