Parable of the Sower

rayray_goreng shared a tip "This book had good reviews and dystopian sci-fi is one of my favorite genres. From beginning to end, this book did not disappoint. Set in a mid-2020s USA imploding from crime, poverty, and income inequality, Butler's vision encapsulates our worst fears about living in a failed state--the idea of which is even more tangible in 2022 than 30 years earlier when the book was originally published; a true mark of literary genius."

adelaide_ponte_usdin shared a tip "It pains me to say this but I really did not like this book. I struggled reading and finishing this. I had to put it down on page 164. I liked the science fiction components but the religious stuff was a lot for me personally. However it was beautifully written and a great wake up call."

eve_4484 shared a tip "This book felt like a possible glimpse into the future and spurred on an obsession with survivalist literature with me. It was long but every page was packed to the brim with fantastic writing and never-ending plot development."

diana_proffitt shared a tip "A wonderfully insightful novel. Probably the only dystopian work I can think of that manages to balance the horrors of the apocalypse with a hope for the future. Butler’s characters and dialogue shine through in this work. Absolutely essential read in this day and age."

aiyana_smith_528 shared a tip "WOW This is a must-read for any "future" fiction lover and honestly anyone who can read. She does an amazing job holding you and keeping you until you don't want to be anywhere but the world she has created. In this day and age it's uncomfortable to read this and not fear for your safety, but it is a must-read, anyway."

nicole_p_7574 shared a tip "Apocalyptic and grim but with a bit of hope leaking out around the edges. Brilliant. A little too realistic and relevant to be comfortable to read, but definitely worth the time."

bella_prattis shared a tip "This opened my eyes to a great way to define God and a 'religion' that is not a religion. It also prompted me to start prepping foe SHTF!"

janae_wright shared a tip "I'm currently reading Billy Summers by Stephen King, but fledgling is my absolute favorite by Butler! I need to reread it; it's been years!"

justynjen shared a tip "Absolutely fantastic book. There are scary parallels to the state of the US now. I loved the story, it was impossible to put down! 1/52"

joniness shared a tip "It's incredible to think that a book that was published the year I was born could be so scarily close to our modern truths. Do not read if you are sensitive to graphic depictions of violence, sexual assault and/or child abuse."

colleen_crosby shared a tip "This book is fantastic. The similarities between what's happening in America in 2025 and what's actually going on in America now. It's actually kind of creepy. I was surprised to find out that this book was published in 2012. I would have put money on it having been published sometime in 2018/2019. The story itself is captivating. Octavia Butler has taken an apocalyptic / dystopian story and sprinkled it with beautiful pieces of human kindness. The result is a unique take on the apocalyptic / dystopian novel. A lot of grotesque things happen in the story but there are also these lovely verses that give you something good to contemplate. Really great book - all the stars!"

n._bates shared a tip "I quite enjoyed reading this book and finished over the span of several days. Coming of age novel in a dystopian society where a girl turns away from Christianity and develops her own belief system in the midst of absolute chaos. To have been written in the 90s, the author spins a nearly prophetic tale of what's to come. 7/10."

amada_estrada shared a tip "Absolutely worth it. Released in the early 90s and parts of it make you feel like Octavia Butler must have been a time traveler. It also launched me back into my love of reading :)"

omega_hagan shared a tip "This is a great book about religion, God, change, and families.Being set in a distopian, not-so-distant future that seems like it could all happen in our reality only adds to the tension of the story. This is a great book!"