I'm always careful about what I put in an email. I guess some other people aren't ...

#BannedBookSkyClub #BookSky I'm on a road trip tomorrow to visit family and back Monday late. There's talking points out for #ParableOfTheTalents and I'll figure out December's talking points begin date when I get back. Feel free to keep discussing; I'll be in and out but not in while driving 🙂

#BannedBookSkyClub reminder: The December 2025 book is A Wizard of Earthsea (The Books of Earthsea, 1) by Ursula Le Guin. Discussion begin date TBA. Join us! #AWizardOfEarthsea #BookSky

#BannedBookSkyClub discussion of #ParableOfTheTalents by Octavia Butler #BookSky Is there anything else you'd like to share about the book Parable of the Talents by Octavia Butler?

#BannedBookSkyClub discussion of #ParableOfTheTalents by Octavia Butler #BookSky Butler planned on more Parable books with proposed titles: Parable of the Trickster, Parable of the Teacher, Parable of Chaos, & Parable of Clay. How do you think the Parable stories would have continued if written?

I think there are many (helpful and cautionary) - the verses throughout both books highlight much of what we should be applying to our lives. Climate change, elections, how we treat others, community, beliefs, expanding our world.

THIS looks interesting. Hosted by Library of America. Paging #ParableOfTheTalents #BannedBookSkyClub #BookSky www.eventbrite.com/e/the-radica...

Main ingredient—hope. Support that hope by investing in community, building resilience, and encouraging people to follow their skills and interests through education.

Given the persistent story about the patron who asks a librarian to find a book for them but all they remember is that the cover is blue, I find myself unable to judge people who organize their books by color.

#BannedBookSkyClub discussion of #ParableOfTheTalents by Octavia Butler #BookSky In the prologue of the book Parable of the Talents, Larkin calls her mother, Lauren, "misguided." Do you agree? Why or why not?

I read this right after Sower. In the end it had the essence of hope and showed that nothing is static. We live in a dynamic and ever changing world and I truly believe there are more decent, kind people than not - and they are ultimately our hope.

Speaking of performative reading, it's a myth that librarians spend all their time at work reading, performatively. They're too busy working.

#BannedBookSkyClub discussion of #ParableOfTheTalents by Octavia Butler #BookSky What do the Parable books teach us about survival?

I think you risk being labeled a cult when you elevate a leader to a status that brings fame and following. I don't think there is intention to become a cult initially, but there are cult-like activities woven amongst the 'movement' that is Earthseed.

"The Self must create Its own reasons for being. To shape God, Shape Self." I love this verse. If we don't shape ourselves, then we allow others to shape us. I'd rather live my existance according to how I'd like it to be shaped than have others put me into their mold.

#BannedBookSkyClub discussion of #ParableOfTheTalents by Octavia Butler #BookSky What was your reaction to the Marcus/Lauren/Larkin family dynamic? Would you have forgiven Marcus? Explain.

As a lapsed cradle Catholic, the phrase I saw in a headline, "MAGA Catholics," feels like an oxymoron to me.

Yes, it does! I especially liked having three different narrators in the audiobook version. I think novels with other voices paint a more intricate portrayal of a story. It allowes the reader to piece together what they think of the story using the different perspectives.

#BannedBookSkyClub discussion of #ParableOfTheTalents by Octavia Butler #BookSky What did you think of the "Destiny" of Earthseed? Were you invested in its success, or did it feel peripheral? Explain.

I feel bad for the young women who have to deal with misogyny, still. I'd hoped it would get better as time went on. It's exhausting. Women's lives are exhausting for multiple reasons. I'd like to hope it will get better but I don't know.

I find Thomas Hardy's books more traumatic than Octavia Butler's or Toni Morrison's for what it's worth. #BookSky

They feel prescient because of what is going on right now in the US. Ultimately, they're an observation of the things in our lives that have always been, but with that writers touch of imagining what could be the worst outcomes. And, I think some people use things like this as guides - its chilling.

#BannedBookSkyClub discussion of #ParableOfTheTalents by Octavia Butler #BookSky Which character in the book Parable of the Talents did you most relate to? Why?

There was more hope in this book than in 1984. Unlike the crushing of Wilson and Julia, Earthseed persists and grows. It is hope. Butler said this about hope in the book in a piece in May 2000 in Essence.

