#BannedBookSkyClub discussion of #ParableOfTheSower by Octavia E. Butler. #BookSky Were there any parts of Parable of the Sower that were particularly difficult for you? Why or why not? - ThreadSky

retired-librarian.bsky.social • 77 days ago

#BannedBookSkyClub discussion of #ParableOfTheSower by Octavia E. Butler. #BookSky

Were there any parts of Parable of the Sower that were particularly difficult for you? Why or why not?

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listenbannedbooks.bsky.social•77 days ago

The child murders. I originally commented the specific ones but I deleted it so I won't be a spoiler if someone is just thinking about reading it. The violence against children was really hard for me, tho, and I had to take breaks from the book at times.

retired-librarian.bsky.social•77 days ago

The cannibalism did it for me. I had to take a deep breath to hold back nausea.

rr90.bsky.social•77 days ago

This was the hardest for me too. Especially during the break in scene.

flootlady.bsky.social•57 days ago

Of all the silly things to get hung up on -- I didn't care for the age difference between Lauren and Bankole 😂 I felt like no 18yo should be hooking up with a 57yo!!!!

familiarichart.bsky.social•77 days ago

Her brother Keith’s story was difficult for me.
If you’ve had someone close make life choices that alienates them from loved ones and puts them in danger, or maybe done so yourself, that storyline was tough to read.

ashakhaladkar.bsky.social•77 days ago

Zahra’s story about what happened to Lauren’s family when they fled the compound. I know it’s all Lauren has, but I still don’t think the novel gave us the truth of what happened. Plus the story itself is just dreadful.

juss-do-it.bsky.social•77 days ago

Not knowing what happened to her father. I felt like that was a storyline that could have given us the readers some closure. Gosh we really needed closure.

retired-librarian.bsky.social•77 days ago

I wanted to know too, but I understand how the storyline made the point about how people could just disappear in the world in which they lived. It being her father gave it more impact, though I definitely would've preferred to know.

juss-do-it.bsky.social•77 days ago

Ohhhhh....that's a good point.

chicagojcb.bsky.social•62 days ago

All of the violence was difficult, especially the descruction of her childhood home. As I mentioned elsewhere, I do have a pretty strong emotional empathy, and I had a really tough time. There were several points where I had to put the book down and go distract my mind with something else.

chicagojcb.bsky.social•66 days ago

Given what's happening in the US right now, I'm finding the whole thing difficult. A few rich and millions of desperate, starving have-nots. I have not yet finished the book as it's too upsetting to read for long stretches.

thesjadventures.bsky.social•66 days ago

The sexual assault on the children was very difficult to read. It’s scary and devastating to think that this all could actually happen in our world the way things seem to be headed. It’s terrifying.

untamespirit.bsky.social•77 days ago

Lauren's dad never been found alive again.

amwesselmann.bsky.social•76 days ago

I agree with the other comments I have read, and another thing that was hard for me was the blatant disregard for fellow humans by so.many.characters in the book. The poor drug addicts, the rich slave owners, dehumanization was just everywhere.

hearmeroar11.bsky.social•72 days ago

I'm not sure where to put this, but I've been thinking a lot today about what wasn't in the book - music, for example. I assume it's survival related because music can be too loud and instruments would be seen as a waste of money, but it can also be essential in protest.

hearmeroar11.bsky.social•73 days ago

The casual nature of observing violence and knowing certain violence happens, and they move on. Especially the violence to women and children, but also the torture. The acceptance of it was hard to read, and it was worrisome to think it doesn't take much to just live with it as a reality.

noseinabook.co.uk•72 days ago

I'm only partway through and I'm finding the fact the dates are in 2025 make it hit extra hard. Like I know that shouldn't matter but with the state of the real world rn, it feels scarily like Butler saw exactly where we're headed

sekhmetpower.bsky.social•71 days ago

I read “Parable of the Sower” right before the election and you’re right, there are so many parallels. The only thing that gave me hope was the sequel, “Parable of the Talents”.

scooper1958.bsky.social•71 days ago

The entire book was quite grim. For me, the worst was Lauren finding a human arm that might, or might not, belong to her missing father. And at the same time hearing far away groaning that might, or might not, be coming from her father.

retired-librarian.bsky.social•71 days ago

The cannibalism was the worst for me. It was grim, but I also saw hope, so that kept me going.

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