n_narine's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
willowbiblio's review against another edition
5.0
"Human beings fear difference," Lilith had told him once. "Oankali crave difference. Humans persecute their different ones, yet they need them to give themselves definition and status. Oankali seek difference and collect it. They need it to keep themselves from stagnation and overspecialization."
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This was a true masterpiece from start to finish. I greatly appreciated the timeskip and Butler’s choice to remove Lilith as the focus of the story, instead putting her son Akin in the foreground. Once again Butler managed to capture the casual brutality of humanity and our wanton condescension for life we perceive to be less than our own. The constant interplay of loss and rage, but a refusal to accept anything other than what came before, left a constant thrum of tension in every resistor-Oankali interaction. Fear and denial are used as justifications for every horrifying act.
Butler reinforces her argument begun in book 1- that humanity is intent upon destroying itself and refusing to learn from past mistakes. She adds on to this with a secondary observation of stubbornness, suspicion, and a capacity for violence that humanity is oh so perfect at. I really enjoyed the deeper exploration of the balanced and deeply connected relationships amongst the Oankali. In some ways they provide a true foil to humanity because of their inability to cause pain without it being recreated within themselves. It forces the reader to ask the question- if humans were capable of this fundamental empathy would we insist on the mistreatment and brutalization of everything and everyone around us? Very much looking forward to book 3!
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This was a true masterpiece from start to finish. I greatly appreciated the timeskip and Butler’s choice to remove Lilith as the focus of the story, instead putting her son Akin in the foreground. Once again Butler managed to capture the casual brutality of humanity and our wanton condescension for life we perceive to be less than our own. The constant interplay of loss and rage, but a refusal to accept anything other than what came before, left a constant thrum of tension in every resistor-Oankali interaction. Fear and denial are used as justifications for every horrifying act.
Butler reinforces her argument begun in book 1- that humanity is intent upon destroying itself and refusing to learn from past mistakes. She adds on to this with a secondary observation of stubbornness, suspicion, and a capacity for violence that humanity is oh so perfect at. I really enjoyed the deeper exploration of the balanced and deeply connected relationships amongst the Oankali. In some ways they provide a true foil to humanity because of their inability to cause pain without it being recreated within themselves. It forces the reader to ask the question- if humans were capable of this fundamental empathy would we insist on the mistreatment and brutalization of everything and everyone around us? Very much looking forward to book 3!
emilyusuallyreading's review against another edition
3.0
What I Liked
Octavia Butler is a phenomenal writer. She creates worlds and races and ideas that have never entered my mind until reading her works. The Xenogenesis series has impacted me and caused me to think about the human Contradiction. Are Butler's observations of humanity's flaws true? Can we actually continue without destroying each other as we create bigger and more lethal weapons?
Akin as a character was interesting. I found myself struggling to become absorbed in his character, as he was so different, but his humanity is very evident. He was the perfect protagonist for Butler to write after Lilith.
What I Didn't Like
I struggled with Akin's physical appearance throughout this story, which I suppose makes me succumb to the xenophobia that plagues all of the humans in the book. But reading a story from the eyes of a human-looking child who is only a few months old and cannot yet walk but can reason as clearly as an adult? I was distracted and struggled to picture seriously what it would be like to hold a young infant and reason with him maturely. It was easier for me to envision Akin after his metamorphosis than I could when he was a super intelligent baby.
The plot became a little slow for me. Towards the final sections of the story, I found myself putting down the book and moving onto other things. Adulthood Rites spans over a couple of decades and covers a lot of territory. Something that bored me was that Akin's entire life seemed so predestined. In the beginning of the story, even though his age was strange to accept, there was uncertainty and tension. But towards the end, everyone knew and repeated again and again Akin's fate and even how his emotions and personhood would change. Since I already knew what to expect, my attention began to wander.
Octavia Butler is a phenomenal writer. She creates worlds and races and ideas that have never entered my mind until reading her works. The Xenogenesis series has impacted me and caused me to think about the human Contradiction. Are Butler's observations of humanity's flaws true? Can we actually continue without destroying each other as we create bigger and more lethal weapons?
Akin as a character was interesting. I found myself struggling to become absorbed in his character, as he was so different, but his humanity is very evident. He was the perfect protagonist for Butler to write after Lilith.
What I Didn't Like
I struggled with Akin's physical appearance throughout this story, which I suppose makes me succumb to the xenophobia that plagues all of the humans in the book. But reading a story from the eyes of a human-looking child who is only a few months old and cannot yet walk but can reason as clearly as an adult? I was distracted and struggled to picture seriously what it would be like to hold a young infant and reason with him maturely. It was easier for me to envision Akin after his metamorphosis than I could when he was a super intelligent baby.
The plot became a little slow for me. Towards the final sections of the story, I found myself putting down the book and moving onto other things. Adulthood Rites spans over a couple of decades and covers a lot of territory. Something that bored me was that Akin's entire life seemed so predestined. In the beginning of the story, even though his age was strange to accept, there was uncertainty and tension. But towards the end, everyone knew and repeated again and again Akin's fate and even how his emotions and personhood would change. Since I already knew what to expect, my attention began to wander.
zluke's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
co_co's review
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-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? Yes
4.0
qlevin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
auroralgr's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75