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Octavia E. Butler

Parable of the Sower

Octavia E. ButlerFiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1993

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Book Brief

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Octavia E. Butler

Parable of the Sower

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1993
Book Details
Pages

352

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

California • 2020s

Publication Year

1993

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler follows Lauren Oya Olamina, a teenage girl with hyperempathy, navigating a post-apocalyptic society plagued by climate change and societal collapse. Her walled community near Los Angeles eventually gets destroyed by arsonists, leading Lauren and two allies to travel north. Along the way, they form a group, adopt Earthseed, Lauren's new belief system, and strive to build a new life on land owned by Bankole, a much older man with whom Lauren develops a romantic relationship. Sensitive topics include sexual abuse, drug use, and violence.

Dark

Mysterious

Challenging

Contemplative

Emotional

Reviews & Readership

4.4

201,424 ratings

82%

Loved it

14%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Octavia E. Butler's Parable of the Sower is praised for its powerful storytelling and profound social commentary. Reviewers commend its visionary, dystopian world and the complex protagonist. Critics, however, note the pacing can be uneven and some plot points may feel underdeveloped. Nevertheless, it remains a compelling and thought-provoking read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Parable of the Sower?

A reader who would enjoy Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler is likely drawn to dystopian fiction with deep social commentary, complex characters, and themes of survival and resilience. Fans of The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood and 1984 by George Orwell would appreciate its poignant exploration of societal collapse and human hope.

4.4

201,424 ratings

82%

Loved it

14%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

352

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

California • 2020s

Publication Year

1993

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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