Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

766 reviews

summergautier's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This was a nuanced, gritty, and historically grounded time travel novel that brought real reflection. What would you do if forced back into the antebellum south? Great read. 

Also, I usually would knock a book with blunt and unimaginitive prose, but in this case the very dark subject matter lends itself to a less than purple style. There is nothing that should be glorified about what these charachters endure.

Great and unique novel, one to remember.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Slavery

simareading's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

geekmom's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.5

This book pulls you in and doesn’t let you look away. An incredible story that is all too credible in many difficult ways.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Body horror, Rape, and Vomit

Minor: Child abuse and Child death

dreezy's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Pregnancy

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Alcohol

lesiene's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicide, and Violence

lllayluh's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.5

Octavia Butler’s writing has a way of drawing you in and holding your attention in such a way, it was difficult to not try to finish this book in one sitting. Definitely a heavy story that takes place across time but also during not much time at all as we come to learn. Unlike anything I’d ever read up until this point. 

“That felt like truth. It felt enough like truth for me not to mind that he had only half understood me.” (p. 246)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, and Racism

amandarosexox's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child death, Death, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual violence, Vomit, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

Minor: Fire/Fire injury

alliknight's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

• 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

4.75

What a heavy and intriguing read. In the vaguest way it reminded me of outlander, and going into it blind, I was pleasantly surprised at the sci-fi turn it takes early on. Was so eager for it all to end, but when it did, it felt so sudden. A book I think I’ll think about for a long time going forward. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, and Suicide attempt

anniehayez's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

This is a modern classic for a reason. I can’t believe it took me so long to read it. I think for a long time I was scared away by the hard truths this book tackles. I’m glad that I got over that. I finally picked up the book because I saw a TikTok of a high school teacher saying that this was one of the best revived books she ever taught in school. She said that it convinced even the most stubborn non-readers to find an interest in it. I can see why. 

The writing is so accessible while still being poignant. The struggles that Dana faces are described so well and help open up lines of discourse about not only the horrors of slavery but how the nation has tried to distance itself from those horrors. Her struggle with her modern perspective on Blackness and how it clashed with the ideas of the era was also interesting. Both the white people and black people in the antebellum era had opinions on her blackness and how she should and should not act because of it. Through the book she tries to cling to her modern sense of self while trying to survive the demands of the time. The emotional conflict in the book is so moving and keeps you wondering what will happen next. All of the characters feel so fleshed out and create this rich tapestry of the world. Even Dana comments that he time in Maryland was more vivid than her “real” life in California. I think that the scale of the story was perfect and the mix of science fiction and historical fiction is perfect. I think this should be required reading.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery

Moderate: Death, Gore, and Rape

beebeewin's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.75

I need to read more Octavia Butler, that is what I have learned from this fantastic novel! I think it will not surpass Parable of Sowers, but this novel truly was unlike anything I have read before. Butler's commentary is so powerful and stirring in a way that at times it makes you uncomfortable and think very deeply about how you would respond if you were in Dana's position. She clearly depicts the desperation, confusion, and hopelessness of slavery, but also the resilience, strength, and kindness that still exists within those who are slaves. Within all characters there is the push and pull of emotions, reason, feelings, wants and desires. I appreciated the depth of all the characters and Butler's unflinching choice to not hold back in any regard. You see the brutality of slavery but are at once made to sympathize with the slave master. Butler doesn't let you walk away from the story with a clear picture of black and white. You must contend with your own feelings and think about your own ancestors, who like Rufus, and at times Alice, might not have been as good or kind as you imagined. I would truly recommend this read to everyone who wants to hear a slavery narrative wholly new and intriguing. It will force you to think but sometimes I think that is the best kind of novel!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence