Reviews tagging 'Trafficking'

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

61 reviews

trashely's review

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Racism, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicide, Rape, Domestic abuse, Gore, Vomit, Death of parent, Racial slurs, Violence, Torture, Hate crime, Death, Self harm, Murder, and Trafficking

yourbookishbff's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.5

Going into this, I knew to expect time travel between present-day (at publication - late 1970s) and the antebellum South, but I did not expect that Kindred would ultimately be more character study than time travel/sci fi - and now I understand why it is such a memorable and timeless read for the genre. For a book under 300 pages that leans heavily on dialogue, this drives a nuanced, complicated, and deeply disturbing portrayal of the relationship between a Black woman living in the 1970s and her white (slave-holding) ancestor living in the early 19th century. The world-building is secondary here - we don't ever understand how this is happening, only why, as Dana is repeatedly pulled back in time to save Rufus's life and ensure the continuation of her family line. The abruptness of the story's start is mirrored again in its conclusion, and we are left reeling from the slow-building horror of a white boy who grows into a white man at a time when he is afforded every privilege of power and security. 

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. 

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Content Warnings

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.

lay_kone's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

filipateodoro's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Racism, Violence, and Slavery

Moderate: Suicide and Sexual assault

Minor: Sexual violence

racheldallaire's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious 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

This was incredible and every time I had to stop reading, it stayed in my mind until I could get back to it. Butler's unique way of presenting slavery through the eyes of a modern woman was amazing-clever, and so well-written. I grew to love Dana and Kevin. Rufus, Alice, and all the others were so well developed and I started to feel as if I knew them. This book is heartbreaking and honest about chattel slavery and the many, many abuses it allowed and even encouraged. Even so, it's an important book and one I believe you should make time for. I am coming away from it freshly horrified at our nation's history, pained at how little has changed, and introspective about what I can and need to do to change things for the future. I am also coming away with an incredible amount of respect and awe for Butler's writing-I cannot wait to read more of her books.

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Content Warnings

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

amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Trafficking, Blood, Classism, Death of parent, Genocide, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Torture, Toxic relationship, Gore, Racial slurs, and Violence

Moderate: Addiction and Alcohol

florecita_lectora's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Domestic abuse, and Racial slurs

bessadams's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Violence, Trafficking, Self harm, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Racism, Death, and Slavery

literaryinkling's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Suicide attempt, Violence, Racial slurs, Murder, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Physical abuse, Torture, and Trafficking

Moderate: Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Pregnancy

Minor: Suicide attempt and Suicidal thoughts

loesm's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Death of parent, Vomit, Torture, Physical abuse, Violence, Murder, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Trafficking, Self harm, Rape, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Racism, Racial slurs, Gaslighting, Child death, Medical trauma, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, and Emotional abuse