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Parable of the Sower
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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.
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RickW
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E. Butler
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Started reading this one and I love the style of this first person narrative. I‘m 7 chapters in and the whole thing is thought provoking. Where have I been in science fiction land to have missed Octavia Butler? I only heard about her when she died but never read her works until now. And boy is this a doozy. Her thoughts and ideas on religion are truly unique and giving the narrative to a YA teenager makes it innocent and compelling.

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Creme_de_la_them
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E. Butler
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Pickpick

So good. So hard. The book starts in 2024 and looks at a world ravaged by climate change, poverty, and corruption. It‘s a tale of survival and adaptation, change and consistency. This is the kind of book that stays with you. It‘s a gentle but persistent haunting.

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Michellesibs
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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Pickpick

Lauren lives in a gated community with her family, she feels other people's pleasure and pain. Lauren knows the world can only get darker.

Written in a diary format this is Earthseed, the Books of the Living.

My second book by the author and her writing is extremely accessible and her insights are very realistic. The world she creates here isn't that far fetched anymore.

Melismatic One of my absolute fave reads of all time. 💖 1mo
E.Bolhafner I loved this book. I haven‘t read it in a hot minute. Pretty sure I loaned my copy to my son and he is currently not reading 🥺 1mo
Michellesibs @Melismatic I can see why ❤️ 1mo
Michellesibs @E.Bolhafner tell him it's a good book for reading slumps! 1mo
48 likes1 stack add4 comments
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batsy
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E. Butler
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Pickpick

Bleak, grim, & all too real. Butler was prescient in how dystopia comes to be; it's emerging in pockets of societies all over the world as a culmination of fascism & the capitalist climate crisis. Reading this was hard & it gave me nightmares. Reading it right now is too much. Butler's writing is both beautiful & matter-of-fact. I found myself wanting to debate Earthseed with Lauren. I find myself wanting to ask Butler how to get out of this mess.

quietlycuriouskate Yes to all of the above. 😟 1mo
Itchyfeetreader Beautiful review 1mo
IndoorDame Great review! 1mo
See All 15 Comments
erzascarletbookgasm Well said! This reminds me, I should read Parable of the Talents 1mo
sarahbarnes Great review. 💔💔 1mo
Tamra I‘ve been meaning to read this for so long, I have to bump it up now! 😍 1mo
batsy @quietlycuriouskate I'm quite stunned at how she managed to see exactly how things play out 😔 1mo
batsy @erzascarletbookgasm Yes, I wanted to read it right away but also felt like it might be much too heavy too soon. 1mo
batsy @Tamra I very much recommend it. And also be prepared 💔 1mo
Ruthiella I love Butler‘s straight forward writing style and her fearlessness to address divisive issues. None of her books are easy to read, in that respect, for sure. 1mo
jlhammar So good, but such a tough read. I still need to get to Parable of the Talents. 1mo
batsy @Ruthiella @jlhammar I need a bit of time before Talents but definitely want to read it soon. Yes, tough and uncompromising writer but so necessary right now. 1mo
Rissreads I loved this! 1mo
batsy @Rissreads So good! 1mo
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Mary_Reads
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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Pickpick

2024: 8
First 5 star read of the year. Octavia Butler's books give me anxiety in the best way. Her novels and characters are easy to get invested in so you really feel the story. This post apocalyptic novel is terrifying in how ordinary the atrocities happening are. There's no super bug or nuclear fall out, just plain old human hubris. Massive inflation, water shortages, and gross wealth disparity lead America to regress.

Mary_Reads The parallels drawn with slavery/indentured servitude, the great depression, Jim Crowe, migrants rights keep every page of this book feeling like it's a forewarning of what could happen if we're not careful. Coincidently, this book was published in 1993 but is set between 2024 and 2027. 2mo
Mary_Reads If you're looking to add more POC authors to your TBR, I highly recommend Octavia Butler. Her book Kindred was also a 5 star read for me. 2mo
Itchyfeetreader This is a great review of a book I remember as being absolutely horrifyingly great 2mo
batsy Nice review! I'm reading it now. Excellent so far, but with chapter I feel the bleakness set in. It's way too prescient 😞 2mo
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thewallflower0707
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Pickpick

