Welcome to Litsy!

A lot of people were reading this book and looking to it for guidance earlier this year, with LA on fire, billionaires taking over with their insatiable wendigo greed, and a fascist back in power. Olivia saw these events coming and she wrote about it in 1993. Earthseed is an idea, but it‘s also a world that we can bring into being. It is community, it is love, it is service to others. We are witnessing frightening times and each day, we are ⬇️

I hope people who read Parable of the Sower will think about where we seem to be heading—we the United States, even we the human species. Where are we going? What sort of future are we creating? Is it the kind of future you want to live in? If it isn‘t, what can we do to create a better future? Individually and in groups, what can we do?

—Octavia E. Butler
Pasadena, CA
May 1999

I'm having a hard time describing the way this book punched me in the gut and left me breathless.

Reading this in the present day, when it was published in the mid 90s, is downright eerie. Butler saw the writing on the wall and created a near future dystopia that feels far too close to reality at times.

Woven through with social commentary, this book is an incredibly powerful, haunting read that I 100% recommend.

This is dystopic sci-fi, but it is also a “coming-of-age“ novel. And a declaration of faith. “Embrace diversity or be destroyed.“ “God is change.“ Butler celebrates the power of poetry--no matter the source. And she even recognizes the limits to her protagonist's agency, as Lauren must disguise herself (figuratively and literally).

And the book is remarkably prescient. A #favorite !

I really liked the writing and main character's “voice“. She was relatable/likable and I really rooted for her. In the last part of the book I started to forget who was who because there were so many new characters suddenly and we didn't know much of them.

Atmosphere was awesome and so well created.

As a story this was pretty simple but intriguing enough. This really was worth reading and I am happy how I finally read this.

Every bit as great as I'd always heard it was. I try never to judge older speculative fiction by how closely its predictions mirror real life; so long as the writing is good and the world that's depicted feels real and makes sense internally, that's all that matters. That said, it's impossible not to marvel at how accurately Butler foresaw our current situation (or tremble at what's still to come, if things continue this way).

Impressive feat.
Well-written, this dystopia is uncomfortable to read by its realism.
It's clear reading it that Butler had a deep knowledge of human nature (the good and the bad).
Written as a diary, it's interesting to follow the thought process of the main character, how she develops Earthseed, her idea of God.
I'll definitely read the next book in the series, Parable of the Talents.

The library goddesses have it in for me. Just as I started reading Animal Farm & 1984 for #withthebanned, my hold for Parable of the Sower came in after 4-ish months. I've finished all 3 last week, but I haven't had the mental capacity to post a review. After several days, this is still all I can come up with:
🤯🤯🤯🫢🫢🫢😬😬😬

I recommend all three, but not at the same time. 🫠
@Jadams89

I‘m conflicted. Mainly because I hear good things, yet I don‘t feel any different having read it myself. Do I regret reading? No, though it took me a while to read as it felt un-engaging. Didn‘t understand what was going most of the time. The plot didn‘t pick up much, though got better halfway through. Lauren didn‘t mean much to me, the hyper-empathy wasn‘t really used as any plot device, not matter how important it sounded like it would be.

Here is the #ReadBannedBooks and the #FriendsPick reads for the month of June. I have not yet read anything by Octavia Butler, but I‘m really looking forward to this read.

Lauren lives with her family in the hellish California dystopia of 2025 where everything is on fire and the president of the US is an oligarch fascist.

Spooky, no?

Lauren also dreams of traveling north where life is better (supposedly) and starting a new religion she calls Earthseed. I‘ll try to spoil as little as I can in my review.

Unpopular opinion alert… I did not love this book. But I am curious enough to read the second one.

A thoughtful, often disturbing, and a mostly realistic view of a dystopian civilization as it slowly collapses. In 1993, when this book was written, it might have seemed like a possible scenario for the future. Now it seems too close for comfort. Our protagonist is a young girl with big ideas. She accepts the need to change and adapt. Excellent read but quite violent.

I read this on the plane en route to and from Germany and I couldn‘t put it down. I‘ve read quite a bit of non-fiction and fiction which deals with possible collapse scenarios for civil society in the United States and I think this book written in the 90s envisions the most realistic one -a slow deterioration of municipal and legal institutions, rotting physical infrastructure, rampant unemployment, climate change issues and roving gangs.

Butler described herself as “an oil-and-water combination of ambition, laziness, insecurity, certainty, and drive.” That phrase “oil-and-water combination” captures how this book holds repelling things together. Religion and community failed, yet are worth re-envisioning. A future of kill or be killed makes more precious, not less, that drive to survive and share. We‘re not at this future yet. That “yet” sags with a call to do something about it.

This dystopian novel has become extra popular again because it was written in 1993 and is set in 2024-2027. Kinda like when I read 1984 (written in 1948) in 1986. This was a downer of a read and I ended up taking several weeks off at the midway point. It does provide some moments of hope and the MC is a likable heroine I readily cheered on.

