J.L. Sutton's Reviews > Parable of the Sower

"A lot of things changed for the survivors...It took a plague to make some of the people realize that things could change."



I reread Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower for a third or fourth? time for a second book club discussion. Everyone found it dark, but also thought it should be read. It also feels important. Another reason I recommend this book is because the sequel, Parable of the Talents is one of my favorite Butler novels as well as a fantastic read!

Earlier review:
2024 is bleak, very bleak! The following years are even darker. The United States looks like it is in its death throes. In Parable of the Sower, Octavia Butler presents a society broken into enclaves, all fighting for their survival. But outside their walls, it's worse. Unfortunately, that's where our hyper-empathy syndrome heroine, Lauren Olamina, is headed. There's a lot to think about here, but whether anything positive can come of the horror is still an open question at the end of the novel. The writing is engaging and, even when describing the madness of a crumbling society, keeps a nearly matter of fact tone. And it is believable. I will keep thinking about Parable of the Sower, and possibly update this review after my book club meets and discusses it. 4.5 stars...so my update is that my book club liked it so much that we chose the sequel for our next selection!