Parable of the Sower depicts an America that deals with a water crisis, wildfires, unemployment and general collapse of society. It‘s a dystopia set in 2024 (yikes) and it actually & brutally shows what women would have to fear in such a situation, so be aware, there is a lot of sexual violence shown.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️,5/5

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claudiuo
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E. Butler
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Prodigy is, at its essence, adaptability and persistent, positive obsession. #FirstLineFridays

ShyBookOwl Love Butler, but never made it through this one for some reason 🤔 5mo
19 likes1 comment
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claudiuo
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E. Butler
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Due to a StoryGraph challenge I finally got to read a book by this great writer. Had no idea what to expect going in, just what a friend told me: it is dark. Dark? Extremely dark! It's the darkest dystopian book I've ever read: kept hoping things are getting better, but did they ever? What made the book bearable were the Earthseed verses at the start of each chapter, bringing some hope.

Definitely a pick!

@PuddleJumper alt #Roll100 October pick

PuddleJumper ❤️🩷❤️ 5mo
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WeAreLegion
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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Pickpick

I admit to being just a bit tired of post apocalypse fiction. And this is an ‘after the end of the world‘ tale with no zombies, pandemic or alien invaders. It‘s simply the future we expect, after neglecting our environment and democracy for decades. But in the hands of this writer, we get a deeply human account of what life means after the fall. What is the purpose of continuing on. What keeps us going. At times sad, but ultimately uplifting.

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ravenlee
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Pickpick

Very good, but not the least bit enjoyable to read, IMO. Which, to be fair, is mostly how I feel about dystopian fiction in general - the present is terrifying enough, I don‘t like to imagine this very possible future! The first 90% is bleak, but some hope shows up toward the end. I don‘t think I could read the sequel. #52books23 #dystopian

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KateReadsYA
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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BooksNBowls I really related to Lauren and her desire to find something bigger than herself to be a part of. The themes of religion and classism were really intriguing, and it was eerie how spot on this book was. Hard to believe it came out in the 90s. It definitely wasn‘t what I expected, but I still really liked it! Unfortunately this only felt like part 1. Unfinished, so I think I will finish the series. 4/5 8mo
KateReadsYA @BooksNBowls I read a little into book 2 and it's supposed to be a whole lot going on haha like this one was definitely a setup for book 2! It's pretty crazy that she wrote it in the 90s and were passed 2012 but still battling racism, hunger, and more. The fact that people were still having babies blew my mind lol. 8mo
37 likes2 comments
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ChaoticMissAdventures
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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Pickpick

4⭐ for writing and world building, this is the mother to most dystopian books we see nowadays.
But on a personal level I didn't enjoy this. It is really dark, and missing the hope that more current books have been able to bring in. I did enjoy it more than the last couple of Pattermaster books which were too violent and focused on "breeding". So I would recommend this more. It is interesting how Lauren is building a cult, I will read book 2.

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ChaoticMissAdventures
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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JULY 2024.
I should have waited until next year to read this!
It is always interesting to read a dystopian book written decades ago while you are in the future they imagined.

reading.rainb0w This books hits reality too hard, but it's so good! Hope you enjoy! 8mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Pretty nail polish 💅 8mo
34 likes2 comments
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KateReadsYA
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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Mehso-so

This is one of those books that has great writing and a good storyline but was a process for me to get through as I felt I was very bored the whole time I was reading it. This is a read perfect for discussions, though, as it talks about a futuristic earth and what it could possibly become. I can't wait to discuss with #whimsicalreads book club at the end of the month.

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KateReadsYA
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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Catching a flight to Texas and met the sweetest book lover! She sat next to me and took out her Kindle and I immediately started up a convo in hopes she would want to talk books. Let's just say we didn't read any haha 📚🛩☕️

S3V3N I love when I run into a book lover somewhere. 9mo
5feet.of.fury Reading books, talking about books & buying books. The holy trinity. 9mo
Ruthiella How fun! The perfect seat mate. 8mo
76 likes3 comments
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BooksNBowls
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
Pickpick

Waiting to discuss with my ladies of #WhimisicalReadsBookclub, but omg this was fantastic, heartbreaking, and eerie simply for the fact that it‘s TOO real! Octavia Butler- author ir psychic? Idk but I love her and this. 4.25/5

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KateReadsYA
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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🧡 Chapter 1 was very lovely! Ready to see where this story takes me.

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Read4life
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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Cinfhen I still have this prompt left. I‘m just not feeling it 😑 9mo
Deblovestoread I‘ve read this one and plan to read the sequel for the prompt. @Cinfhen Have you read 9mo
vivastory @Cinfhen I don't know if you have read it, but I think you might like Kindred 9mo
See All 10 Comments
vivastory @Deblovestoread Great minds 👏 9mo
KateReadsYA Very nice. Are you giving a thumbs up or down on this one?! I'll be starting it next week 🤗 9mo
Librarybelle I‘m still deciding which one to read for this prompt! 9mo
Cinfhen I did read Kindred @vivastory @Deblovestoread and I DID like it 🩷 9mo
vivastory @Cinfhen I have read a few of her other books but none of are ones that I think you would like. The only one that I think you *might* like is 9mo
Cinfhen Thanks for the suggestion @vivastory 🖤 9mo
Read4life @KateReadsYA It‘s not for me. But judging by the other comments on here, maybe I should try Kindred. 9mo
55 likes10 comments
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BooksNBowls
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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For the month of July, #WhimsicalReadsBookclub is reading Parable of the Sower from the amazing Octavia E. Butler!

Synopsis: In 2025, with the world descending into madness and anarchy, one woman begins a fateful journey toward a better future.

If you would like to join us, we will be discussing on @KateReadsYA page on the last day of the month! I‘m so excited for this one!

29 likes1 stack add
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KateReadsYA
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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BooksNBowls Im about to repost!! 9mo
KateReadsYA @BooksNBowls Thank you 💖 9mo
Read4life Starting this one in a few days so I‘m done before it‘s due back at the library. 9mo
45 likes1 stack add3 comments
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LitsyEvents
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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This will be #whimsicalreads book club pick for July!!!!! Everyone is welcome to join us.

repost for @KateReadsYA

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KateReadsYA
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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KristiAhlers Yay! 10mo
brittanyreads That cover is beautiful 10mo
SamAnne Looking forward to reading it with this group! 10mo
See All 7 Comments
KateReadsYA @BrittanyReads Right! I'm debating if should try to buy this one with this cover or get it from the library to return. I hate not knowing if I'm gonna like a book or not. 10mo
KateReadsYA @SamAnne Me too. It'll be my first Read by this author. 10mo
BooksNBowls @LitsyEvents !!!! 😁 10mo
BookmarkTavern Woohoo! 🎉🎉 9mo
53 likes7 comments
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5feet.of.fury
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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Mehso-so

I have been trying to read this genre defining iconic book for a while. Butler invented hyperempathy before everyone was an empath, & (before we somewhat saw 1st hand) predicted how quickly everyone could turn on eachother & slide back 200 years.

Unpopular opinion: It was a slog. There were few peaks & valleys of emotional highs & lows. For long stretches Lauren‘s hyperempathy or religion played no role. Everyone is just walking around.

Karisimo Have you read Kindred? I liked it much more than this one! (edited) 10mo
5feet.of.fury @Karisimo I haven‘t! But I will keep it in mind! I would read this author again, the pace was just very difficult for me. 10mo
Kitta I found it a slog too and not what I‘d hoped for given all the good things people say about it! I don‘t know if I‘ll read the next ones. 10mo
5feet.of.fury @Kitta I‘m glad it wasn‘t just me! I know this is a standard in the genre and has great ratings everywhere… it has never taken me this long to get through 330 pages, I was really trying. 10mo
Kitta Yeah, I‘m a huge fan of the post apocalyptic fiction genre and this just didn‘t do it for me. Maybe the next one in the series is better, I‘m assuming it‘s about the community they build? But this felt like I was travelling with them forever. 10mo
43 likes1 stack add5 comments
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5feet.of.fury
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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So none of this went how I predicted.
Idk what is with me and the tagged book, but I *am* going to finish it (soonish) & am glad I made some real progress. But it is crunch time for Legends & Lattes since it‘s due back in 5 days 🧐
3 physical books thanks to lots of reading outside in the sun 👍
Only finished 1 audiobook. Didn‘t get as far in to 🎧 of Monsters We Defy because the aux cord in my car broke 😂😩
#20in4
Thanks as always @Andrew65 !

