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A review by husnaibrahim_
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
3.5
This book was a rollercoaster of emotions. I felt frustration, annoyance, and anger about midway through, yet I couldn’t tear myself away from it.
I don’t usually mind spoilers, so I was tempted so many times but I found myself resisting the urge to skim the ending, just so I could know what would happen to Alice. Looking back, I’m glad I didn’t. The powerful rush of emotions I had to seriously grapple with as I read through is what makes this book what it is.
It took me a few days after finishing to form a solid opinion. I grappled with whether I would consider it a good book or not.
I believe the book’s unflinching portrayal of brutality is what makes it both powerful and deeply unsettling. I didn’t like that Dana had to keep saving him. I was initially okay with Dana rescuing Rufus, as he seemed like a decent but ignorant young man. However, he quickly transformed into someone as bad as, if not worse than, his slave-owning father.
I detested what he did to Alice and Isaac, and I couldn’t stand that Dana had to save Alice. Because truly, In my view, Alice would have been better off dying before Rufus reached her. What’s worse, he even entertained the idea of doing the same to Dana at some point. That’s the issue with some of these privileged white people, especially back then. They might make you believe they consider you an equal, a person, but fundamentally, they don’t.
What I did love though was the ending. I guess you could say I found some sort of solace. I loved how Dana handled it. I also developed a fondness for Kevin, although I had doubts about him during the middle of the book. The side characters, especially Aunt Sarah, added depth to the story. Even though we only saw a small bit of Dana’s cousin, I couldn’t help but like her. Most importantly, I loved Alice. She was the definition strength and resilience. She’d been free for much of her life, and despite the horrors she endured, she bounced back. What’s amusing is she didn’t even know who Dana was truly to her and didn’t know Dana had her own selfish reasons for saving her but I just loved their relationship.
In the end, despite the mixed feelings this book stirred in me, I can’t deny that it moved and stirred powerful emotions in me. It’s an impactful book, whether I liked every part of it or not. Nevertheless, it’s not a story I’ll revisit. Because honestly, Once was enough and I just don’t have it in me to do that again.
I don’t usually mind spoilers, so I was tempted so many times but I found myself resisting the urge to skim the ending, just so I could know what would happen to Alice. Looking back, I’m glad I didn’t. The powerful rush of emotions I had to seriously grapple with as I read through is what makes this book what it is.
It took me a few days after finishing to form a solid opinion. I grappled with whether I would consider it a good book or not.
I believe the book’s unflinching portrayal of brutality is what makes it both powerful and deeply unsettling. I didn’t like that Dana had to keep saving him. I was initially okay with Dana rescuing Rufus, as he seemed like a decent but ignorant young man. However, he quickly transformed into someone as bad as, if not worse than, his slave-owning father.
I detested what he did to Alice and Isaac, and I couldn’t stand that Dana had to save Alice. Because truly, In my view, Alice would have been better off dying before Rufus reached her. What’s worse, he even entertained the idea of doing the same to Dana at some point. That’s the issue with some of these privileged white people, especially back then. They might make you believe they consider you an equal, a person, but fundamentally, they don’t.
What I did love though was the ending. I guess you could say I found some sort of solace. I loved how Dana handled it. I also developed a fondness for Kevin, although I had doubts about him during the middle of the book. The side characters, especially Aunt Sarah, added depth to the story. Even though we only saw a small bit of Dana’s cousin, I couldn’t help but like her. Most importantly, I loved Alice. She was the definition strength and resilience. She’d been free for much of her life, and despite the horrors she endured, she bounced back. What’s amusing is she didn’t even know who Dana was truly to her and didn’t know Dana had her own selfish reasons for saving her but I just loved their relationship.
In the end, despite the mixed feelings this book stirred in me, I can’t deny that it moved and stirred powerful emotions in me. It’s an impactful book, whether I liked every part of it or not. Nevertheless, it’s not a story I’ll revisit. Because honestly, Once was enough and I just don’t have it in me to do that again.