The Parable of the Sower (Parable, 1)
This acclaimed post-apocalyptic novel of hope and terror from an award-winning author "pairs well with 1984 or The Handmaid's Tale" and includes a foreword by N. K. Jemisin (John Green, New York Times). When global climate change and economic crises lead to social chaos in the early 2020s, California becomes full of dangers, from pervasive water shortage to masses of vagabonds who will do anything to live to see another day. Fifteen-year-old Lauren Olamina lives inside a gated community with her preacher father, family, and neighbors, sheltered from the surrounding anarchy. In a society where any vulnerability is a risk, she suffers from hyperempathy, a debilitating sensitivity to others' emotions. Precocious and clear-eyed, Lauren must make her voice heard in order to protect her loved ones from the imminent disasters her small community stubbornly ignores. But what begins as a fight for survival soon leads to something much more: the birth of a new faith . . . and a startling vision of human destiny.
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Community Reviews
Reread for book club. Octavia Butler is one of my favorite authors, but this is not my favorite novel by her by far. She was an incredibly compelling and riveting author, but not my favorite story.
Reread for book club. Octavia Butler is one of my favorite authors, but this is not my favorite novel by her by far. She was an incredibly compelling and riveting author, but not my favorite story.
I became interested in this book because of a random article that listed the best science fiction of the past 50 years. In the article, they mentioned how this book and its sequel discuss a new American president who's sole campaign slogan was filled with an empty, nonsensical promise to "Make America Great Again" all the while dealing with a somewhat post-Apocalyptic world. Considering the current political climate of our day, (and our moronic, con artist of a "president") I was intrigued.
I will also say that I am attempting to read more out of my normal "comfort zone" when it comes to the author. While recently taking a mental inventory of the type of author's that I normally read, I thought it would be a good change of pace to read a work by an author who is considered a non-traditional in the science fiction genre.
SO, intriguing premise and a prolific author in the genre that I love? "Sure," I thought, "I'll give it a shot!" But that's about as excited as I got.
Let me first clarify that I was interested in the book from the offset, and even though my interest waned, I was interested enough to finish to see where the narrative went. I also was interested because I know there is a sequel and I'm pretty forgiving to authors who take the first book in a series to really build and mold the world they are creating. But there is really nothing about this book that left me wanting more and I just wanted it to end.
I won't go into detail regarding the plot, characters, or themes ONLY because I don't want to turn someone off from reading this work for themselves and discovering if they like it or not. Because of that, my short review will end in this: I fully plan to continue to give Octavia Butler her due and read other works of hers in the future. She's a great writer, but in this particular instance I was simply left feeling... meh.
I will also say that I am attempting to read more out of my normal "comfort zone" when it comes to the author. While recently taking a mental inventory of the type of author's that I normally read, I thought it would be a good change of pace to read a work by an author who is considered a non-traditional in the science fiction genre.
SO, intriguing premise and a prolific author in the genre that I love? "Sure," I thought, "I'll give it a shot!" But that's about as excited as I got.
Let me first clarify that I was interested in the book from the offset, and even though my interest waned, I was interested enough to finish to see where the narrative went. I also was interested because I know there is a sequel and I'm pretty forgiving to authors who take the first book in a series to really build and mold the world they are creating. But there is really nothing about this book that left me wanting more and I just wanted it to end.
I won't go into detail regarding the plot, characters, or themes ONLY because I don't want to turn someone off from reading this work for themselves and discovering if they like it or not. Because of that, my short review will end in this: I fully plan to continue to give Octavia Butler her due and read other works of hers in the future. She's a great writer, but in this particular instance I was simply left feeling... meh.
It's really crazy that this work of art came out in the early 90s!! It's really frightening that a LOT of things that are currently occurring in this story are starting to unfold in real life!
All of that aside, that is a great read. It's written in a way that keeps you entertained and interested on every single page. I still have some questions on what ACTUALLY happened to some family members, but I won't give out spoilers.
I'll be reading the follow-up fairly soon!!
All of that aside, that is a great read. It's written in a way that keeps you entertained and interested on every single page. I still have some questions on what ACTUALLY happened to some family members, but I won't give out spoilers.
I'll be reading the follow-up fairly soon!!
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