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[personal profile] stonebender
KindredKindred by Octavia E. Butler

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Contrary to the synopsis from Goodreads, I wouldn't call Kindred Science Fiction. I'd call it Fantasy certainly or Speculative Fiction if you like. However this is a minor quibble. A contemporary African-American woman (well, from 1976, but contemporary to the story) is called or somehow transferred from 1976 to 1815. Her life appears to be connected to an ancestor slave-owner. Who can, inexplicably, call her to his time and place when he is in danger. To survive she must find a way to act like she's from this time and place. She must act like other enslaved people of color of the time. I won't go into any more detail except to say that this is an amazing story. As long as you are not overwhelmed by the subject matter of slavery and its realistic depiction the story is simple to read, but the author delivers an emotionally complex story that talks about all the ways owning people infects everyone involved. Nothing is simple about the reactions and actions in this story. Definitely worth anyone's time.



View all my reviews

(no subject)

Date: 2017-12-25 01:10 am (UTC)
jesse_the_k: Baby wearing black glasses bigger than head (eyeglasses baby)
From: [personal profile] jesse_the_k
An exceptionally chewy story, and it was even better twenty years later on re-read, since my own knowledge of slavery and its impact had increased.

(no subject)

Date: 2017-12-27 03:57 pm (UTC)
jesse_the_k: text: Be kinder than need be: everyone is fighting some kind of battle (Default)
From: [personal profile] jesse_the_k

It's all good, but The Parable of the {Talents|Sower} are the best.

(no subject)

Date: 2017-12-25 08:22 pm (UTC)
serene: mailbox (Default)
From: [personal profile] serene
I thought it was wonderful. It's the kind of book I wish I'd read when it came out; I was 10 in 1976 and it would have enchanted and enriched me.

(no subject)

Date: 2017-12-27 07:53 am (UTC)
nitoda: sparkly running deer, one of which has exploded into stars (Default)
From: [personal profile] nitoda
Thanks for the recommendation, have bought it and hope to read it soon. My reading habit has suffered since retiring, as I feared it might. There really is no reason why I shouldn’t indulge in it, but it was something I mainly did on my commute or in work breaks, or when internet access was not available. Must do better.

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