Parable of the Sower

by Octavia E Butler | Science Fiction & Fantasy |
ISBN: 0446601977 Global Overview for this book
Registered by Lorelei03 of Queens, New York USA on 3/5/2006
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4 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by Lorelei03 from Queens, New York USA on Sunday, March 5, 2006
book one of the Parables

In memory of Octavia Estelle Butler(d 2006), the first African-American woman to gain popularity and critical acclaim as a science fiction writer I will be sending 4 of her books out as rings.

Through her work, Butler explored issues of race, gender, power, and what defines humanity.

From Publishers Weekly
Hugo and Nebula Award-winner Butler's first novel since 1989's Imago offers an uncommonly sensitive rendering of a very common SF scenario: by 2025, global warming, pollution, racial and ethnic tensions and other ills have precipitated a worldwide decline. In the Los Angeles area, small beleaguered communities of the still-employed hide behind makeshift walls from hordes of desperate homeless scavengers and violent pyromaniac addicts known as "paints" who, with water and work growing scarcer, have become increasingly aggressive. Lauren Olamina, a young black woman, flees when the paints overrun her community, heading north with thousands of other refugees seeking a better life. Lauren suffers from 'hyperempathy," a genetic condition that causes her to experience the pain of others as viscerally as her own--a heavy liability in this future world of cruelty and hunger. But she dreams of a better world, and with her philosophy/religion, Earthseed, she hopes to found an enclave which will weather the tough times and which may one day help carry humans to the stars. Butler tells her story with unusual warmth, sensitivity, honesty and grace; though science fiction readers will recognize this future Earth, Lauren Olamina and her vision make this novel stand out like a tree amid saplings.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Journal Entry 2 by Lorelei03 from Queens, New York USA on Sunday, March 5, 2006
Here the order of the ring - to be started in the beginning of March. Please just PM if you'd like to join!

Mellion108 (Michigan, US)
TracyShannon (US preferred)
Lorelei03 (visiting home for shipping purposes!)
wubbaducky (UK, intl ok)

Journal Entry 3 by mellion108 from Waterford, Michigan USA on Saturday, April 8, 2006
Thank you so much, Lorelei03. I look forward to reading this and will pass it along to the next participant as soon as possible.
Paperback, 295 pages

From the back cover:
Multiple award winner Octavia E. Butler's astonishing novels have made her a powerful, acclaimed voice in women's fiction, African-American literature, and modern science fiction. Parable of the Sower is her stunning portrait of an all-too-believable near future, a twenty-first century of horror—and hope.

Lauren Olamina is an empath, crippled by the pain of others. Cloistered inside a neighborhood enclave in a U.S. where the distance between the haves and the have-nots has widened to a gaping chasm, she lives a protected life. But one night, violence explodes, and the walls of her neighborhood are smashed, annihilating Lauren's family and friends—all she loves and knows.

Now the empath must face the world outside. Leading a tiny band of desperate followers through a thousand miles of Hell, she is a prophet bearing nothing but the promises of new life and a new faith...Earthseed.

Journal Entry 4 by mellion108 from Waterford, Michigan USA on Saturday, May 13, 2006
Wow! This was an amazing book. I was totally sucked into the story, and I loved the first-person telling by Lauren.

It was quite chilling to read about the decline of America following natural disasters (gee, a hurricane hitting New Orleans? How did she predict that????), political chaos, and total outsourcing of our resources.

I truly enjoyed this book despite the rather grim outlook.

I've PMd TracyShannon for an address and will be sending both Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents to her as soon as possible.

Thanks again for sharing, Lorelei03.

Journal Entry 5 by mellion108 from Waterford, Michigan USA on Saturday, May 20, 2006
UPDATE: Rather than waiting to send this to TracyShannon after I finish Parable of the Talents, I mailed this today via Media Mail. Enjoy!

Journal Entry 6 by tracyshannon from El Paso, Texas USA on Tuesday, June 6, 2006
I "caught" this book from my post office box today. :) Thank you for mailing it to me, mellion108. Thank you for including me, Lorelei03.

Journal Entry 7 by tracyshannon from El Paso, Texas USA on Sunday, June 11, 2006
Another fabulous Octavia Butler novel! I loved it. It made me wonder if that's what life is like for the poor in Mexico where so many people are trying to "go north". Thank you so much for sharing it with me. There's no one after me so I will mark this "reserved" for now in the hopes that someone else will sign up. (Or is this coming back to Lorelei now?)

ETA: Mailed to Lorelei on June 14.

Journal Entry 8 by wubbaducky from not specified, not specified not specified on Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Arrived safe and sound in the mail this morning - many thanks!

Journal Entry 9 by wubbaducky from not specified, not specified not specified on Friday, July 14, 2006
I loved this book! It was a dazzling contrast of stark reality and pure hope. I haven't read a whole lot of sci-fi recently but with such wonderful offerings as this, I must make more of an effort! Thank you so much for sharing this book as a ring - it's frightening in its predictions and reassuring in its faith of human kindness. I shall wait to hear where this book is going next...

Journal Entry 10 by wubbaducky from not specified, not specified not specified on Friday, July 21, 2006
I have Lorelei03's address now so will pop this in the post tomorrow when I go to the post office. Many thanks for sharing this wonderful book!

Journal Entry 11 by Lorelei03 from Queens, New York USA on Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Well, this book has made it back safely. I'm so glad you enjoyed it and it was great to share.

If anyone else would like to read this, just let me know and I'll lend it out. (Sorry, I am keeping all Butler's book in my perm collection though)

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