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graceybookster's review against another edition
5.0
WOW! This was outstanding!
I came across this via someone on bookstagram and was so captivated by the blurb I just had to read it!
This is not your usual historical fiction book depicting slavery, it is also a modern tale entwined with elements of sci-fi/magical realism at its finest!!
We follow Dana, a 26 year old black woman from the 70s, who suddenly keeps getting pulled back in time to save Rufus, the white son of a plantation owner during the antebellum south! Where slavery and racism was rife and at its harshest, it’s difficult to imagine just how Dana could navigate and survive such a dangerous place.
This had me hooked from the very beginning. It was mysterious, incredibly gripping and kept you guessing as to what would happen next throughout with regards to timelines and particular relationships of the characters. Through Dana’s own eyes and footsteps we as readers were pulled along with her, and shown firsthand just how atrocious black people and slaves were treated during this time. It was shocking and brutal and I’m sure just the tip of the iceberg to what actually happened.
This not only highlighted the white privilege of its time, but also of todays day and age and that racism is something most definitely taught. It broke my heart to see how an innocent child was influenced so negatively at such a young age into believing that other human beings held such little value in society compared to their own, purely for the fact that their skin colour was different. It also explored the example of how the tiniest bit of empathy taught in place of the bigotry, could change an impressionable mind and so many lives for the better if only given the chance, but also just how quickly things could turn if that compassion and understanding was absent and inconsistent.
This was a complex story covering many dark and hard topics not only including the above and many more, but one of which also stood out to me which was emotional and domestic abuse. It encapsulates how the feelings and hope of change could keep a person stuck in a toxic environment or relationship much to their detriment, but also how easily it is for someone to become trapped in that pattern and life with no other choice or options. It’s tragic.
I’ve since found that there is a tv series which has been based on this book so I’m definitely eager to watch that now.
This book is definitely worth a read not only for your own education, but also for the children of our future. I know I will be teaching my own son to treat all people with empathy, kindness and respect and hope that in time, the world will become a much better and safer place for all if only everyone else did the same.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting
kelisabeth's review against another edition
- 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
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
joshmgoetz's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
capsandclauses's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Wow.
I don't often pick up modern classics. Or even older ones. It not something I'm proud of - I'd like to be one of those 'well-read' university students - but the books just don't appeal to me.
This book took me on a journey.
Kindred is a brutal and confronting novel follows a woman at the cusp of the centenary of American Independence, Dana, as she finds herself constantly transported back in time to the antebellum south, where she must protect a white ancestor.
This is a complex book that plays with binary narrative of villainism and complicity. It's written well and in a compelling way, but contains a wealth of information.
I will certainly be rereading and annotating this in a few years time.
Graphic: Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Trafficking, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
scifi_rat's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
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
nina_rae_131's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Trafficking, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Rape, Police brutality, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Addiction and Miscarriage
galaxies's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Gaslighting
Minor: Child abuse and Child death
chris_reads's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Gun violence, Misogyny, Rape, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism and Child abuse
thequiltyreader's review against another edition
- 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
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.
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
andoriachan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Racial slurs, Slavery, Vomit, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Antisemitism, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy