incrediblemre1447's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
5.0
violet_reads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
kimu's review against another edition
5.0
Shortly after I re-read the novel version of Kindred for my neighborhood book club, I found out this graphic novel version was coming out and I was really interested to find out how well it translated to the graphic novel format. In short, the graphic novel added an entire additional level of impact to what was already an incredibly strong book. I was really impressed with the quality of this adaptation, and felt the drawing style was very appropriate to the content.
My only small quibble is that in sections that are heavy in dialog, it got a bit difficult to follow the conversation because of how the text was laid out. A minor quibble though.
My only small quibble is that in sections that are heavy in dialog, it got a bit difficult to follow the conversation because of how the text was laid out. A minor quibble though.
lauramdh's review against another edition
Just couldn’t get into it. May pick back up later.
poenaestante's review against another edition
5.0
This was a tough and powerful read. I love that they give Butler's work this treatment and would love to see the others also get put into graphic novel format. Highly recommended!
1librarianspath's review against another edition
4.0
I haven’t read the original novel (yet), but the tense storyline, and back and forth nature of it, lend themselves well to the graphic novel style. I imagine the book is even better though!
The epilogue - which has an interview with the creators, sample storyboard panels from their original thoughts/ideas, and their character drawings - was a nice bonus too.
The epilogue - which has an interview with the creators, sample storyboard panels from their original thoughts/ideas, and their character drawings - was a nice bonus too.
silodear's review against another edition
4.0
This is so intense as a graphic novel. Loved the art and enjoyed the ways that Butler was adapted to this format.
lemontartpages's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
stories_by_sharanja's review against another edition
4.0
I remember first coming across Octavia E. Butler's "Kindred" when I was fifteen-years old and perusing the shelves of my highschool library. I remember finding this book and being incredibly intrigued by its cover.
The cover was utterly simplistic, except for the appearance of a young black woman, who wore a long white dress in the middle of what seemed to be a field. She was alone and looking into the distance, the expression on her face was unreadable. The cover itself made me think of an old photograph.
It was first the book that I came across that day which had a woman of color on the cover. So I was intrigued enough by that fact alone to hurriedly take the book home.
And I was amazed and astounded by what lay in store for me.
"Kindred" is the story of Dana, a young black woman and struggling writer trying to make a living in 1970's California. For reasons unbeknownst to her, she is forcibly transported back in time to early 1800's Maryland, where she meets Rufus Weylin. Rufus Weylin is the son of a wealthy plantation owner, and is a child when Dana first meets him while she's saving him from drowning. As the story progresses, Dana will learn that her fate is tied to Rufus is more ways than one.
Dana's story stayed with me for so many years and I often compare any new stories that I read about slavery to Kindred. So I was ecstatic to hear that Octavia E. Butler's would be re-released as a graphic novel.
The graphic novel does justice to the novel in every way possible. The essence of the original is present in every panel and I enjoyed the artwork as well. I would like to think that Ms. Butler would be proud of this tribute to her work.
The cover was utterly simplistic, except for the appearance of a young black woman, who wore a long white dress in the middle of what seemed to be a field. She was alone and looking into the distance, the expression on her face was unreadable. The cover itself made me think of an old photograph.
It was first the book that I came across that day which had a woman of color on the cover. So I was intrigued enough by that fact alone to hurriedly take the book home.
And I was amazed and astounded by what lay in store for me.
"Kindred" is the story of Dana, a young black woman and struggling writer trying to make a living in 1970's California. For reasons unbeknownst to her, she is forcibly transported back in time to early 1800's Maryland, where she meets Rufus Weylin. Rufus Weylin is the son of a wealthy plantation owner, and is a child when Dana first meets him while she's saving him from drowning. As the story progresses, Dana will learn that her fate is tied to Rufus is more ways than one.
Dana's story stayed with me for so many years and I often compare any new stories that I read about slavery to Kindred. So I was ecstatic to hear that Octavia E. Butler's would be re-released as a graphic novel.
The graphic novel does justice to the novel in every way possible. The essence of the original is present in every panel and I enjoyed the artwork as well. I would like to think that Ms. Butler would be proud of this tribute to her work.
panels2pages's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I suspect the emotional weight and turmoil of Dana finding herself stuck in slavery-era America is rich and devastating in the prose version of this book. The graphic novel adaptation carried an emotional weight, but the pacing left me feeling disconnected to a lot of the characters. I didn't feel the consequences of certain characters being affected the way they were (and I'm trying to avoid spoilers here) because within a few panels the outcomes were revealed and Dana was forced to move on. Not enough time was given for me to feel the despair or injustice of those moments, and so they were easier to move past than they probably should have been. So much happened "off-screen" and was revealed later to Dana (and us as readers). So the blow was dampened, in a sense.
That said, it didn't affect the power of the story too much, in that this is still a powerful, four-star read worth your time. But graphic novel may not have been the best way to consume this one--I'd love to read the prose novel to compare.
That said, it didn't affect the power of the story too much, in that this is still a powerful, four-star read worth your time. But graphic novel may not have been the best way to consume this one--I'd love to read the prose novel to compare.