Andrew65 Awesome. Well done and thanks for taking part 👏👏👏🙌🥳🍾🥂 10mo
40 likes1 comment
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5feet.of.fury
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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This is the most chaotic TBR I‘ve made for 1 of these.

I only really care about reading Parable, which I started reading again last night because I couldn‘t get L&L to download & I couldn‘t sleep, I‘ve pushed off this book 100 times in favor of library holds, & I know I would like it.

& as many physical books as possible (I picked the shortest ones, except The Witcher)

I‘m sure I‘ll finish the audiobooks, already started 1

#20in4

Andrew65 Great to have you with us, good luck 😁 10mo
35 likes1 comment
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gossamerchild
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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Pickpick

Finished this on the way down to Florida last week. I started and ended my vacation reading on VERY different notes.

I am conflicted about this one. Everything about it was compelling, except Lauren's obsession with starting a new religion. That gave me so much pause, because what she was describing will inevitably lead to a cult. ⬇️

gossamerchild Or is that just me being cynical? Because I fully supported everything she was saying, I just wish it didn't have to be a religion. Maybe I should actually read reviews of this one 🤣🤣 12mo
TheBookHippie I feel the same way. I‘ve not read it in a long while but that‘s how I felt too. 12mo
gossamerchild @TheBookHippie have you read the second one? 12mo
See All 6 Comments
TheBookHippie @gossamerchild I DNF 😝 I think the writing is good and I understand why it‘s classic but I just cannot. It frustrated me. 12mo
gossamerchild @TheBookHippie good to know. I plan on at least trying it 😁 12mo
TheBookHippie @gossamerchild good luck!!! 🤞🏻 12mo
38 likes6 comments
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IamIamIam
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This book is scarier than any horror or true crime I've ever read... I'm not even sure I'll be able to make it through. This part of the book takes place in 2027, which is looming on the horizon...

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IamIamIam
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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My one and only freezer book... I tried this in 2020 and it was just so probable that I freaked out. Sadly, 3 years later and we're not only closer to this life but it starts in 2024. This hits my Published in the 90s #bookspin choice (I struck out on the other 2 books) but Lord, this book is GRIM... 😮‍💨

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PNWBookseller85
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Pickpick

Ooof. This one hurt my heart. My first Octavia Butler and holy hell can that woman write. Read it if you haven‘t. But prepare yourself. Like Morrison, it‘ll leave you wrecked.

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gossamerchild
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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Thank you so much, @RowReads1 , for the incredibly generous #muglove! I adore the kitty mug and can't wait to dive into the books. I'm using one of the stir sticks in my coffee this morning 😍😍. And the coffee looks fabulous. Thank you!

@TheKidUpstairs @Cinfhen

Cinfhen Those stir sticks look AMAZING 🤩 13mo
TheKidUpstairs That kitty is so cute (and the tagged book is FANTASTIC!) 13mo
gossamerchild @Cinfhen I can confirm they are fantastic. And taste good in coffee, too ☺️ 13mo
gossamerchild @TheKidUpstairs I'm so excited for the Octavia Butler! 13mo
RowReads1 You‘re welcome ☺️ enjoy! 13mo
42 likes5 comments
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hissingpotatoes
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E. Butler
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Pickpick

5/5⭐ Riveting. Lauren's voice is so strong and distinct. I couldn't stay away from her perseverance and dedication to the Earthseed religion she develops, the hope it promises in a devolving world. That world is just a single terrifying step away from our own, and in some cases not even that far away. The description of science fiction as being just a progression of what the author sees happening already is never more true than it is in this book.

5feet.of.fury I‘ve really got to finish this one at some point. I have it digital and abandoned it for library books and then forgot about it … 13mo
25 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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hissingpotatoes
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E. Butler
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But if everyone could feel everyone else‘s pain, who would torture? Who would cause anyone unnecessary pain?

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hissingpotatoes
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E. Butler
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I don't know whether good times are coming back again. But I know that won't matter if we don't survive these times.

