Positive Obsession by Susana M. Morris | Pub. Date: August 19, 2025
I loved Positive Obsession by Susana M. Morris so much! As a fan of Octavia E. Butler and her works, I could not wait to get my hands on this read. I finished it in a manner of days! The author did an amazing job of writing in a way that the reader could see the love + care she had for Octavia E. Butler and her life's work.
Positive Obsession chronicles Octavia E. Butler's life from the child who found solace in the local library to the award-winning author gone way too soon. Readers get a glimpse into the highs and lows of Butler's life, including times she felt like an outcast among peers, fellow authors, and the world around her. Finding a home in literature, and (soon after) the many writings she immersed herself in, Octavia E. Butler learned to write the black woman into the world she wanted to see herself in.
Eventually penning short stories and novels that read more like prophecy than warning, Butler found her place in the literary world. Morris so beautifully weaves stories of her personal life and writing life. As someone who saw Octavia E. Butler as larger than life, the author humanizes Butler, sharing her hopes, fears, and dreams alike. While reading, I found myself leaning in to Butler's idea of "positive obsession," in which she persisted with writing, whether inspired or not. I was in awe of her discipline and determination to write the worlds forming in her mind.
I finished this book inspired and excited to read more from Octavia E. Butler. And though the author admits she hadn't had the chance to meet Butler before her passing in 2006, I believe Butler would be proud of Morris and this book. It reads as if Morris knew Butler personally and was paying her homage.
I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Octavia E. Butler and those curious about her work. Many thanks to Netgalley, Amistad, and the author for the copies of Positive Obsession. I thoroughly enjoyed!
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Will you be adding Positive Obsession by Susana M. Morris to your reading list?
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