Reviews

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

omg__gigi's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

This was my first time reading a scientific book, and I love it! I was hooked from the first page and finished the book in three days. The author’s writing between the past and present flowed so smoothly. It’s a story that makes you think about how connected you are to your family history and how it defines who you are now. It also helps you gain a better understanding of how African Americans survived during slavery. 

dirtyreadz's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

bdrew's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

sheraray's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

tanuja_'s review against another edition

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

5.0

This books make you look at history more honestly, more throughly, as if it’s something that actually affects your life. It made me think and feel deeply. Slavery is a very complicated subject to honestly deal with and the characters had to face truths about themselves. The reader has to face them too. 

nataliedallaire's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense fast-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

5.0

ingread27's review against another edition

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5.0

Well noted as a must-read classic, Kindred did not disappoint. Just incredible. Totally lived up to the hype. Entirely relevant in today’s world.

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