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hissingpotatoes
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E. Butler
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None of us knows very much. But we can all learn more. Then we can teach one another. We can stop denying reality or hoping it will go away by magic.

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Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E. Butler
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@andrew65 Lofty goals for #FabulousFebruary but I'm hoping that my nights involve more reading & less working and that I do more audiobook listening & less singing on my drive to MA & back.

Finish Parable of the Sower 50% 🎧
Finish Tell Me Lies 75% 📖
Catch up The Hurricane 📖
Catch up Dearest Josephine 📖
Read Can You Sign My Tentacle 📖
Read another audiobook 🎧
(In the Time of the Butterflies or My Name is Carrie Soto if my hold comes in)

Andrew65 Great goals, best of luck with them. 😁 14mo
38 likes1 comment
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andrew61
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Pickpick

Written in 93 about a 2024 America in which society has disintegrated + violence erupts on the streets with law enforcement corrupt + uninterested, the book feels incredibly unnerving. The author writes so easily creating a compelling narrative abt a yng woman Lauren who escapes a massacre ,leading a small growing band to the north. She's a sensor of pain+ has her own religious faith. Excellent storytelling but disturbing, will rd the next v soon

Aimeesue LoveLoveLove Octavia B! ❤️❤️❤️ 14mo
55 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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vonnie862
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E. Butler
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I did good. I only got 1 book for myself (left) and one for my husband (right) at the bookstore. I. Am. Strong! 😅😂

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britt_reads
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E. Butler
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Pickpick

Starting off the year with an unsettling dystopian that is eerily prescient and set in a very near future. I‘m so glad that I finally got around to this, and I can‘t wait to read more of Octavia Butler‘s work.

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psalva
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Pickpick

This dystopian novel is scary in its depiction of a not-so-distant, almost completely believable future. Butler really is a master at observing human behaviors and motivations. I strongly disliked the questionable relationship between Lauren (19) and a man her father‘s age or older. I just couldn‘t see the value of this plot development. But overall this was a great read, and I‘ll read the sequel soon. Finn found it less interesting. #catsoflitsy

CBee I love your kitty! And you caught the perfect pic 😊 1y
26 likes1 comment
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Nessavamusic
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Pickpick

I finally have read this new sci-fi classic. In a very near future with scarily similar problems to today, a woman works to survive and envisions a better way of life. I look forward to reading the second book of this duology. 5⭐️

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Nathan_Opland-Dobs
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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Pickpick

😅

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DanaR
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E. Butler

Great book, so much to unpack. Will pick up the next in the series when I can. Chaotic but soooo good! So many facets of human nature seen, and many responses to adversity.

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RebL
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E. Butler
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I am not likely to do well in any apocalyptic scenario, & I can‘t get behind the effort to create a utopia. However, this story is going to make a great film/limited series, ala Walking Dead but more femme.
~
My one apocalyptic skill, I can change a flat in no time. How many flats should one person have in a year?

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SpaceCowboyBooks
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Today's reading

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karri53191
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Creadnorthey
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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Pickpick

This was a dark reflection of our now time stretched to a near future possibility- on the shelf next to others who take on the apocalyptic, this stands out with its vivid violence, terrifying nail-on-the-head speculation and beautiful moments of hope. Excellent read.

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Sydneypaige
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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I understand why Black women are encouraging everyone to read this instead of The Handmaids Tale. I was surprised, at first, the absence of the reproductive rights centrality because of the connection the two books are highlighted to have. But the longer I read, the more I understand why this book mirrors our time so much better than Handmaids. And again how white feminism lets us down. I will absolutely be reading the second book.

17 likes1 stack add
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BC_Dittemore
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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Pickpick

Told in a series of diary entries, Parable of the Sower could have been a tedious read in the hands of a lesser author. Butler is able to perfectly balance the voice of a young, intelligent, woman in such a way that, yes, it reads like journal entries, but they draw the reader into the world so easily that we forget it. Reading this in 2022 is particularly harrowing because America is so close to descending into the future portrayed here.

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BC_Dittemore
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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I think Octavia E. Butler‘s bio might be one of the best I‘ve ever read.