Kindred

This is a good story and important–the experience of a 20th century black woman who experiences 19th century slavery through the “joys” of time travel, but is shunned by other slaves for being too “white.” But given Butler's reputation, I had higher expectations for the writing, which I found clunky. From a craft point of view, it's interesting to note that she uses the structure of beginning with a glimpse of the story's climax and then goes back to the beginning to show the reader how the characters got to that point.

An powerful story very well told, and a disturbing look into the dark history of chattel slavery in the United States. Some parts of this story hit me emotionally and I am sure they will stay with me from now on.
There are a lot of detailed reviews of this book. I suggest that it is best to skip them and come at this story ‘cold' if possible.
I am classifying this story as “fantasy” rather than “science fiction” because no scientific justification or mechanism is given for the time-travel elements. It just happens.

Creative, thought-provoking, stark, and a great example of why sci-fi/fantasy/“speculative fiction” needs more diverse voices. Essentially an extended look at the thought, “if you'd be happy to go back in American history and live there, you're probably a white man.” Did feel like it had more premise than plot, although I know the disjointed nature of it was intentional. Butler is great, I'm excited to read more

“Repressive societies always seemed to understand the danger of “wrong” ideas.”

I am still thinking about this one .. it will consume me for some time looks like.

It's fantastic, and different and takes us into our brutal past.
Respect to everyone who fought against racism!

A one of a kind book, highly recommended!

Rating: 3.94 leaves out of 5-Characters: 3/5 -Cover: 4/5-Story: 3.5/5-Writing: 4/5Genre: Classic, Fantasy, HisFic, Scifi, Time Travel -Classic: 5/5-Fantasy: 4/5-HisFic: 5/5-Scifi: 2/5-Time Travel: 5/5Type: EbookWorth?: YeahHated Disliked Meh It Was Okay Liked Really Liked LovedA novel on such a sensitive topic is always hard to rate and review. You have so many elements you need to consider and it takes a while. Books like this you need to sit and stew in the information you were given. Let's start with the one who created this whole thing Rufus he was the epitome of a pathetic human. I could go into more but that would just be me ranting. Then we talk about Dana. I loved her strength and how she even understood herself but her flaw was sometimes not giving the equal treatment to her husband. For example, him coming back after 5 years and then thinking all of a sudden he isn't going to be the same person and that he isn't adjusting like he should, while also talking about how she needed to adjust? Like give the man some damn time. .This part is MY opinion if you don't like it you can skip your lil ass right on:I found it flat and though she told us the emotions I didn't feel Octavia's. Not saying she didn't put any of that into her book but for me I just wasn't receiving it. I am more of an angst woman so reading something that deals with such topics I want to feel it on my level. BUT that doesn't mean I think she SHOULD have written it like that. I think she wrote it how she wanted to and if she is happy with the book then so am I.

EN/FR Review

"Kindred" is a novel that I believe I may have missed out on. While I appreciated the story and the author's writing style, I struggled to remain focused on the narrative. Butler's prose is engaging and thought-provoking, yet I found myself frequently distracted while reading.

The premise of time travel and its impact on identity and history fascinated me, but external factors in my life made it challenging to fully immerse myself in the book. I intend to revisit "Kindred" in the future when my circumstances are less complicated, hoping for a deeper appreciation of its themes and narrative depth.

Overall, "Kindred" offers a compelling exploration of race, history, and identity, enriched by Butler's skillful storytelling. It's a book that deserves careful attention and reflection, which I hope to give it upon a second reading.

"Kindred" est un roman que je pense avoir un peu négligé. Bien que j'aie apprécié l'histoire et le style d'écriture de l'auteure, j'ai eu du mal à rester concentré sur le récit. La prose de Butler est captivante et profonde, mais je me suis souvent senti distrait pendant ma lecture.

Le thème du voyage dans le temps et son impact sur l'identité et l'histoire m'a fasciné, mais des facteurs externes dans ma vie ont rendu difficile une immersion totale dans le livre. J'ai l'intention de relire "Kindred" à l'avenir, lorsque mes circonstances seront moins compliquées, espérant ainsi mieux apprécier ses thèmes et sa profondeur narrative.

Dans l'ensemble, "Kindred" offre une exploration captivante de la race, de l'histoire et de l'identité, enrichie par le talent narratif de Butler. C'est un livre qui mérite une attention et une réflexion approfondies, que j'espère lui accorder lors d'une seconde lecture.

