It is natural to follow-up last week's entry with Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler, the second and last of the Earthseed Books. Apparently, Butler did initially plan to make this series a trilogy, but a third book never materialized. Even so, the two books are beloved as they stand, and both show frightening similarities to our current reality.
The Situation: It has been five years since Lauren Olamina, who now only goes by her last name, settled in the community that is now known as Acorn. After her childhood home in Robledo, California was destroyed and her family was killed, Olamina was forced to take her chances on the road, dangerous though they may be. Fortunately, she and the small group of people she gathered along the way, have made it to the northern part of that state, and managed to create a peaceful, secluded community. Everyone works together, learns together, they rescue those that they can, and they commit themselves to the values of Earthseed, the belief system that Olamina thought up herself. Not everyone who finds themselves in Acorn believes in Earthseed, but most do, even if they initially are doubtful or have a lot of questions. With the core belief that God is change, Olamina leads her community through increasingly trying times.
The Problem: In the year 2032, it is once again time for an election, and a man named Jarret has won. Using political speeches that are really more like sermons, Jarret has promised to "make America great again" by ridding it of criminals, vagrants, drug dealers, and prostitutes, all through his Church of Christian America. It is people who declare that they are doing just that who one day show up in Acorn with gas and armored vehicles. Though Bankole, Olamina's husband, owns the land and has for years, the crusaders steal it, and begin to abuse both the land and the people. Once she and all of the adults of Acorn are turned into slaves, Olamina's primary goal, after survival, becomes finding her daughter, who was taken from her along with the other small children of Acorn. But to resist is suicide. Every attempt at disobedience is met with violence. And if she were to escape, how long would it be before more of Jarret's people come to capture her again?
Genre, Themes, History: This is a science fiction book, and the follow-up to Butler's first book about Earthseed, Parable of the Sower, which has recently become quite popular, even ending up on the New York Times Bestseller list, despite having been initially published in 1993. This second book continues with the themes of the first book, focusing on political corruption, the disintegration of society, the increasing separation between classes, and violence as an everyday reality. Something else that continues is Olamina's commitment to Earthseed, especially as she sees the community of Acorn grow and involve. Every new person that is brought into Acorn is introduced to the belief system, though they are not forced to believe in it. And while the first book was only told by Olamina's point of view, this time the readers are treated to Asha Vere's story, Olamina and Bankole's only child. Trading off between her own words, and the journal of the mother she did not grow up with, we see the conclusion to Olamina's terrifying but incredible adventure.
My Verdict: While this book is also an adventure, much like the first one, it is a different kind of adventure. Olamina is an adult now, and the difference in the maturity level is certainly felt in the narrative. She was always stubborn, and she was always committed to Earthseed. But now, the woman is a force, and it feels like Butler gives the reader the opportunity to decide whether they like her or not. Naturally, having her daughter as the second narrator also gives the book a different feel, and her feelings help shape this new version of Olamina that we are given. The story is still interesting, and it still feels weird to read about a version of America that was written about in the 90s, set in our not-so-distance future (2032-2035), and has some eerie similarities to what we are dealing with today. If there was one word I would use to describe this book, it would be "uncomfortable."
Favorite Moment: From the beginning, Asha lets the reader know how she feels about her mother, and that only fuels the reader's curiosity about Olamina and what she will accomplish.
Favorite Character: Just like I did with the first book, I will have to pick Bankole, if only because he is realistic and has the safety of his family in mind.
Recommended Reading: I recommend The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, as I found myself thinking of it at certain points while I was reading this one.
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