April Riot Reads Meeting

For April, we’ll read classic Afrofuturist novel *The Parable of the Sower* by Octavia Butler! When I ask people about their all-time favorite books, this one comes up again and again. *The Parable of the Sower*: Fifteen-year-old Lauren Olamina lives inside a gated community with her preacher father, family, and neighbors, sheltered from the surrounding social chaos and anarchy caused by climate change and economic crisis. In a society where any vulnerability is a risk, she suffers from hyperempathy—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. Masks welcome but not mandatory. *** From our host, Indy Reads: If you would like to own a copy of the book and support Indy Reads' English literacy students, you can purchase a copy [here](https://bookshop.org/p/books/parable-of-the-sower-octavia-e-butler/3d0d65170d5548df?ean=9781538732182&next=t&fbclid=IwY2xjawPt2LBleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE3bThpelhGTDRqVWp5R2xvc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHpy-uJ_4TGJ1HDhVV_Ffrbsvu03-l6FwTitfh08JFgld6mcYUOoDBkyTRAbq_aem_FPxfKI8RnFqyx84g-H69SQ). Join the Indy Reads Literacy League and receive one FREE used book each month! For a monthly payment of $5 (or more!), you can unlock a brighter future for their students AND find your next read. You'll also receive your name on their Literacy League board at Indy Reads in Fountain Square. [Sign up here](indyreads.org/league).