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claraofthewood's review
- 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? No
5.0
Graphic: Suicide, Child death, Pregnancy, Rape, Racism, Body horror, Racial slurs, Blood, Child abuse, Slavery, and Sexual assault
ruyireads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
Graphic: Slavery, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Rape, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
elyssam'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? No
4.75
Graphic: Slavery
noonjinx'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? Yes
3.5
The antagonist is unpleasant and petty and does some awful things but doesn’t really have any sort of character arc. Because of his relationship with the protagonist I thought he might redeem himself but it never happened. Maybe Butler was trying to show how ordinary and natural slavery felt to white people.
Also, the science fiction element is very light, not really explored, and ultimately pointless. The idea of a mixed race 20th century couple dropped into a 19th century slave plantation is really interesting but I never really believed how they reacted or how they were treated.
I felt like Butler thought of a cool idea but then didn’t know where to go with it, ending up stuck in a melodrama. For me, that’s the worst sort of science fiction and this would have worked better as a historical story.
Graphic: Torture, Racism, and Slavery
Minor: Rape
kumquatlemon's review
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Rape
mspringer7122's review
- 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
Graphic: Slavery, Sexual assault, Racism, Racial slurs, Suicide attempt, Violence, and Physical abuse
lbyars99's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Suicide attempt, Slavery, Rape, Racism, Pregnancy, Grief, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Self harm, Vomit, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Death
rachelisathomas22's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Rape, Slavery, Violence, and Sexual violence
huffkjames's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Colonisation, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Violence, and Slavery
coralinejones's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I, by no means, hate or dislike this novel. In fact, I would like to purchase my own personal copy for my collection. I acknowledge Octavia E. Butler's brilliance and I fully agree that the idea of this novel is just a shining example of her intelligence. I totally understand why, and how, this became a beloved classic in the first place. Even as hard of a read as this is (not through text, but through content; more on this later) I wouldn't mind reading it again. However, I thought I was going to absolutely love this more than I actually did given it's place in literature's history. It's perhaps my expectation that ruined my read than anything else.
I can't quite put my finger on what I didn't enjoy about Kindred... I was going back and forth between giving this a 4 star or a 3 star rating, and my rating is by no means a hateful 3.75 either.
As stated, this is an easy read. Butler's writing style is very tell not show, which is another reason why I have this at 3 stars but I digress. It's easy to get immersed and pulled into the story being told. It's gruesome, it's hard to get through, it makes you angry, sad, confused, and overall feel alllll the overwhelming emotions whilst Dana goes through these rotten events but it still didn't feel like enough?
I don't know, something about Kindred was way more engaging during the beginning of this novel than in the end. Like the "what if" factor kept me interested. But then... It kind of got uninteresting? I think if I had read this while I was in high school I would've gotten waaaay more out of this.
And to be fair, as a black person who is not shy of the tragedies my ancestors have gone though; someone not ignorant of the bitter realities my people, past and present, have had to go through... I really couldn't stand the constant racism (Hard R racism) back to back. I know that's the point! And I absolutely expected it going into this, but man... Man :/
On page 208 Dana declares, “I wanted so much for it to be over.”
Same girl.
Graphic: Racial slurs, Slavery, and Racism
Moderate: Misogyny and Physical abuse