A review by eandrews80
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

dark emotional informative 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

This book is so extraordinary that I'm not even sure how to review it.  Words that come to mind include brutal, beautiful, gripping, excruciating, endearing, and haunting.  A friend told me that Butler wrote this in response to a fellow Black woman proclaiming that they couldn't imagine putting up with slavery; Dana's repeated trips back in time show how a person can get used to just about anything, and how the relationships between whites and enslaved people are so much more complex than we might think.  Butler's depiction of the uneasy, love/hate relationship between Dana and Rufus is utterly brilliant.  This is a must read. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings