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Image for event: Parable of the Sower:  Book Discussion

Registration now closed

Parable of the Sower: Book Discussion

2021-10-14 19:00:00 2021-10-14 20:00:00 America/Chicago Parable of the Sower: Book Discussion The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Thursday, October 14
7:00pm - 8:00pm

Add to Calendar 2021-10-14 19:00:00 2021-10-14 20:00:00 America/Chicago Parable of the Sower: Book Discussion Community Read of Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

The Urbana Free Library

The Lewis Auditorium

Community Read of Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower

Join us to talk about Octavia Butler's remarkable dystopian science fiction novel, Parable of the Sower.  You are invited to attend one or both sessions, even if you haven't had a chance to finish the book.  The first 10 people who register to attend the book discussions can receive a free copy of the book.  (Registration is not necessary unless you would like to receive a free copy of the book.) There are also multiple copies available for checkout from the Library, and the eBook and downloadable audiobook are both available.  

Parable of the Sower takes place in the early 2020s, when global climate change and economic crises lead to social chaos. California becomes full of dangers, from pervasive water shortage to masses of vagabonds who will do anything to live to see another day. Fifteen-year-old African American Lauren Olamina lives inside a gated community with her preacher father, family, and neighbors, sheltered from the surrounding anarchy. In a society where any vulnerability is a risk, she suffers from hyper-empathy, a debilitating sensitivity to others’ emotions.  Precocious and clear-eyed, Lauren must make her voice heard in order to protect her loved ones from the imminent disasters her small community stubbornly ignores. But what begins as a fight for survival soon leads to something much more: the birth of a new faith . . . and a startling vision of human destiny.

This event is part of the Parable Path CU collaboration, coordinated by Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. There will be discussion groups and arts programming taking place throughout the year, culminating in Octavia E. Butler's Parable of the Sower, an opera by Toshi Reagon and Bernice Johnson Reagon at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in February 2022. The Parable Path CU collaborators include The Urbana Free Library, the Champaign Public Library (Douglass Branch and Main Branch), University Library at the University of Illinois, University of Illinois Residence Hall LibrariesChampaign Central High School Library, University Laboratory High School Library, and the Urbana High School Library.

AGE GROUP: | High School Students | Adults |

EVENT TYPE: | Teen | Adult |

TAGS: | Book Discussion |

The Urbana Free Library

Phone: 217-367-4057

Hours
Mon, Sep 15 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Tue, Sep 16 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Wed, Sep 17 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Thu, Sep 18 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Fri, Sep 19 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Sat, Sep 20 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Sun, Sep 21 12:00PM to 5:00PM

About the library

Conveniently located at the corner of Race and Green in downtown Urbana.

Upcoming events

Mon, Sep 15, 9:30am - 11:30am
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Mon, Sep 15, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Tue, Sep 16, 10:15am - 10:40am
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Tue, Sep 16, 3:00pm - 5:30pm
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Tue, Sep 16, 5:00pm - 7:30pm
The Urbana Free Library - Graphic Novel Corner

Tue, Sep 16, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
The Urbana Free Library - Online

Wed, Sep 17, 8:00am - 3:00pm
Leal Elementary School

Wed, Sep 17, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
The Urbana Free Library - The Satterthwaite Conference Room

Wed, Sep 17, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Teen Open Lab - The Lewis Auditorium

Wed, Sep 17, 3:00pm - 5:30pm
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Wed, Sep 17, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
The Urbana Free Library - Online

Thu, Sep 18, 10:15am - 10:45am
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Thu, Sep 18, 3:00pm - 5:30pm
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Thu, Sep 18, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Sixth Grade Center

Sat, Sep 20, 11:00am - 11:30am
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Sat, Sep 20, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
The Urbana Free Library - Archives

Sat, Sep 20, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Mon, Sep 22, 9:30am - 11:30am
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Mon, Sep 22, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Tue, Sep 23, 10:15am - 10:40am
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Tue, Sep 23, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Soccer Planet

Tue, Sep 23, 3:00pm - 5:30pm
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Wed, Sep 24, 10:00am - 11:30am
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Wed, Sep 24, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Teen Open Lab - The Lewis Auditorium

Wed, Sep 24, 3:00pm - 5:30pm
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Wed, Sep 24, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Urbana Early Childhood School

Thu, Sep 25, 10:15am - 10:45am
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Thu, Sep 25, 3:00pm - 5:30pm
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Thu, Sep 25, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Yankee Ridge Elementary School

Sat, Sep 27, 8:00am - 12:00pm
Urbana Farmer's Market

Sat, Sep 27, 11:00am - 12:00pm
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Mon, Sep 29, 9:30am - 11:30am
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Mon, Sep 29, 3:30pm - 5:30pm
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Tue, Sep 30, 10:15am - 10:40am
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Tue, Sep 30, 12:00pm - 2:30pm
Yankee Ridge Elementary School

Tue, Sep 30, 3:00pm - 5:30pm
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Tue, Sep 30, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Urbana Middle School

Tue, Sep 30, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
The Urbana Free Library - The Jean Evans Archives Room

Wed, Oct 01, All day
The Urbana Free Library - Children's Area

Wed, Oct 01, 9:00am - 11:30am
Yankee Ridge Elementary School

Wed, Oct 01, 10:30am - 11:30am
The Urbana Free Library

Wed, Oct 01, 11:00am - 1:00pm
School of Social Work - 1010 W. Nevada St. Urbana, IL

Wed, Oct 01, 3:00pm - 5:30pm
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Wed, Oct 01, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Teen Open Lab - The Lewis Auditorium

Wed, Oct 01, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Thu, Oct 02, 10:15am - 10:45am
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Thu, Oct 02, 3:00pm - 5:30pm
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Thu, Oct 02, 5:30pm - 6:15pm
Urbana Park District Health and Wellness Center

Sat, Oct 04, 11:00am - 4:30pm
The Urbana Free Library - Cherry Alley

Sat, Oct 04, 3:00pm - 7:00pm
Downtown Urbana

Sun, Oct 05, All day
The Urbana Free Library

Sun, Oct 05, 1:30pm - 3:00pm
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Mon, Oct 06, 9:30am - 11:30am
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Mon, Oct 06, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium
Registration opens Monday, September 22 2025 at 9:00am

Tue, Oct 07, 10:15am - 10:40am
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Tue, Oct 07, 3:00pm - 5:30pm
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Tue, Oct 07, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
The Urbana Free Library - The Jean Evans Archives Room

Wed, Oct 08, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Teen Open Lab - The Lewis Auditorium

Wed, Oct 08, 3:00pm - 5:30pm
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Thu, Oct 09, 10:15am - 10:45am
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Thu, Oct 09, 3:00pm - 5:30pm
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Fri, Oct 10, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Cornerstone Fellowship

Fri, Oct 10, 3:45pm - 4:45pm
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Sat, Oct 11, 11:00am - 11:45am
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Sat, Oct 11, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Sun, Oct 12, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Mon, Oct 13, 9:30am - 11:30am
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Mon, Oct 13, 1:00pm - 4:30pm
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Tue, Oct 14, 10:15am - 10:40am
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Tue, Oct 14, 3:00pm - 5:30pm
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Tue, Oct 14, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
The Urbana Free Library - The Jean Evans Archives Room

Tue, Oct 14, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
The Urbana Free Library - Online

Tue, Oct 14, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Wed, Oct 15, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
The Urbana Free Library - The Satterthwaite Conference Room

Wed, Oct 15, 3:00pm - 5:30pm
The Urbana Free Library - The Lewis Auditorium

Wed, Oct 15, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
The Urbana Free Library - Online