Being transported to the past was fascinating, and the implications of her having to make sure her ancestor survived, time passing by slower in the past than in the future, Kevin being stuck in the past for 5 years without Dana - all so thought provoking. Very difficult to read at points due to subject matter where I just had to take a break from reading. The writing style made it easy to actually read though. This is my second book from Butler and certainly not my last

Wow.

The beginning was really hard. I wanted to puke.
It didn't get much better in that - “I'll skin you alive!” and he meant it. He would have done it... how can people be confident about having right to have and use that kind of power over other people? It's still happening, all over the planet.
Anyway, it felt better, because of Dana.
Oh... I don't have words to tell how I feel about this. Except that I found it really weird that it was written some 50 years ago. It felt so modern. It could have been written now.

“Repressive societies always seemed to understand the danger of ‘wrong‘ ideas.”
Hace tiempo que tenía esta lectura pendiente. Estaba buscando el libro en español, ahora me arrepiento de haberme tardado tanto. Así que empecé a leerlo para ver que me parecía y ya no pude parar de leer. Aunque algunas veces lo tuve que poner a un lado e ir a despejarme un rato. Es un libro con partes bastante duras y difíciles de leer.

El libro está narrado desde el punto de vista de Dana, una escritora en el año 1976 que se ve arrastrada sin alguna explicación a una plantación en el sur de Estados Unidos en el año de 1815. Dana se ve atada de alguna manera a Rufus, hijo del dueño de la plantación, al que salvará la vida en diferentes ocasiones. Así formará un lazo no solo con sus antepasados, sino también con los diferentes personajes que son esclavos en la plantación.

En el presente Dana está casada con Kevin, formando una pareja interracial que en 1815 era imposible y en 1976 tampoco es que sea lo más fácil del mundo. Los dos han tenido que enfrentar prejuicios de conocidos y familiares de ambas partes. En el pasado Dana se tendrá que enfrentar a todo tipo de pruebas no solo para sobrevivir ella, sino para no poner en riesgo la existencia de su familia.

He leído otros libros sobre viajes en el tiempo y me gustó mucho como lo maneja la autora aquí, de verdad es terrorífico el no tener control alguno de la situación.

Creo que este libro formará parte de mi lista de mejores de este año. Si le tengo que poner un pero, tal vez sea el final que me pareció apresurado. Sobre todo por una escena que yo me esperaba desde el inicio y me quedé esperando.

Pero es una lectura que a pesar de lo difícil de algunas de sus escenas me atrapo completamente.

“He was like me, a kindred spirit crazy enough to keep on trying.”

I would say is if you are a person who prefer descriptive prose over dialogue heavy then you might find this one a bit more challenging, as it's almost entirely plot driven prose but even then I would still recommend giving it a try.

This is a story about a modern black woman is teleported back in time to the 1800's through a connection with a white ancestor who lives on a plantation. This creates an interesting dynamic with their relationship as she obviously has a vested interest in his survival, given that her own relies on it, but at the same time having to balance that with the horrific events that unfolded during this time period. A period that said ancestor is very much a part and product of. That's the premise of the book without spoilers mind you and it sets up very complex interracial relationships with themes centered around power dynamics, guilt, bigotry, racism, trauma, comparing modern sensibilities to past beliefs etc.

A little SFF twist enables this novel to actively contrast early 19th century slavery, with one African-American woman's perspective of the here and now. The here and now is California in the 1970ies, and Dana is a young writer who mysteriously gets transported across time and space onto a farm in Maryland in 1815. She discovers her ancestral ties to the farm, and due to her inability to return to her own time by free will, she is forced to settle in with the household. She witnesses and experiences first hand the brutal and unjust treatments slaves experience at the hand of their masters. Dana has a hard time suppressing her modern day impulses at the sigh of these injustices, yet must learn to do so in order to stay alive and protect others.

What I thought started as rather simplistic writing, quickly turns into a suspenseful tale and an interesting perspective at a dark time of American history. Butler teases interesting questions by giving the reader occasional temptations of empathy for the slave owners. How much are we all products of our time, and how quickly would we succumb to the role our skin-color imposes on us?

Oh my word! One of the greatest books I've ever read!

I can only imagine what it was like to be a slave, but the artful wresting with issues related to slavery and more general in nature, the portrayal of many different perspectives and survival mechanisms, the mystery within which the entire story is framed, the counterpoint relationships... It is just brilliant.

I've been a fan of Octavia Butler for years, having most recently read the Xenogenesis series (Dawn, Adulthood Rites, and Imago) and felt they were solid, imaginative, compelling, and provocative. This one is head and shoulders above those. Rave. Rave. Rave. Cannot say enough, so I'll stop saying more.