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A review by stories_by_sharanja
Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Octavia E. Butler
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.