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Maryann's Reviews > Parable of the Sower

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
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it was ok

What bothers me most about this book, is probably the acclaim. Contrary to countless raving reviews about this book being pivotal and poignant-- I can say with every fiber of my being, that this book was a waste of my time. Many reviews mention President Donner and similarities to Trump. That's cool and all, but it's really about one page, and half a page somewhere else. The implications of that presidency are not discussed. Chances are--whatever you like, WILL NOT be expounded upon, unless you happen to be very enamored with the protagonist's crappy attitude.

I picked this book because I love a dystopian read, but it certainly fell flat. The first half of the book is *decent.* Meaning, I was moderately connected and *okay* with the trajectory of the book. But overall, I found it awful at many moments.

From an unlikable, sanctimonious, protagonist, to childish prose, to under-developed plot lines, to a made-up religion that comprises 85% of the book/story as opposed to the much more interesting questions of how society came to be as warped as it was in the novel. The viewpoint completely shifts from the madness going on in the outside world, to the main character's "clan" and their OVERLY detailed shenanigans that literally comprise the last 50% of the book. It was a boring coming-of-age- story and random chaos, wrapped in a "theme" of dystopia. Be forewarned. I had to skip rather large paragraphs about Earthseed and new characters brought in just to move the plot.

Even the ENDING was horrid. On the second to last page, I was rooting that someone would just kill the main character already because I was that worn-out by her at the end. Very disappointing.
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Reading Progress

Finished Reading
April 19, 2018 – Shelved as: to-read
April 19, 2018 – Shelved

Comments Showing 1-15 of 15 (15 new)

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message 1: by RC (new) - rated it 2 stars

RC Agree completely


Audrey I had to come looking for a review that expressed my feelings - here it is!


message 3: by CM (new)

CM I can't agree more. Most over-hyped book I've ever read.


message 4: by Amy (new) - rated it 2 stars

Amy Couldn't agree more; so confused as to how it's acclaimed. I found it dull and lacking in complexity


message 5: by Genny (new) - rated it 2 stars

Genny I agree! I found it to fall flat as well.


Vanessa Dargain I thought it was a well written hunk of bittersweetness too . Not my usual choice of dystopian narratives . One of my old college professors gave it to me for a Christmas present . So I read it out of respect for his literary knowledge . However . . .
He's the kind of reader who likes read stuff like THE NOSE and THE OVERCOAT by Nikolai Gogol and ONE DAY IN THE LIFE OF IVAN DENISOVICH by Alexander Solzhenitsyn .


LybGyde Totally agree


Jonathan Levine 100% agree with this review


message 9: by Alex (new) - rated it 2 stars

Alex Ward 100% agreed. I kept wanting to quit the book but I’m a completionist and had to fight myself every step of the way 😂


message 10: by Jo (new) - rated it 2 stars

Jo Scoble Thank you. Couldn’t have put it better myself. Felt like a long anecdote.


Nicholas I wanted to like this book, but about 35% through and I am just hoping to finish it. The writing is so dull and repetitive and unengaging.


message 12: by Greg (new) - rated it 2 stars

Greg L Agree


message 13: by Diana (new) - rated it 1 star

Diana Sheckler Oh thank goodness- the first half was “fine” and now I’m struggling through this. I am so tempted to DNF


message 14: by Zakiyuh (new) - added it

Zakiyuh "...as opposed to the much more interesting questions of how society came to be as warped as it was in the novel." How American society reached that crumbling point is as clear in the book as it is in reality, but only for those who were paying attention.


Chantelle Erickson This review summed up exactly how I felt about this book. It took me a year to finish it because it was utterly disappointing. I do find the societal parallels interesting when it comes to the West Coast USA in modern day, which is interesting because I started reading the book in 2024, but the main characters the book ruined the book. After all of the mentions of her Earth Sees religion, I still didn’t even understand the main values of her spiritual beliefs. It had moments that were interesting, but overall a disappointing and DRY read.


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