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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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Tkimsal
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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I would like to share my gently used copy of Octavia E. Butler‘s novel PARABLE OF THE SOWER with an interested reader in the United States. Interested readers, please comment on this post. First interested commenter will get the book. #BookMail #BookGiveaway

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monalyisha
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E. Butler
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Pickpick

Prescient and poignant, especially regarding corporate greed & climate change. This was my first Octavia Butler. The pace picked up for me as soon as Lauren leaves home (“a tree cannot grow in its parents‘ shadows”). There are some powerful lessons conveyed about community and the dynamic nature of gender. What I didn‘t find particularly dynamic, however, was the tone. For this reason, it won‘t ever become one of my favorites. Still, I respect it.

TheBookHippie The tone is hard for me as well, I do respect all her books, and I am glad I read them. 6d
ravenlee That‘s a really good way to put it. I found it interesting yet off-putting at the same time, and I think you nailed down why. 6d
51 likes1 stack add2 comments
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monalyisha
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E. Butler
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I despise working the late shift…but I can‘t be mad about slow mornings.

AnnCrystal 💕🐶🐾💝. 1w
dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 1w
54 likes1 stack add2 comments
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angieinwonderland
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E. Butler
Bailedbailed

This book became too emotionally heavy to read in this world with everything I had going on personally. I'll pick it up again.

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Tkimsal
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 1mo
10 likes1 comment
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Tkimsal
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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Book club day is always a good day! #FirstSaturdayReaders

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Tkimsal
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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September, October and November for book club. #FirstSaturdayReaders #bookclub

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Tkimsal
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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Up next for book club. #FirstSaturdayReaders #BookClub

16 likes1 stack add
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Tamra
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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Mehso-so

Well, I‘ve finally read it. The writing is great, but it‘s difficult for me to say I enjoyed it given the subject matter and context I‘m reading it in now. Chaos, disorder, little respect for humanity, and idea of states having what amounts to national borders.

The so-so rating is only because speculative fiction isn‘t my bag and I am not intrigued enough to read the second novel. It‘s too bad Butler didn‘t live to write the third!

60 likes1 stack add
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pilardib
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E. Butler

I'm finally reading Parable of the Sower and I had no idea the diary entries start in July 2024. It's an odd feeling to pick a book and see it starts around the day you started reading it 😅

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Tamra
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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Watching the Harris fundraiser in GA with my current read; such a prescient novel. Please let the seeds fall on fertile ground!

Aimeesue One of my favorites! But frightening in it the way current positions play out. 2mo
Texreader Such a good book 2mo
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Bookpearl
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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Show us what you are reading this weekend! Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler July 20, 2024…IYKYK. Love & Whisky by Fawn Weaver…history not being told. #weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

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Hooked_on_books
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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Pickpick

I heard on a podcast that this book, published in 1993, starts in July 2024. So I figured I‘d give it a try. And yeah, it‘s superb. I think I had written it off before because of the religious elements, but I am so engrossed in the story that you better believe I‘ll be reading book 2.

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Cortg
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Pickpick

This is a heavy read. It‘s deep. It‘s complex. The characters, the issues, the world. It‘s scary because it‘s not far from current issues and the brink we are living with climate change and covid. I‘ll be thinking about this one for some time. There‘s so much to take in and absorb. It‘s interesting that Butler‘s ideas of the world in the 90‘s are not too far off from what we are living in ‘24. Exaggerated, but not by much.

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rretzler
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E. Butler
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#motivationalmonday 1. Have new dishwasher installed (old one broke last week) and celebrate younger son‘s 19th birthday 🎂 2. Dark now, but our covered patio furniture 🌖 3. Dublin, Ohio, suburb of Columbus - warm and sunny today 😎 4. Tagged 👆🏻📖🎧

Cupcake12 Thanks for joining in. Have a great week x 6mo
28 likes1 comment
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Cortg
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E. Butler
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Glad I took an extra “just in case” book with me on my travels. It‘ll come in handy with an unexpected extended stay.

