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tommeyer3's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This one took a while to grow on me, but it really did. I loved the plot device, found the story riveting (and disturbing) and thought the characters were well-developed, but the writing style was a little over-prescriptive at times to me. But over time it wore me down and ultimately I liked it a lot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, and Racism
elliotyork's review
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Racism, Racial slurs, Domestic abuse, Rape, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Self harm and Sexism
Minor: Animal cruelty
heathernependa's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“Like all good works of fiction, it lies like the truth.”
This made my skin crawl. I think it should be required reading.
This made my skin crawl. I think it should be required reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Slavery, Sexual violence, Violence, Death, Racism, Racial slurs, and Suicide
bluelilyblue's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Racism, Racial slurs, and Violence
Moderate: Self harm, Sexual violence, and Suicide
dreamer626's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Child abuse, Racial slurs, Child death, Gun violence, Rape, and Racism
proftoddreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Synopsis
Easily one of the best, most impactful novels I’ve read this year. Kindred follows main character Dana, a Black woman just starting her career as a writer in California in the late 1970s, who travels back in time to a plantation in 1815 where she must save Rufus, the son of a white slave owner, from drowning. This becomes the first in a series of time traveling events for Dana, each one tied to a moment in time when Rufus’ life is in danger. Dana quickly discovers Rufus is one of her ancestors, meaning her own existence is tied to her ability to keep Rufus alive. As Rufus grows into an adult and becomes increasingly more corrupted by the time period and system of slavery he lives in, Dana struggles more and more with the moral dilemma of keeping him alive.
Analysis
Through Dana we see not only the visceral horrors of slavery, but also the ways in which racism and slavery as systems of oppression destroy everyone they touch, even the white slave owners. Butler complicates our feelings by providing white slave owners who have moments of goodness, perhaps even kindness, and juxtaposing those scenes with the gruesome cruelty they inflict upon their slaves. Slavery is a system that corrupts absolutely, Butler shows us. No one and nothing can flourish within it. Love, family, and friendship are all ultimately destroyed.
Review
Though this novel was written and set in the 1970s, its messages about racism and the power of our history and past on the present remain relevant today. Butler demonstrates the impact of generational trauma; the ease with which we, as a nation, can be easily pulled back into old systems and patterns of racism, despite our belief that we have progressed beyond them; and the importance of understanding how pervasive the legacy of slavery is on every facet of our nation still today.
This is not an easy read (please check trigger warnings), but the experience is well worth it. The writing and characters are so impactful and moving, the themes and messages so powerful, it’s easy to see why this is one of Butter’s most celebrated works.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Slavery, Sexual assault, Racism, Racial slurs, and Sexual violence
badbadwolf's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, and Racism
Moderate: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Bullying, Grief, Murder, Medical content, Rape, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Torture, Child death, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Trafficking, Vomit, Blood, Physical abuse, Colonisation, and Sexual violence
adisiki's review against another edition
4.5
Wow this was incredible! I’ve been meaning to get into Butler’s work for a while, and I’m glad I started here. So well-written and an unflinching, honest, and brutal look at slavery and racism and its lasting effects on everyone involved. I just wish there had been an explanation on how and why Dana was traveling through time, but I get that’s probably part of the speculative fiction that leaves it open-ended.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Racial slurs, and Slavery
Moderate: Sexual violence, Suicide, and Rape
alrauna's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery
Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
porshainielsen's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Going into this book I was expecting some more uppity-academic-like jargon, but was pleasantly surprised. This story was extremely fast-paced and digestible. It was almost too fast-paced, I wanted more from it.
I knocked down a star just because I felt that Dana was lacking emotional depth. When she is separated from her husband it's kind of an ehh situation and she just keeps moving. At the end of the book, even when there are two violent deaths, it feels like she almost immediately recovers, and not in a way to protect herself. At first, this feels like this is because she simply does not have time to feel these strong emotions as she is thrust in and out of the 18th century, but eventually, you'd think there would be a time for the reader to see some of it. Similarly, with Rufus, he is also lacking growth. Although it is a part of the plot for him to become a "man of the times," there still could have been more emotion from his character. The way that he and the other characters just accept Dana as a time traveler seems pretty crazy for the time; including her jeans, her aspirin pills, etc. I kind of enjoyed that part though, because in other time travel novels, it feels like they beat it over the head how different they are from the time they traveled to.
Overall, would check out more of Octavia Butler's books and might even watch the show!
I knocked down a star just because I felt that Dana was lacking emotional depth. When she is separated from her husband it's kind of an ehh situation and she just keeps moving. At the end of the book, even when there are two violent deaths, it feels like she almost immediately recovers, and not in a way to protect herself. At first, this feels like this is because she simply does not have time to feel these strong emotions as she is thrust in and out of the 18th century, but eventually, you'd think there would be a time for the reader to see some of it. Similarly, with Rufus, he is also lacking growth. Although it is a part of the plot for him to become a "man of the times," there still could have been more emotion from his character. The way that he and the other characters just accept Dana as a time traveler seems pretty crazy for the time; including her jeans, her aspirin pills, etc. I kind of enjoyed that part though, because in other time travel novels, it feels like they beat it over the head how different they are from the time they traveled to.
Overall, would check out more of Octavia Butler's books and might even watch the show!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexual assault, and Suicide