pickIt took me far to long to get around to anything by Octavia Butler, but I'm glad I picked this as my starting point. The gorgeous world building and wonderful characters are woven together with insightful social commentary and a gentle pace that allows the reader to really savor every moment of this book.
pickThis was my first introduction to Octavia Butler (ironic given it was her last novel) and it's very much my thing! The chemical symbiosis fascinates me, as do the questions about consent and coercion it brings up. I also found the vampire politics interesting, if a bit hard to follow at times, and I became attached to Shori as a character rather quickly.
(The image is of a startlingly large mistletoe. Thematically relevant, at least.)
so-soI found the overall idea interesting - MC wakes up with no memory of what has happened, begins to find out who and what she is. I found some parts of the relationships between Ina and humans interesting. There were lots of tough topics covered here.
BUT
When I put it down, I found it hard to pick back up again. It just didn‘t grip me. And I don‘t like the constant references to adults who are attracted to or sleeping with the MC who looks 10/11
pickA very unique and disturbing take on vampires. Difficult to read at times but an excellent mystery story. Also such great writing. 4.5⭐️
pickI‘m ashamed to say this is my first Octavia Butler book, but it will most certainly not be my last. This book was so good, an excellent commentary on humanity and race. More than just a vampire story. 🎧
pickOctavia Butler upends vampire mythology with this tale of a Black female vampire who is the sole survivor from an attack that left her with amnesia & her entire family dead. Now she must piece together her history & find those responsible.
While the inner workings of vampire families were at times confusing, this allegory of racism in America & the journey of self-discovery our hero embarks upon was an enjoyable page turner.
so-soI was recommended this book as my black history month read. While, yes, it touches on racism and prejudice it takes a while to get there. There is also sexual tension and jealousy that I find 0% necessary and the number of times the main character has to remind people of her injury is 100% infuriating and also unnecessary. The writing to me just wasn't that good. Good enough to finish with an only somewhat satisfying ending. But no more.
pickSo engrossing that I basically got lost while reading it (rode the train beyond the last stop, had no idea where I was for a solid few minutes 😂)
That's it, that's the endorsement. Got very lost in this book!
pickI absolutely loved it. This is one of the best vampire stories I‘ve ever read. I didn‘t have a problem at all with any of the narrative choices. The way Butler flipped the typical vampire tropes is genius. #Screamathon @4thhouseontheleft
pickSo glad that you picked this one for #LMPBC Charlene!
An extremely character-driven vampire story like no vampire story I‘ve experienced before. Smart, engaging, mysterious, and filled with Butler‘s social criticism, with a fairly intense vampire-courtroom drama finishing the story. There are some unusual choices early on, but I stuck with it and ultimately loved the book. Sad that this was her last book—I would have loved more Shori.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
pickThis was a book about vampires, but it was really social commentary in the best Octavia Butler way. One thing that bothered me was the main character was 57 but appeared to be around 10 and had physical relationships with several full grown adults. I‘m sure Butler meant something genius and spot on with this choice but it went right over my head because all I could think was ick. #Screamathon #DiversifyYourHorrorShelves #OutstandingOctober book1/5
pickSo freaking good! I‘m totally having character withdrawals after finishing this vampire book with a twist (or to or three). It took me a little to warm up to this world where the rules of vampires are very different. But soon I was fully invested in Shori, her symbionts, and the mystery she works to unravel to bring justice for her family.
#Screamathon @4thhouseontheleft thank you for this challenge and leading me to a great book!
💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻Gotta love it when the book you want is instantly available to borrow on Libby. Hurray!
I ❤️ Libby!
pickThis was very different for Octavia. Her take on vampire lore is outside the realm of the ordinary, but developed well. I always love how she mixes strong world-building and characters with social commentary. I will say, though, the relationships in this were something I couldn't get past. I don't like that the main character looks like a child (even though she's not - vamp thing) but engages in sexual activities with adults. I was surprised at ⬇️
pickI really enjoyed this book, I read it very quickly as I do with most things by octavia butler. But I do I understand if people are put off by this one as the main character physically looks like a child (even if she‘s not) and has a robust sex life throughout the novel.
pickI‘ve enjoyed all of her books and can‘t believe Ive just discovered her in the last couple of years. This is a bit different from her science fiction, perhaps lighter in some ways, but a nice take on vampire legends.
Finished reading and adding notes to my #lmpbc book! It should be in the mail on its way to @rjsthumbelina within the hour 😄
I‘ll reserve my review until after we‘ve all had a chance to read it, I don‘t want to influence any one.
Yay #groupk doing Gothic Lit! @sprainedbrain @Mynameisacolour
It‘s my first time doing #LMPBC !!! Super excited to read some gothic literature with #GroupK
@Mynameisacolour @rjsthumbelina @sprainedbrain
Here are my suggestions for my pick. Have you read any already? Do any of these look good? I‘m leaning a little more to Fledgling by Octavia Butler, but let me know your thoughts/opinion!
#MoviesInMay @Klou
Prompt: Tom Cruise
Got together at a friend‘s house on Monday night, and she was telling me about this new book she had started. I have heard of this author, but not this specific book and it sounded FASCINATING. She is going to let me borrow her copy when she finishes.
pickI flew right through this one. An interesting tale of a young hybrid vampire amnesiac who attempts to discover herself and her kind while unspeakable violence is chasing her at every turn. I enjoyed discovering the vampiric lore along with our main character. Particularly interesting was power dynamics between Ina (vampires) and between Ina and humans. Definitely interested in digging into some of her earlier works.
