Grief: Priori Incantatem (Book 4, Chapter 34)

Women Talking is a novel inspired by the true story of a Mennonite community in Bolivia where hundreds of girls and women were drugged and raped by men from their own community. The novel is told through the 'minutes' of a secret meeting where the women discuss their options: to stay in the colony, fight back, or escape. The story is narrated by August Epp, a schoolteacher who takes the minutes because the women are illiterate. The novel explores themes of power, faith, and the women's struggle for autonomy and safety in a patriarchal society. It delves into their philosophical, practical, and emotional discussions, highlighting their courage and resilience in the face of horrific abuse.

Published in 1993, 'Parable of the Sower' is a dark and vivid portrayal of a future where global climate change and economic crises have led to social chaos. The story is told through the diary entries of Lauren Olamina, a 15-year-old Black girl living in a gated community near Los Angeles. Lauren suffers from hyperempathy, a condition that makes her feel the pain and pleasure of others. As her community is destroyed by external threats, Lauren embarks on a perilous journey north, developing a new faith called Earthseed along the way. Earthseed's central doctrine is that 'God is Change' and cannot be resisted, but can be influenced. The novel explores themes of survival, faith, family, hope, and community in a world torn apart by environmental devastation, economic collapse, and violence.