It's so exciting to read about a trailblazer who was ethical, thoughtful, generous, and funny in addition to being diligent and multifaceted.
Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler by Susana M. Morris
non-fiction biography
Amistad, 2025
Opening with a quote from Parable of the Sower, this biographer uses every word in the O.E.B. chronology, author's note, introduction, six chapters, epilogue, and acknowledgements to engage readers in an intimate personal study of this extraordinary, talented, driven woman who was vulnerable and complicated in her brilliant humanity. The author's access to the O.E.B. archives adds layers of emotional depth that enrich the context of the details of the author's personal life and creative and professional development.
from the Author's Note:
... Positive Obsession is a cultural biography because as much as it tells Octavia's story, it is also firmly situated within the cultural, social, and historical context that shaped her life.
from the Epilogue:
No longer is Octavia the singular Black woman writing primarily in speculative fiction; her literary descendants are manifold. Octavia is an Afrofuturist icon... In the decades since her death, it is clear that her words and ideas and hopes for the future continue to grow.
The Notes also offer an abundance of background details and sources for additional research. Positive Obsession reads like a real-life adventure novel about a working-class person's journey from being under-estimated to being celebrated for her life and her brilliance.
My Book Acquisition Issues continue, mostly thanks to the public library. Currently reading and savoring Communion by bell hooks, and added The Last Lady B by Eloisa James to my TBR stack.
Always wishing you good health, peace of mind, safety, joy & some pleasure every day
Happy creating!
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