Reviews

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

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jmcook's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

jnlstrawberry's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

3.75

senquezada29's review against another edition

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4.0

My first experience reading Butler. She's a renowned sci-fi writer and although this book has sci-fi elements (time travel), it's not the focus of the book. Rather, she uses the time-travel element to tell the story of slavery in the antebellum south. The main character is thrust into this world after traveling from the current time (mid 1970's in the book) to the early 1800's and has to figure out how to adjust to and survive the institution of slavery while trying to figure out how to get back home. Butler did an excellent job telling a complicated story that humanized every individual from the slave masters to the enslaved people themselves. The way each of their stories and journeys were complicated was very realistic. I especially enjoyed the way she described how easily white people slipped into the comfort of the slave state and were able to grow accustomed to it as the natural state of being. A really good read. I also watched the TV adaptation (now on Hulu) and really liked the changes the TV show made and was disappointed that it was cancelled after the 1st season. I would have liked to have seen the rest of the book/TV story play itself out. I definitely recommend this book as a read. MQ

thalassaio's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.25

julie7's review against another edition

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4.0

4⭐️= Good.
Paperback.
This was my physical book club choice this month.
What an unusual premise! Nothing like I’ve ever read before, and really brave on the author’s part for mixing time travel with the delicate and disturbing subject of slavery.
I was wrong with one of my predictions about Kevin. I’m fine with this though.

This maybe for you if you like time travel and history. As you might expect in a storyline involving slavery, there is quite a bit of unacceptable terminology used, and this did make me feel uncomfortable at times.