Reviews

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

rizziii's review

challenging dark emotional informative sad 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

5.0

loriterritory's review

dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.75

hbusarah's review

3.0

3.5 stars!!!

abaugher's review against another edition

5.0

Wow, beautifully done. white privilege is all over this story, and--just as in real life--they don't see it. And they don't see how truly bad things are for blacks. It's STILL this way today, only not so blatant and harsh.

kelscols's review

adventurous challenging mysterious 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

lanalu's review

adventurous dark reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

cthompson00297's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

• 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? Yes

3.75

ferndalien's review

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? No

2.0

Firstly, I do want to acknowledge the importance of Butler's work and Kindred at the time it was published. Having issues with the book in 2024 cannot reasonably correlate with its necessity nearly half a century prior.

This is my fourth Butler book (previously: Dawn, the Parables), and I have quite mixed feelings about her as an author. Her books even decades later are quite singular. Her plots, even where I have issue, carry one on like a swift current. I adore her as a visionary and storycrafter. That said, I also hold issue with her continually dark view of humanity—a critique I also have of N. K. Jemisin which I recognize I may not have had my ancestors suffered centuries of enslavement and brutalization. While that issue is very much opinion on worldview, it also makes for a grim, disheartening read. Her books do not shy away from violence, and at some point I have to wonder if brutalizing black bodies on the page is worth the narrative effect. I can't say for 1979, but in 2024 I have my doubts. Furthermore, the plot hinging on

continuously saving the life of her multi-great-grandfather / violent slavemaster

feels altogether silly

, like just let him die, girl

.

Lastly, I need to know what's up with Butler's leading women continuously having largely unexamined age-gap relationships.

jennythenic's review

5.0

This should be required reading in every American high school.

amkozy23's review against another edition

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

3.75

Wow what an opener! This book was very descriptive and detailed but some of the characters felt very one-sided to me. I think this book is a very important read but I also found Dana to be a bit naive and always trying to find the good in everyone. I like the way Butler writes and will be reading more of her books in the future.