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4.39 AVERAGE
4.39 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
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
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not obsessed with the actual writing, especially some of the speech but very well done otherwise
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
prob the best book in high school i was forced to read. i vividly remember crying about this book
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a hard book to read. I picked it up knowing only that Octavia E Butler was a master of scifi celebrating Black lives and Black stories. I knew nothing of the subject matter, nothing of any topics that would be raised.
Butler juggles the Stockholm Syndrome-esque relationship between slave and master so well. I found myself constantly horrified by Rufus and the way he treated his slaves, despite being told again and again why it was wrong. And then to have the slaves both reviled and love him in a tangled mess of pure emotion... It was riveting and horrifying and so palpable.
Butler doesn't much tackle the more scifi-centric topics of the peripheral effects of time travel, focusing instead on our cast of characters (across both timelines). But I think by keeping it as close to a character-driven story as possible really works in her favor.
This isn't an easy read, but it's definitely an important one.
Butler juggles the Stockholm Syndrome-esque relationship between slave and master so well. I found myself constantly horrified by Rufus and the way he treated his slaves, despite being told again and again why it was wrong. And then to have the slaves both reviled and love him in a tangled mess of pure emotion... It was riveting and horrifying and so palpable.
Butler doesn't much tackle the more scifi-centric topics of the peripheral effects of time travel, focusing instead on our cast of characters (across both timelines). But I think by keeping it as close to a character-driven story as possible really works in her favor.
This isn't an easy read, but it's definitely an important one.
dark
emotional
sad
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:
No
This was absolutely gut-wrenching. The book managed to surpass the darkness I expected of it into an even bleaker territory. The relationship between Dana and Rufus was so complex, wrought with love, hatred and dependency. The slave-master relationship was most sickening in the moments when Rufus seemed to become a better man before showing his true ugliness.
Second Octavia Butler book of the summer. I appreciate the novel approach of time travel to expose social and cultural change. This book demonstrates the horrors of slavery in America, in a way I haven't read before. Definitely recommend.
It's hard to five star something that forces you to confront the day to day existence of slavery, but this was masterfully conceived and executed.
Butler manages well drawn complexities in relationships between characters, skilled pacing, and an incredibly inventive but clear plot...all in an impressively concise little book!
Looking forward to discussing with the book club.
Butler manages well drawn complexities in relationships between characters, skilled pacing, and an incredibly inventive but clear plot...all in an impressively concise little book!
Looking forward to discussing with the book club.