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#parableofthetalents

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With a past history of religious abuse I have to admit that Octavia Butler's Parable of the Talents was a tough go for me. Triggers galore. I liked the way that Butler expanded on the MC with the daughter's perspective from the future. Widespread slavery in the USA, outside of the prison system, in the name of Christianity (again) is very easy to imagine. An author way ahead of her time. #OctaviaInOctober #ParableOfTheTalents

Random "Earthseed" thought:

Structurally, it's really similar to the rise of early Christianity, isn't it? We get a very detailed account of the beginnings of the movement, of the founder's youth and travels and disciple-finding.

Then comes persecution, and we start to get other sources than just the original teachings, especially from critics and enemies. The movement spreads by conversionsof high-profile folks and the broad population.

Continued thread

There are analogies here to the development of early Christianity I'll have to think about in more detail, and of leaders failing their families miserably (even though I think her daughter judges her unfairly). There are thoughts on healing, and what makes a message helpful.

I think my major quibble is that it's almost too hopeful. Bouncing back from fascism isn't easy. Building a society isn't easy. But here, this time, this once, it happens.

(5/n, n=5)

Continued thread

There are several time jumps, and Earthseed's success story feels very rushed compared to other parts of the book. It feels rougher than "Parable of the Sower", I didn't really warm to the new narrators.

But still, it's a very good book, beautifully written and with disturbingly powerful parts - especially the depiction of the time in a labor camp was so horrible, intense, and rang so true, it was hard to read. So was reading about the trauma afterwards.

(4/n)