Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

923 reviews

juliak6's review against another edition

challenging 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery

lattemacoco's review against another edition

challenging 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery

sammietee's review against another edition

challenging dark

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Suicide, and Violence

leadabird's review against another edition

adventurous 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? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Rape, Abandonment, and Alcohol

litagentsaritza's review against another edition

challenging 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? It's complicated

5.0

I need to sit with my thoughts a bit after this one but I can safely say, this is a book that will sit with me for the rest of my life. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery and Violence

redheadorganist's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Infidelity and Rape

Minor: Drug use, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Fire/Fire injury

anabak's review against another edition

challenging dark informative fast-paced

• 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

4.0

Realism about time travel and slavery 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery and Violence

heathernependa's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• 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

5.0

“Like all good works of fiction, it lies like the truth.”

This made my skin crawl. I think it should be required reading. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, and Violence

bluelilyblue's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, and Violence

Moderate: Self harm, Sexual violence, and Suicide

proftoddreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

Synopsis

Easily one of the best, most impactful novels I’ve read this year. Kindred follows main character Dana, a Black woman just starting her career as a writer in California in the late 1970s, who travels back in time to a plantation in 1815 where she must save Rufus, the son of a white slave owner, from drowning. This becomes the first in a series of time traveling events for Dana, each one tied to a moment in time when Rufus’ life is in danger. Dana quickly discovers Rufus is one of her ancestors, meaning her own existence is tied to her ability to keep Rufus alive. As Rufus grows into an adult and becomes increasingly more corrupted by the time period and system of slavery he lives in, Dana struggles more and more with the moral dilemma of keeping him alive.

Analysis

Through Dana we see not only the visceral horrors of slavery, but also the ways in which racism and slavery as systems of oppression destroy everyone they touch, even the white slave owners. Butler complicates our feelings by providing white slave owners who have moments of goodness, perhaps even kindness, and juxtaposing those scenes with the gruesome cruelty they inflict upon their slaves. Slavery is a system that corrupts absolutely, Butler shows us. No one and nothing can flourish within it. Love, family, and friendship are all ultimately destroyed. 

Review

Though this novel was written and set in the 1970s, its messages about racism and the power of our history and past on the present remain relevant today. Butler demonstrates the impact of generational trauma; the ease with which we, as a nation, can be easily pulled back into old systems and patterns of racism, despite our belief that we have progressed beyond them; and the importance of understanding how pervasive the legacy of slavery is on every facet of our nation still today. 

This is not an easy read (please check trigger warnings), but the experience is well worth it. The writing and characters are so impactful and moving, the themes and messages so powerful, it’s easy to see why this is one of Butter’s most celebrated works.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Slavery