My intermission made me fall WAY behind the #WithTheBanned BR hosted by @Jadams89

First published in 1993, this feels so prophetic that it's terrifying. It is a brutal read at times. Trigger warning for anything bad you can think of that humans might do to each other. Though it is a dark look at possibilities, it does end with some hope. I found the new religion part fascinating. Change is the only consistent thing in life, after all. (This cover art doesn't actually relate to the story. I wish I could ask the publisher why.)

"Moral: The weak can overcome the strong if the weak persist. Persisting isn't always safe, but it is often necessary."

Long distance relationships require some creativity and my partner and I alternate picking books to read and discuss each month. March was “dystopia” and we picked this book. Difficult read in the best of times but challenging to read nowadays as some of it touches too close to home. This book is powerful, well written and thought provoking.

I had a good month of reading! Parable of the Sower was my favorite.

#bookly #booklyapp

A beloved post-apocalyptic novel set in 2024-27 America, one where the water is scarce and society as we know it has collapsed. It‘s such a trip reading this during the time it is set, knowing it was written over 30 years ago, and realizing how much Butler got right.
These novels always make me wonder how I‘d cope in a fight for survival during a new world order. Not well, I‘m thinking! Loved the connection to nature and “Acorn”—love that name!

When I heard there was a black female science fiction author who in the 1970s envisioned societal collapse from climate change set in the year 2025, I was all in. A book that indeed feels as prophetic and true as 1984 and Handmaid‘s Tale. It was a griping novel that forces you to look at what themes in life will help you survive. Clear eyes and adaptability will sustain you in these times. Perhaps summed up best, by the heroines: “God is change.”

Our partner read for this month. Category = dystopian.

Jan is visiting this week. When he entered the US and went through immigration he was asked “what are your political views” by the immigration officer

Octavia Butler is an excellent author but I doubt I will read more in this series. Too many biblical references for my liking.

Although, what an insight into history from more than 20 years ago, what a terrifying reality this could be.

Hey @AvidReader25 !
I purchased this yesterday- was it on your list for possible buddy reads??? Also, Elle Cordova might be selecting this for her book club but not sure when. Do you know of her? 🌟 💫

Happy Pi Day Eve 🥧

🌱 Yesterday I finished Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler. It was good so I will read the sequel, but not for awhile because it was kind of tough to get through mentally.
☑️ But…now I can check off another book from my Free Black Women‘s Library sweatshirt. When I got it a few years ago I had only read 2/7 of the authors and now I‘m up to 5/7!
🩶 Also it‘s not just inspiration, it‘s one of my favorite hoodies!

Getting crazy on a Friday night! After a long week it‘s Parable of the Sower and a dog pile ftw.

#dogsoflitsy

I‘ve read this & its sequel a few years back and ever since I‘ve been telling everyone I know to read it. Especially if they are against the now current Administration in the US. The story feels eerily current but also strangely comforting in that unsettling familiarity? Hard to explain.

Hope everyone reading for #WithTheBanned enjoys. 💌

“Moral: The weak can overcome the strong if the weak persist. Persisting isn‘t always safe, but it‘s often necessary.”

#resist
#WiththeBanned

#WithTheBanned

#WithTheBanned

#WithTheBanned

#WithTheBanned

Hey #WithTheBanned readers! Sorry I‘ve fallen behind this month - work has been very busy.

I‘ll be posting 5 discussions questions total. I don‘t want to overwhelm y‘all with notifications, so I‘ll just tag everyone in the first post.

This seems particularly relevant right now.

#resist
#WiththeBanned

It really is amazing how close to reality this book is. I‘ve read it before but I was glad to read it again with #WithTheBanned @Jadams89

A dystopian novel written in the early '90s. It is set in 2024 to 2027.. some of it is definitely possible. It was a little scary. I've yet to read the second book which is a follow-on. Thanks to those who recommended it.

Thanks for the tag @dabbe
#TLT #ThreeListThursday
Just too hard to only do 3 😂
Mrs. Dalloway
Portrait of an Artist As A Young Man
Parable Of The Sower
Moby-Dick

Oof. Given the political landscape of the US right now, this book is like an all-too-possible nightmare. Probably not the best decision to listen to this in terms of my mental health and anxiety…. But it‘s really so well written. I may read the next book in the duology, but I‘m gonna need a minute.

Reminder that our #WithTheBanned read for February is Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler. I‘ll post our discussion questions for January‘s book in the next few days.

#BuddyRead

The LA fires, black Altadena and Octavia Butler. https://youtu.be/5tLYpq1aEBU?si=v8-kR17-KksX08cX

Amazing. Written in 1993, how did she know? There‘s no water in California, the lucky people still live in houses behind walls, everyone is armed to the teeth. Terrific.

Tackle the TBR 🤓📚
What are you reading?
#boleybooks #parableofthesower #octaviaebutler #bookbuds #bookchat #libby

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.

I despise working the late shift…but I can‘t be mad about slow mornings.

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

#FirstSaturdayReaders

Book club day is always a good day! #FirstSaturdayReaders

September, October and November for book club. #FirstSaturdayReaders #bookclub