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A review by zenzi2read
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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? Yes
5.0
The content of this book is harrowing. This was a book club read for me and to be honest I avoided it because this is a reread and it’s exhausting. If racial and sexual violence are triggered for you I would avoid this entirely and read other Butler work.
But Butler’s talent is undeniable here. Some authors, write the same main character over and over again, putting them in different scenarios throughout their career. Each protagonist that Butler rights is different from the next Dana is sure of herself. Her journey here shows her how easily her strong, driven persona can be stripped when placed in the right scenario. I think it’s common for most people to assume what role they would play if they could impact the lives of slaves or were within the slaves system. The vivid images that Butler creates throw those assumptions out of the window. do you understand Dana’s terror, and you also understand each person’s attitude within this system.
I enjoyed watching the scenario play out. At the beginning of the book Dana states that all of this takes place during a month of her current timeline, but within years of the past, and you feel that time as you read this book, watching Dana and Rufus journey was uncomfortable, but compelling, and adding her husband, Kevin into the story add another complex dimension
But Butler’s talent is undeniable here. Some authors, write the same main character over and over again, putting them in different scenarios throughout their career. Each protagonist that Butler rights is different from the next Dana is sure of herself. Her journey here shows her how easily her strong, driven persona can be stripped when placed in the right scenario. I think it’s common for most people to assume what role they would play if they could impact the lives of slaves or were within the slaves system. The vivid images that Butler creates throw those assumptions out of the window. do you understand Dana’s terror, and you also understand each person’s attitude within this system.
I enjoyed watching the scenario play out. At the beginning of the book Dana states that all of this takes place during a month of her current timeline, but within years of the past, and you feel that time as you read this book, watching Dana and Rufus journey was uncomfortable, but compelling, and adding her husband, Kevin into the story add another complex dimension
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Sexual assault
Minor: Child death, Chronic illness, Mental illness, Dementia, and Death of parent