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LeaKell
Parable of the Sower | Octavia E Butler
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Pickpick

This 1993 book hit a little too close to home at times. Butler‘s book remains relevant and insightful.

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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. 💖 8mo
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 🥺 8mo
Michellesibs @Melismatic I can see why ❤️ 7mo
Michellesibs @E.Bolhafner tell him it's a good book for reading slumps! 7mo
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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. 😟 8mo
Itchyfeetreader Beautiful review 8mo
IndoorDame Great review! 8mo
See All 15 Comments
erzascarletbookgasm Well said! This reminds me, I should read Parable of the Talents 8mo
sarahbarnes Great review. 💔💔 8mo
Tamra I‘ve been meaning to read this for so long, I have to bump it up now! 😍 8mo
batsy @quietlycuriouskate I'm quite stunned at how she managed to see exactly how things play out 😔 8mo
batsy @erzascarletbookgasm Yes, I wanted to read it right away but also felt like it might be much too heavy too soon. 8mo
batsy @Tamra I very much recommend it. And also be prepared 💔 8mo
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. 8mo
jlhammar So good, but such a tough read. I still need to get to Parable of the Talents. 8mo
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. 8mo
Rissreads I loved this! 7mo
batsy @Rissreads So good! 7mo
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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. 8mo
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. 8mo
Itchyfeetreader This is a great review of a book I remember as being absolutely horrifyingly great 8mo
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 😞 8mo
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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 🤔 12mo
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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 ❤️🩷❤️ 12mo
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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 1y
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. 1y
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! 1y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Pretty nail polish 💅 1y
35 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. 1y
5feet.of.fury Reading books, talking about books & buying books. The holy trinity. 1y
Ruthiella How fun! The perfect seat mate. 1y
77 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 😑 1y
Deblovestoread I‘ve read this one and plan to read the sequel for the prompt. @Cinfhen Have you read 1y
vivastory @Cinfhen I don't know if you have read it, but I think you might like Kindred 1y
See All 10 Comments
vivastory @Deblovestoread Great minds 👏 1y
KateReadsYA Very nice. Are you giving a thumbs up or down on this one?! I'll be starting it next week 🤗 1y
Librarybelle I‘m still deciding which one to read for this prompt! 1y
Cinfhen I did read Kindred @vivastory @Deblovestoread and I DID like it 🩷 1y
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 1y
Cinfhen Thanks for the suggestion @vivastory 🖤 1y
Read4life @KateReadsYA It‘s not for me. But judging by the other comments on here, maybe I should try Kindred. 1y
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!! 1y
KateReadsYA @BooksNBowls Thank you 💖 1y
Read4life Starting this one in a few days so I‘m done before it‘s due back at the library. 1y
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! 1y
brittanyreads That cover is beautiful 1y
SamAnne Looking forward to reading it with this group! 1y
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. 1y
KateReadsYA @SamAnne Me too. It'll be my first Read by this author. 1y
BookmarkTavern Woohoo! 🎉🎉 1y
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) 1y
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. 1y
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. 1y
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. 1y
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. 1y
44 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 👏👏👏🙌🥳🍾🥂 1y
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 😁 1y
36 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 🤣🤣 2y
TheBookHippie I feel the same way. I‘ve not read it in a long while but that‘s how I felt too. 2y
gossamerchild @TheBookHippie have you read the second one? 2y
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TheBookHippie @gossamerchild I DNF 😝 I think the writing is good and I understand why it‘s classic but I just cannot. It frustrated me. 2y
gossamerchild @TheBookHippie good to know. I plan on at least trying it 😁 2y
TheBookHippie @gossamerchild good luck!!! 🤞🏻 2y
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 🤩 2y
TheKidUpstairs That kitty is so cute (and the tagged book is FANTASTIC!) 2y
gossamerchild @Cinfhen I can confirm they are fantastic. And taste good in coffee, too ☺️ 2y
gossamerchild @TheKidUpstairs I'm so excited for the Octavia Butler! 2y
RowReads1 You‘re welcome ☺️ enjoy! 2y
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 … 2y
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.