Comments | 50books_poc: Octavia Butler, Bloodchild

wordsofastory in 50books_poc

Octavia Butler, Bloodchild

Jun 10, 2009 15:22

16. Octavia Butler, BloodchildThis is a book of short stories and essays. I'd never read anything by Butler before, though I know she's very popular, and a book of short stories seemed a good place to start (well, and also the book was sitting right there on the shelf looking at me when I was checking out at the library). The stories are science- ( Read more... )

united states, women writers, sf/fantasy, (delicious), fiction, essays, african-american, black writers, short stories

Comments 4

haddayr June 10 2009, 19:41:38 UTC

Octavia Butler dealt with painful issues: economic collapse, slavery, evil. But she was not depressing. She was brilliant, and I see exactly what you see in her: a certain belief in humanity's potential which was so beautiful and moving. I'm so glad you liked her! She's one of my absolute favorites and I hope you do go on to read more.

I also wanted to say that she read in my town and was SO kind and loving and supportive of people in the audience who were aspiring writers. And now I'm in tears that she's gone.

Aherm. What I meant to say was: bravo! Everyone should read Butler!

wordsofastory June 12 2009, 02:39:17 UTC

I'm definitely planning on reading more of her! I'm sad that I never got to see her, but thanks for the comment!

fadethecat June 10 2009, 19:54:14 UTC

I have always found it easier to deal with her short stories than her novels. What is dark but tinged in hope for a single short story can be much, much harder to deal with over the course of an entire novel. But that's just me, and it's not to say that I don't like her books; I just have to be careful about reading them. If you liked her short stories, then that's probably a good sign that you'll be okay with her novels too.

wordsofastory June 12 2009, 02:29:14 UTC

*nods* That makes sense, and I'll keep it in mind when I pick up one of her novels.