Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

53 reviews

kelisabeth's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Incest, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

scifi_rat's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Infidelity, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

idk_indigo's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

While I felt this book was well-written and definitely classics-level good, I personally struggled quite a bit with how intense and violent it was. Definitely lots of content warnings, proceed with caution, etc., but that is sort of to be expected just by reading the front. 

I would give it 4 stars if I were just rating on like how it was, but I think 3 stars based on how much I liked it, if that makes sense? A personal rating. 

I hated parts of this book very much, ultimately I am glad I read it but I will not be putting it on my list for, like "recommend me similar books" kinda thing as it was just quite a bit too much for me

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Genocide, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Self harm, Suicide, Vomit, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, and Toxic friendship

thequiltyreader's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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

4.0

Sci-fi crossed with historical fiction. It had some outlander vibes, just based over the ocean in the US. The time travel element just felt a bit out there and the timing of visits seemed haphazard but can see why it was needed.

It was compelling, it was emotional, it was thoroughly frightening. Not only what was common practice in the time period in which they travelled to but the fact it didn't take long for them to slip into the expected roles of the time, albeit that would have somewhat been because of human instinct to survive.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Deportation

creolelitbelle's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Historical fiction and/or time travel fans who have not yet read this near classic sci-fi/speculative fiction title are sleeping on this book that I suspect was way ahead of its time. The audiobook is exceptionally done with nuanced changes in inflection for the tone of current (past?) events for Dana. I appreciate how Butler does not shy away from the realities of the early 19th century and how Dana has to adjust her behavior and words to survive her travels. Kindred is a phenomenal example of books being products of their times - that in which they are written during AND about. It is also a great example of PEOPLE being products of our times, which is highlighted repeatedly about Tom Weylin. A good lesson derived from the book is even people who are horrible based on modern societal standards could be honorable (in other aspects) of their own times' standards. Rufus gives the concept of nature vs. nurture a spin. The paradox of time travel found in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban rings true in Kindred, and Dana realizes it early on. How much can she safely change versus how much must she impact history and its people to preserve her present? Prior to diving into the first few chapters, I never would have guessed how much I would enjoy the tale of an African American woman being thrown into the past of her ancestors. Yes, parts are deeply uncomfortable, but reading it in the 21st century means parts SHOULD be uncomfortable for the reader. 

I will eventually check out the graphic novel adaptation AND watch the tv series I only now learned exists. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Slavery, and Violence

Moderate: Infidelity, Rape, and Death of parent

sarah984's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

Time travel stories can be a bit hit or miss for me - I find that a lot of the time they get too caught up in either the mechanics or the power fantasy, so they don't feel like they have anything to say. Kindred knows what it wants to say and says it effectively. I'll be thinking about this book for a long time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Colonisation

Minor: Gun violence, Incest, Abortion, and Fire/Fire injury

annasorr's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Octavia Butler is absolutely brilliant. The novel is deceptively straightforward, choosing to eschew usual sci-fi plot jargon to get straight to the point. It’s tense, compact, dark, and philosophical— basically everything this novel needs to be to tell this story effectively and truthfully, lingering in darkness without stewing in it longer than necessary. Then, when the novel reaches its necessary conclusion, it leaves reader to make sense of Dana’s experiences, bringing history ever closer to the present. Certainly a difficult read, but also a riveting one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

bamlady's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative sad tense fast-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail

geometryprime's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Abandonment, and Colonisation

mareltor's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

W. O. W. This book left me grappling with so many feelings. She really didn’t hold back. This book didn’t go the way I imagined it would, but it’s more impactful because of that.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail