Who Would Like This Book:
This novel brings an unsettlingly plausible vision of a near-future America unraveling from climate change, economic collapse, and social inequality. Octavia E. Butler's sharp eye for human nature and social structures shines through, and the story's combination of survival tale, coming-of-age journey, and the creation of a new philosophy (Earthseed) gives it a rare depth. Lauren Olamina, the young Black female lead, is a refreshing and realistic protagonist - resourceful, flawed, and determined. If you love thought-provoking dystopias like The Handmaid's Tale, 1984, or The Road - or if you want a more diverse and gritty take on apocalyptic fiction, you’ll find Parable of the Sower delivers.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers are put off by the novel’s bleakness - it is not a cheerful read and pulls no punches with depictions of violence, poverty, and desperation. The pacing can feel slow, especially in the first half, and Lauren’s philosophical and religious musings (Earthseed verses) may feel repetitive or heavy-handed to those who prefer action over introspection. Others have found the world-building at times inconsistent or would have liked more clarity about the causes of the societal downfall. The relentlessly grim atmosphere, graphic content, and the novel’s seriousness might not click with folks looking for escapist or light dystopian fare.
About:
In the book 'Parable of the Sower' by Octavia E. Butler, readers are taken on a journey through a dystopian near future California where society has collapsed due to climate change, political discord, violence, and social unrest. The story follows a young African American woman named Lauren Olamina who possesses hyperempathy syndrome, allowing her to feel the pain and pleasure of those around her. As she navigates the chaos and destruction around her, Lauren creates a new religion called Earthseed, aiming to prepare for a new society among the stars. The novel delves into themes of survival, community-building, philosophical reflections on change, and the power of resilience in the face of adversity.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book contains high content warnings for sexual violence, murder, drug abuse, and general violence.
From The Publisher:
Parable of the Sower is the Butlerian odyssey of one woman who is twice as feeling in a world that has become doubly dehumanized. The time is 2025. The place is California, where small walled communities must protect themselves from hordes of desperate scavengers and roaming bands of people addicted to a drug that activates an orgasmic desire to burn, rape, and murder. When one small community is overrun, Lauren Olamina, an 18 year old black woman with the hereditary train of "hyperempathy"-which causes her to feel others' pain as her own-sets off on foot along the dangerous coastal highways, moving north into the unknown.
Ratings (233)
Incredible (59) | |
Loved It (88) | |
Liked It (54) | |
It Was OK (20) | |
Did Not Like (10) | |
Hated It (2) |
Reader Stats (763):
Read It (238) | |
Currently Reading (5) | |
Want To Read (394) | |
Did Not Finish (14) | |
Not Interested (112) |
6 comment(s)
Though I found it slow and a little hard to get through, the book feels important. It speaks of important things, and could act as a warning for us. A call to embrace and guide change, a message about the danger of empathy in a painful and corrupted world, yet perhaps it is empathy that is our hope for a better one. It speaks to the reality of modern slavery and greed, and ultimately scares me in how this book seems prophetic to our world today of corrupt leaders, systems, racism, and exploitation of the poor. Perhaps the message and warning of this book is the seed being sown. I pray we will one day be the good soil.
Amazing - our problems today clearly started before Butler wrote this fascinating novel, but she has so much clarity on their causes that it seems she was prophetic.
In this day and age, I don't necessarily want to be reminded of how shitty the world could get. Also, just terribly slow.
3.5⭐ - I liked it. But it feels like a long prologue to the next book.
Distopia escrita hace 30 años pero que acierta bastante.
Como alguien que vive en California que es donde esto esta situado, puedo dar fe de que el cambio climático esta haciendo que el agua sea un recurso muy escaso y que hay mucho vagabundo suelto.
Siempre es impresionante cuando un libro hace eso.
Otra cosa que hace bien son los personajes, los delimita muy bien, aunque hay un gran elenco esta bastante diferenciado y sin caer en tópicos.
La prosa fluye y siendo un libro relativamente corto, se le muy rapido.
La conclusion en cambio me pareció bastante floja, por eso no le doy 5 estrellas, no voy a entrar en detalles.
Deeply uncomfortable to read
What can you read after
Parable of the Sower?
About the Author:
Octavia E. Butler (1947-2006) was the author of many novels, including Dawn, Wild Seed, andParable of the Sower. She was the recipient of a MacArthur Award and a Nebula Award, and she twice won the Hugo Award.
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