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thecatspajamas7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Violence, Racism, Physical abuse, Slavery, and Torture
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Death, Emotional abuse, Child death, Murder, Violence, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Violence
yourbookishbff's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Butler consistently sows doubt in the reader: Is Dana's husband, Kevin, good enough to her, will he protect her, will he prioritize himself? Is Dana growing attached to Rufus, does she feel sorry for him, does she forgive him for his cruelty because she sees how he was raised? Do we become acclimated as Dana and Kevin do, do the horrors become loss horrible through exposure, do we become numb to it? What are we willing to sacrifice to save ourselves, a person we love, or a family member? Butler resists answering any of these questions, instead giving characters room to orbit around each other as they make their own decisions and shape their own histories.
This is a challenging and graphic read, but a fast-paced one that evidences Butler's place in the sci-fi/fantasy canon.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Violence, Misogyny, Racism, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Rape, Slavery, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, Trafficking, Suicide, Sexual violence, Self harm, and Murder
Moderate: Alcohol, Ableism, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Fatphobia
Slurs for disabled people are used (this was written and published in the 1970s and today's readers should be aware that these instances will go unchallenged on page). Fatphobia also goes unchallenged on page in the present-day (1970s) storyline.xwritingstoriesx's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Slavery, Self harm, Suicide, Racial slurs, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Racism, Murder, Rape, and Torture
emilybacher's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Torture, Suicide attempt, Racism, Racial slurs, Body horror, Slavery, Suicide, and Rape
katecassi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5
(Mind the content warnings, because this book does not hold back with the reality of chattel slavery, but it’s important to be able to sit with your discomfort with heavy topics like this.)
Graphic: Racial slurs, Suicide attempt, Misogyny, Racism, Suicide, Physical abuse, Slavery, and Torture
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
lay_kone's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Trafficking, Death, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Racial slurs, Violence, Infidelity, Sexism, Slavery, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Confinement, Rape, and Torture
Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Addiction, and Death of parent
erikwmj's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Torture, Rape, Abandonment, Racial slurs, Suicide, Slavery, Racism, and Sexism
Moderate: Kidnapping, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Gaslighting
aksmith92's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
When all is said and done, this book may be sci-fi/fantasy (I believe Butler noted that she would call it "grim fantasy" in an interview since there was nothing scientific about it), but it's more real than we would like it to be. It's about race and an incredibly dark time in American history. Butler manages to intersect historical records and research with the time-traveling trope in a fascinating and beautiful (but, as most books about this time, horrible) way. It is incredibly well-written and emotional. It pained me to read this, but it was so important to read it at the same time.
As a note, Butler has decided to forgo a lot of explanation around this somewhat science fiction novel and has instead relied on metaphor and allegory during the more "fantastical" times of the novel. We don't get intense descriptions of the time travel or the "science" behind it - we just know it happens and its impacts. This is no spoiler and won't take away from the story, but those who are itching for more detail may find themselves frustrated. But, for a book of this caliber, I don't think it was at all needed.
I loved it and yet hated it so much because America at this time was awful. I had all the feels reading this book, but I thought it was incredibly well done. I'm sure excited to read more of Octavia Butler's stuff in the future.
Graphic: Slavery, Death, Death of parent, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Violence, Vomit, Racial slurs, Gore, Medical trauma, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Suicide, and Torture
Moderate: Alcoholism and Alcohol
racheldallaire's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Suicide, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Murder, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Rape, Racism, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Vomit, Death, Violence, Trafficking, Torture, Slavery, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
kirkspockreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Racism, Racial slurs, Medical content, Slavery, Torture, Child abuse, Blood, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Colonisation, Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, and Death