| Parable of the Talents Author: Octavia E Butler Genre: Dystopian Publisher: Recorded Books Release Date: September 12, 2007 Audiobook: 15 hours and 26 minutes Narrator: Patricia R. Floyd, Peter Jay Fernandez, Sisi Aisha Johnson Series: Parable Series Book #2 Source: Purchased from Audible.com Buy the Book: Amazon |
Book Description
Lauren Olamina's love is divided among her young daughter, her community, and the revelation that led Lauren to found a new faith that teaches "God Is Change". But in the wake of environmental and economic chaos, the U.S. government turns a blind eye to violent bigots who consider the mere existence of a black female leader a threat. And soon Lauren must either sacrifice her child and her followers -- or forsake the religion that can transform human destiny.
Review
This is the second book in the Parable series by Octavia Butler. I purchased a copy of this book from Audible.com to read and review for A More Diverse Universe blog tour (November 15 - 17th) As you can see I am just now getting to posting my review. I read the first book in January of this year as a book club book of the month selection. (Review here)
In the first book, Lauren Olamina leaves her burning town and home to find a safe place to live and expand her new belief system called Earth Seed.
In this book (I will try and not spoil it for you) Lauren's community has grown and is thriving. She has married and gives birth to a baby girl. All of this is happening in their small community, Acorn as the rest of the United States is completely falling apart. People are migrating to Alaska (the new promise land) due to climate changes. Political leaders who are extreme right-wing Christians create fanaticals who are burning non-believers a la Salem Witch Hunts. There are ramped lack of trials in court system. Slavery is back in and children are being bought and sold into the sex trade.
This book is bleak to say the least. I was not really expecting it to be a feel good book after reading the first one. I knew things would get worse. I could see it coming. But the reason I liked this book so much is the bleakness. I know that makes no sense at all but it was. I think Octavia Butler shows her deep foresight into our future without really making things up. People are not super humans. People are not flying. She shows us as we are and what will happen if we stay on the course we are on now. It is smartly written with very probable situations and the author really put thought into all the details of our future.
I thought it was perfect to have the chapters read by different voices. Lauren, her husband and daughter each write a chapter or have passages from their journals that tell their side of events. Each narrator did an excellent job.
Due to the bleak nature of this book I would not recommend it to readers with a weak stomach and who are looking for a happy love story.
But do read this one.
Reviews by Other Bloggers
Recommendations
I recommend this book to adults due to language, violence and rape.
Challenges
This book is number 30 in my Audiobook Challenge
This book is number 47 in my Good Reads Challenge
I was suppose to post this review over a month ago for A More Diverse Universe blog tour. I love this idea and was excited to see Aarti do it again. I have no idea what happened and why it has taken me so long to get to this review.
To read reviews and post from the blog tour click on the button below.
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