A review by ayla_derammelaere
Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler

dark emotional inspiring reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0



In the second book, we follow Lauren shape her life and her belief. A first community of Earthseed, Acorn, if being shaped and more people come to live with them and believe.
Sadly, as often happens in a world gone mad, there is one religious man who decides all other beliefsystems are wrong and should be destroyed.
Acorn is destroyed, Lauren looses her husband and best friend and all adults are forced to work as slaves. All of the children are taken from them and given to good Christian families so they can be properly raised.

This book is a combination of Laurens diary and words written by Larkin, Laurens daughter. Larkin was only a baby of 2 months old when she was taken from Acorn and has no memories of her real parents. She been brought up by a very distant Christian family who see it as their duty but don't do it out of love.
When she leaves their house, she is found by her uncle Marc, whe has a high position within the Christian church. He tells her Lauren is dead and treats Larkin, raised as Asha Vere, as his own daughter.

Lauren has never given up on finding her daughter and has never given up on teaching Earthseed. 
Larkin is able to figure out that Lauren is her real mother and wants to meet her. But Larkin (again) feels as if her parent has preferred an other 'child' over her and only meets Lauren once. She is certain Lauren only put time and effort in Earthseed and doesn't see nor understand the pain and confussion Lauren feels when the lies of Marc come to the surface.

For me, the title of the book, is as the parabel teaches us : you are given talents at birth and you're supposed to make them grow and use them (for good). If you don't, they're a waste and they should have been given to someone else (if that would have been possible). You need to learn and grow and be a good person, a humain person, a helping person. Someone who loves others and doesn't want to inflict pain or harm.

This second book, to me, is more focused on Earthseed and therefor a bit more 'religious'. Although it made me cry with the ending.

I have some quotes that really touched me and I want to share them with you :

"We are born. Not with purpose, but with potential." 

"We can, Each of us, Do the impossible. As Long as we can convince ourselves, that is has been done before." 

"In order to rise from its own ashes, a Phoenix First Must Burn." 

"Did she struggle for life only out of habit, or because some part of her still hoped that there was something worth living for ?"