about the book club
Last summer, we asked, "Was Octavia E. Butler right about the world we would inherit in 2024?" Through our reading of Butler's Parable of the Sower, we encountered Lauren Oya Olamina, a young girl who sets pen to paper to help us create a better way of connecting with each other, the Earth, and God. We travel with Lauren and the community she develops amidst the harsh realities of economic decline, political tension and uncertainty, and a host of environmental challenges. Through our collective reading, we engaged the questions, rituals, and resources that emerge from Butler’s 2024 dystopian world, and by the end, we are left with a new question: “Where can we go from here?”
Join us this July as we continue the journey with Parable of the Talents. This journey will include 5 weeks of a slow reading of the work in community. In addition to traditional "book club" conversations, we will also have a chance to hear how scholars are interacting with Butler's archival work, as well as create collaborative resources for the topics discussed.
Tamisha A. Tyler (she/her/hers) is a visiting assistant professor of theology and culture and theopoetics at Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Indiana. She also serves as a theologian-in-residence at The Center for Restorative Justice in Pasadena, California, and is part of the Level Ground Artist Collective in Los Angeles. Her current research explores religion in the literary world of Octavia E. Butler.
Dates: Tuesday nights for 5 weeks (7/1, 7/8, 7/15, 7/22, 7/29)
Time: 7:00-9:00pm PT
Location: Hybrid (online + in-person in Pasadena)
We do not want cost to be a limiting factor, so please reach out and we may be able to provide a sliding scale or scholarship. Email [email protected] with any inquiries.
