Octavia E. Butler's 'Parable of the Sower' Takes Center Stage for Seattle Reads
by Agueda Pacheco Flores
The year is 2024, the earth's climate is changing drastically, wealth inequality is at an all-time high, homelessness is rampant, and virtual reality is among the available technology. This may sound a lot like today's world, but it's actually the setting of science fiction author Octavia E. Butler's prescient 1993 novel, Parable of the Sower. Butler's book is being honored this year during Seattle Reads, The Seattle Public Library's (SPL) annual citywide book group.
"The Parable of the Sower series is an important book because Octavia is writing about 2024 and … it forces us all to think about what our communities look like," says Brooke Bosley, who is facilitating multiple conversations and panels on the book this year, including "Optimism in Afrofuturism" later in June.
"It's so prevalent … she's using these similar themes that we're all facing now, and she's not really predicting the future, she's talking about past and present to think more about how we address these issues now," Bosley adds.
Originally born and raised in California, Butler moved to Seattle in 1999 and lived at her Lake Forest Park home until her death in 2006 at just 58 years old. Over her career, her writing received critical acclaim due to her unforgiving explorations of human nature, class, power, and marginalization.
Seattle Reads kicked off its monthslong event series on the 'Parable of the Sower' at the end of April with a conversation at Arte Noir on how Butler influences art. Bosley moderated the conversation with local artists Aramis Hamer, famous for her participation in the Black Lives Matter CHOP mural and her vibrant and fantastic depictions of Black women, and Barette Macaulay, a multidisciplinary artist and current guest curator at Jacob Lawrence Gallery. SPL partnered with many organizations for this event including Wa Na Wari, the African-American Writers' Alliance, and Arte Noir.
So far, the city has fully embraced Butler as this year's choice for Seattle Reads.
"I feel like this year is really different," says Stesha Brandon, SPL's literature and humanities program manager. "Folks have really been showing up and we had a kickoff event at Arte Noir with Brooke and Aramis Hamer and Berette Macaulay back at the end of April and it was like standing room only, it was packed."
SPL is making copies of the book and the graphic novel easily available at all their locations. To lower the barrier, these uncatalogued copies do not require a library card for checkout. Digital copies are also available.
Readers can attend a number of general book discussions and other special events through this month and June. Events can be found online and are listed below.
Queering the Future: LGBTQ+ Authors on Octavia Butler's Impact
Wednesday, June 5, 7—8 p.m.
Elliott Bay Book Company, 1521 10th Ave., Seattle 98122
Join writers Anastacia-Rene, Nisi Shawl, and Amy Hirayama as well as artist Amber Flame at Elliot Bay Book Company to chat about Octavia Butler. The four creatives will discuss the writer's impact and influence on LGBTQ+ writers.
'Parable of the Sower' Book Group Discussion
Thursday, June 6, 6:30—7:30 p.m.
Rainier Beach Branch Library, 9125 Rainier Ave. S., Seattle 98118
Brooke Bosley, who hosts a monthly Black Futures book club in the Central District, will moderate a conversation around the Parable of Sower. Bosley, who holds a Ph.D. in digital media, brings a breadth of knowledge around Afrofuturism, race, and technology.
"Optimism in Afrofuturism"
Tuesday, June 11, 7—8:30 p.m.
Wa Na Wari, 911 24th Ave., Seattle 98122
Brooke Bosley is joined by Dr. Bettina Judd, Professor Brittney Frantece, and writer Nisi Shawl to discuss the hope within the Afrofuturism genre and showcase relevant books within SPL's African American Collection.
El Club Latino
Sunday, June 16, 3:30—5 p.m.
Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Seattle 98104
Spanish speakers interested in discussing the Parable of Sower can join SPL's Central Library Latino Book Club.
Prentis Hemphill Discusses 'What It Takes to Heal: How Transforming Ourselves Can Change the World'
Thursday, June 27, 6— 7:10 p.m.
Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Seattle 98104
Writer Ijeoma Oluo sits down with writer, embodiment facilitator, political organizer, and therapist Prentis Hemphill to talk about what the world would look like if society centered healing, and what that future may look like.
Agueda Pacheco Flores is a journalist focusing on Latinx culture and Mexican American identity. Originally from Quertaro, Mexico, Pacheco is inspired by her own bicultural upbringing as an undocumented immigrant and proud Washingtonian.
📸 Featured Image: Author Octavia Butler, and 'The Parable of the Sower' book cover. (Photo of Butler courtesy of Octavia Butler estate. Book cover courtesy of Seattle Public Library)
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