Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

27 reviews

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

simareading's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

andreabey's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad 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

Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

st_ella_r's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape, Self harm, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, and Fire/Fire injury

kiwichill's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Chronic illness, Cursing, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexism, Excrement, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

scmiller's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Pedophilia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Alcohol

jodean's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Hate crime, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

Minor: Incest, Infertility, and Miscarriage

alpettit's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

A tough read but important. It explores the violence of slavery and the complicated relationships that can arise from it. It explores the boundaries of humanity. It explores the ethics of what is the norm versus what is right. This book will stick with me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

celesteleila's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.25

Kindred was the right name for this book. This story really dived into to the complicated ties and dynamics that surround Black people and the ancestral ties we carry to slavery. Dana’s story was illuminating because it was a more accurate portrayal of the antebellum South with all of its horrors and sadness. I found Dana to be a cold character who measures situation with a kind of dogged determination to carve her place on the plantation. Her challenge with meeting her ancestors was utterly complex and I think the physical manifestation of the scars on her body and Kevin’s gave her a true connection to the circumstances of the time. I especially love Butler’s writing - her story is captivating, horrifying and insightful all at once. This book reminded me that the ties between past and present are stronger than we think and throughout the book, Dana noted some of the origins of culture that continued into her day. All in all this book was incredible although hard to digest at points. But upon reflection, I think that’s the point to show reality, truth and authenticity of a time that some try so hard to actively erase. Read it and learn. Read it and be challenged. Read it to learn and to hear the voices lost to time that were so powerful and are connected in many ways to the world we live in today. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Murder, and Sexual harassment

nialiversuch's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy