Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler by Ibi ZoboiMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler
This is such an incredible book that I just need to spotlight it on all of my social medias!
Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler is a book of poetry about my favorite writer by my new favorite poet Ibi Zoboi. This New York Times Bestselling Author first caught my attention with an excellent blurb on back of this astonishing book cover written artistically into the shape of a star:
Star Child
Estelle is her Middle Name. Estelle means "star"- a bright shining light at the highest point on a pyramid, or a tree, or a solar system. There to remind us to look above our heads and witness the wonder of the sky like an ocean-blue blanket, or a glittered canopy, guarding the secrets of other worlds. And like a star, she was born to listen to the whisper of the universe, to father the constellations and weave them into stories."
If you are a fan of Octavia E. Butler, then you understand exactly what she means in this poem.
If you're not a fan, or if you've somehow have never heard of her let me enlighten you. Octavia E. Butler was a black American science fiction writer who wrote stories featuring black protagonists in fantastic, powerful, and sometimes dreadful roles.
Her work is inspiring, profound, intense, and sometimes horrifying. She is loved and studied by people all over the world. Her sudden dead in 2006 left her work in complete and her fans devastated. I did not discover her until 2009 on an epode of the Drabblecast. I weep for what I missed out ever being able to meet her.
Octavia E. Butler seemed to have insight into the future, into other words, into our very souls. She made unique connections between the human soul and the stars. And she did so in plane simple language that touched plane simple people and inspired them to really see, to think honestly and critically, and love with boundaries.
Ibi Zoboi's Star Child is an autobiography of Octavia E. Butler written in poetry. It's amazing to learn so much about my favorite author is such a elegant and easy to understand way - where she came from and how she became.... the amazing thought leader she did in the unique way that only poetry can provide.
I honestly don't think I really understood the power of good poetry until I read this book. Ibi Zoboi is a real artist.
Please Check out Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler from your local library. Or try my Amazon Associates Links.
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Other books you may also like to try:
Kindred - most popular
Bloodchild - Recommended for first timers, and YA
Lilith's Brood - Recommended for hard core science fiction fans who have "read it all".
Parable of the Sower - Read with caution. If you read Dune and 1984 and you're looking for more, have at it. Not for the faint though. The Parable Series may inspire you to pick up a cause, join a protest, or get involved in Civil Disobedience.
Fledgling - Thought provoking vampire fiction featuring a young black vampire and her fight for equality among the undead. Octavia's last book.
By Ibo Zoboi
I haven't read any of these yet, but after reading Star Child I sure plan to read more.
Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America
Pride: a Pride and Prejudice Remix
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