Parable of the Talents Book Review

It is clear from the beginning of the book that Larkin did not grow up with Lauren. She disdains Earthseed, and believes that her mother chose Earthseed over her. She tells the story and also inserts parts of Lauren’s journal. In this way, we find out what happened to Acorn, the Earthseed community started at the end of Parable of the Sower.

The Earthseed series have an uncanny similarity to some of what’s been going on in the United States in the previous four years. There is mass unrest, a civil war of sorts and the refrain “Make American Great Again” is the rally cry of the man who won the presidency.

In Parable of the Talents, Christian America rises up against the cults and heathens. The approach to Christianity has a fundamental bend, and people with dissenting voices are in danger. Lauren finds a family member only to then find herself on the opposite end of the battle for the future. Her belief in Earthseed and “God is change” is considered a challenge. What price will she have to pay to make Earthseed a reality?

Choosing a Path

When religious Crusaders rip Acorn apart, Lauren has to choose her path. What is most important to her and what sacrifices will she make in pursuit of it? Her charisma and her strong beliefs make her attractive, seductive. She’s always surrounded by people and yet, there is always loss. She gave birth to a child and birth to a movement, but she only gets to nurture one of them firsthand. What price do big dreams demand?

Lessons of the Parables

I remember the Parable of the Sower and The Parable of the Talents from going to mass as a child. At the time, I didn’t think of them much except I didn’t understand why the punishment was so severe. I didn’t think about what they were trying to tell us about capacity, opportunity, punishment, gain and loss. These ideas are explored in the book, along with concepts of power and class.

I’m thinking about the importance of some of the people being sharers. How did Lauren’s identity as a sharer shape her beliefs or her behaviors? Was that part of her charisma, her ability to connect with others? We learn that sharing has its own complications, I’m curious that that was the only significant difference between people then and now. It would be interesting to explore how this attribute shaped certain people and societies in Butler’s fictional world.