Kindred

This was not what I expected at all.

I wanted to read an Octavia Butler book and checked out a random one from my library. This book highlights the mixed feelings racism brings between black and white people. The main characters seemed to hate and love each other because they like each other's company but Rufus can't seem to help to do anything besides hurt the black people around him. I think he wants to do the right thing but never emotionally matured enough and didnt have enough backbone to stand up to societial norms.

An amazing read that I highly recommend. I would never have picked this book myself, but it was recommended and I picked up this time travel sci-fi book one night, thinking it would help put me to sleep. Four hours later, I had to force myself to put the book down. I will never forget this story. This book places you square in the middle of Antebellum South inside the skin of a modern day (by way of the 1970s) black woman trying to survive long enough to navigate her way back home. The author manages to skillfully make her point about slavery - all kinds of slavery - without going into too many gorey details which makes this accessible to all readers. There were some very gritty passages but necessary. The author brings history class to life in this compelling story and yet, her most powerful points are made in quiet moments. The most powerful one for me was when Dana realized how easy it was to condition people to accept horrific mistreatment. Especially when the power structure condones it. There were several passages that were hard to read. This book will leave a mark and is a MUST-READ for everyone. Even though it was written in the late 70s, it’s a timeless story about freedom and human nature. I would especially recommend for book clubs.

Time travel the most known sci-fi trope, but this book does it better than any other. Dana a black woman in the 70’s gets randomly taken back in time to save her white slave owning ancestor. I haven’t stopped thinking about this book. Rufus is the most selfish yet human villians I’ve read in a book. And Dana handles situations in ways I wouldn’t. You end up understanding why. The ending being disappointing is so realistic. Never had a book that’s made me think about it well after in a very long time. Wonderful story, the best science fiction book I’ve read!

4.75 stars

My copy of Kindred has a review by Harlan Ellison on the back and it sums up my thoughts perfectly:

“Kindred is a story that hurts…It is an important novel, filled with powerful human insight and the shocking impact of the most commonplace experiences viewed in a new way, and it demands that once begun, the reader continue till it has done its work on the heart and mind and soul.”

I would love to give it a full five stars but the ending was so abrupt and I couldn’t believe it was over! I wanted just a bit more. I can’t wait to read another book by Octavia Butler!

8.5/10 I'm officially intrigued. Butler meticulously crafts fascinating, complex characters, all while seamlessly navigating past and present realities. Ultimately, Kindred read to me like a tragedy, though there's much to be learned from generational trauma, historical damage, and its impending ripple effects. I left feeling down, conflicted. and angry.