Butler gives you detail about characters’ inner dialogue that you didn’t know you needed. Her characters behave like “real humans,” with all their faults, foibles, poor choices, noble acts, and grit.

I just have a hard time believing it could take over an entire country the size of America. Sure pockets could be made into a more Christian nation. But I see more and more people leaving religion

I had a hard time with that part as well. But I reflected that great leaders are frequently absent parents, perhaps her daughter was justified in her feelings of abandonment. Earthseed was all consuming

They are both amazing books. Talents can stand alone (it very neatly has quick summaries of the main points of Sower sprinkled throughout the story), but I think it works better with Sower. I wish Octavia had lived long enough to complete her vision for the Earthseed series.

I went to a top notch high school with fantastic teachers. The students had access to quality education. Seeing the ignorance, and xenophobia, and islamophobia, on social media by many of my fellow classmates from that high school is just depressing.

#BannedBookSkyClub discussion of #ParableOfTheTalents by Octavia Butler #BookSky In Parable of the Talents, President Jarret's goal was to make the United States a Christian nation. Do you think this is a realistic goal for the country as it is now? Would someone succeed in doing so? Explain.

Will the sandwich puns continue until morale improves?

If you've read Octavia Butler's #ParableOfTheTalents the #BannedBookSkyClub is currently discussing the book. Feel free to join in the discussion; see below for how to find talking points. #BookSky

Yes, I like to step on fall leaves on the sidewalk and hear them crunch.

#BannedBookSkyClub discussion of #ParableOfTheTalents by Octavia Butler #BookSky Talk about Butler's strengths as a storyteller. Were you fully engaged with the book from beginning to end? Explain.

#BannedBookSkyClub discussion of #ParableOfTheTalents by Octavia Butler #BookSky Are there lessons to be learned from the Parable books that we can apply to current times? Explain.

#BannedBookSkyClub discussion of #ParableOfTheTalents by Octavia Butler #BookSky Do you have a favorite Earthseed verse from Parable of the Talents, or one that speaks to you? Explain.

#BannedBookSkyClub schedule: November 2025: Parable of the Talents by Octavia Butler December 2025: A Wizard of Earthsea (The Books of Earthsea, 1) by Ursula Le Guin January 2026: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. Link to feed in replies. #BookSky Please join us.

#BannedBookSkyClub discussion of #ParableOfTheTalents by Octavia Butler #BookSky I've sent out talking points to start the discussion of Parable of the Talents by Octavia Butler. I'll send out more for about a week. To join, check the hashtags or pin/like the feed (go to link; click on 3 dots).

#BannedBookSkyClub discussion of #ParableOfTheTalents by Octavia Butler #BookSky Did you find reasons for hope in the book Parable of the Talents that you can apply to current events? Explain.

#BannedBookSkyClub discussion of #ParableOfTheTalents by Octavia Butler #BookSky Do you consider Earthseed as described in the Parable books a cult? Why or why not?

#BannedBookSkyClub discussion of #ParableOfTheTalents by Octavia Butler #BookSky Does Parable of the Talents benefit from including other voices besides Lauren’s? Explain.

#BannedBookSkyClub discussion of #ParableOfTheTalents by Octavia Butler #BookSky Why do you think Parable of the Talents has been banned/challenged?

#BannedBookSkyClub discussion of #ParableOfTheTalents by Octavia Butler #BookSky People often describe the Parable books as prescient. Do you agree? Can you give specific examples? If you disagree, why?

#BannedBookSkyClub discussion of #ParableOfTheTalents by Octavia Butler #BookSky If you’ve read Parable of the Sower, how do you think Parable of the Talents compares? Do you think Talents works as a standalone? Explain.

Sometimes, I feel like some of the bookish people left Bluesky, probably to read more books.

Wednesday, November 5, 2025, the #BannedBookSkyClub discussion of #ParableOfTheTalents by Octavia Butler begins. I'll start sharing talking points around mid-morning. #BookSky

The Toni Morrison section of my bookshelf. I've read the first three. The others may be future #BannedBookSkyClub books. #BookSky

We will read banned books until, and after, morale improves. #BannedBookSkyClub #BookSky

#BannedBookSkyClub announcement! The January 2026 book will be Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. Not to be missed! Join us! Spread the news! Link to feed in replies. #TheirEyesWereWatchingGod #BookSky

#BannedBookSkyClub Join us! We have great discussions!