Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

151 reviews

summerrains's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark reflective fast-paced

5.0

this book was so good. 

i’m usually not a fan of historical fiction but the added element of time travel made it really engaging and created so much action. this book really brings the idea of experiencing history to life and Butler flawlessly portrays the horrors of the antebellum south. She writes such loveable and such hateable characters and each chapter ends with something that pulls you into the next. I’m excited to read more of her work! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Death of parent

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

ashley97's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad tense fast-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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Physical abuse

Minor: Ableism, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Self harm, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

shannnne_reads_words's review against another edition

challenging reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

Minor: Ableism, Child death, and Abandonment

lateromantic's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective 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: Death, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Classism, and Deportation

liline163's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, and Colonisation

Minor: Death, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

nina_rae_131's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

This book was very hard to read, but when I was reading it I couldn't put it down. The ending will stay with me for a long time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Trafficking, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Rape, Police brutality, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

Minor: Addiction and Miscarriage

tinysierra's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Drug use

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