Help! Has anyone read Fledgling? I‘m not far into it at all and because of my job I‘m super weirded out by the relationship between the MC and Wright. Does that continue? I‘m she‘s described as looking 10 or 11. My mental picture may be too sharp to keep going.
Once Shori meets her father, the details of how Butler's world of vampires begins to resemble too much like the houses in the Patternmaster series. I did not recognize this the first time I read Fledgling because I had yet to read the Patternmaster books.
so-soI started Fledgling Feb 17th. It took me until today to read the first 80 percent. I just read a summary of the book in order to find out what happens at the end. I'm counting it as finished, goddamn it. As anyone who follows me knows, I loved Butler's Parable duology. I read it over a year ago and still think about it. Also greatly enjoyed Kindred. But Fledgling simply didn't work. It's bogged down in too much detail, the characters all talk👇
I‘m feeling a little spooky today! 🌘
1. The house in The Secret Garden. (Did I pick this one mostly for the garden? Yes, yes I did)
2. I feel like a gothic novel has to have a catch somewhere at the end, like even if everything looks like it works out, there has to have been a sizable cost.
3. Added the tagged book!
#sundayfunday Have a great day, and don‘t forget to tag me!
Today and tomorrow are all about #votedearlyreadathon, school, and snacks. #stressed #thissucks #whenis2020over
I awoke to darkness.
#firstlinefridays Butler giving me vampires. Yes please! 🧛🏿♀️ starting today
I know @TheSpineView already used this book for the prompt BUT (a) this has a different cover and (b) Butler‘s novels are always worth showcasing! 😀
#Fledgling
#FallFinds
Three books with one word titles
#3books
pickI loved Fledgling. It was a unique take on the vampire myth and those are rare. Shori wakes up burned and broken with no memory and a thirst for blood. She soon learns that she is one of the Ina but unlike her other kindred she has been genetically altered to have black skin. Her darker skin helps her handle the sun but not all of the Ina accept her.
#AuthoraMonth @Soubhiville
#SummerFun Antiracism
@4thhouseontheleft @StayCurious
So far this year I‘ve read 88 books.
14 Black authors (16%)
0 Indigenous authors (0%)
18 NBPOC authors (20%)
3 LGBTQIA+ authors (less than 1%)
I‘m tempted to do a comparison between what I‘ve read so far this year and what I read last year to see how they match up, perhaps at the end of the year. Only halfway through the year, so plenty time to read more.
#integrateyourshelf
pickI really enjoyed Butler‘s take on vampires and this story. Learning about Shori, a 53 year old vampire child who awakens with no memory of who she is or where she comes from made for an engrossing read. I loved learning about Butler‘s take on the vampire myth and their interactions with other vampire families. I further love the social commentary Butler included in the story. #AuthorAMonth #AAMOB
pickIt‘s been ages since I read a proper vampire novel and I loved this! Can‘t recommend it enough, Octavia Butler never disappoints. The world building was complex and deep, the characters were so varied and fascinating. There was a lot of darkness, and the sex and control dynamics made me uncomfortable at times (particularly Shori‘s young body on an old vampire) but the book leaned in to understanding the darkness rather than using it for thrills.
Here‘s my total for day 3 of #joysofjune! I‘m pleased with my total for the day, I‘m hoping I manage to keep this up the whole readathon. I finished Ayoade on Ayoade and Half Blood Blues, started fledgling and continued with stamped from the beginning.
@Andrew65
I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join the fun if you want.
This is day 74 #bookstoread #tbrpile #bookstagram
At such an important time it‘s so crucial to agitate for change in the stories we tell and the industry that publishes them. I hope that if consumers show appetite for black people‘s stories, we can get not just more black writers published but more editors, publishers, marketers etc to bring new stories to people in an industry currently so white dominated
#blackpublishingpower
bailedVampires are not my jam in general. I was repelled by the premise of a 53 yo woman in a teen body and the biting and the sex.....couldn‘t do it
#authoramonth2020 @Soubhiville
So... I‘ve tagged my favorite vampire novel and I combed my GoodReads shelves as well as my memory only to realize that I don‘t think I‘ve ever read a true crime story in my life! Guess, I‘m going to have to change that... I would love some recommendations. @vivastory #vivahendrix
so-soI'm a big fan of Butler's writing and the way she breaks down barriers with her fluidity of gender, race, and sexuality. I also liked her unique approach to vampire history in this book.
Overall though, it wasn't as memorable or powerful as some of her other books. Still an interesting read if you like vampires with some sci-fi tossed in.
bailedNope. I just couldn‘t get into this. It had quite a lot of spelling errors, and the characters and story just wasn‘t enough to get me hooked. #TooManyBooksTooLittleTime
so-soMy first Octavia Butler and it was so interesting. Story follows a genetically altered vampire with amnesia as she seeks to recover herself and bring her family‘s killers to justice. I had a really, really hard time getting over the fact that the vampire‘s body looks like a prepubescent child, though she is in fact over 50. Her sexual relationships with humans were difficult for me for that reason.
Fledgling | 
