A review by laynemandros
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

challenging dark emotional reflective 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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

OF OCTAVIA BUTLER HAS ZERO FANS IM DEAD. 

Okay for real, I am so annoyed with myself for not picking up any of her books sooner!! Kindred is 100% going to be one of my best reads of the year, it was fantastic and absolutely catapulted me out of a reading slump. I cannot remember the last book I stayed up late into the night reading like this! I almost read the whole thing in one sitting. 

The novel follows Dana, a 26 year old Black woman, living in California in the 70s. Dana is repeatedly forced back in time to the antebellum South to save her ancestor, Rufus (the white son of a plantation owner), when he is in danger. Each trip back in time leaves Dana in increasingly more danger. She’s never sure how long she will stay and how much time has passed when she returns home.

The juxtaposition of Dana being transported back and forth through time seemed to demonstrated that while some parts of our country have become “more progressive,” there are places where white supremacy is so engrained that it feels almost impossible to root out. Even though this book was written in the 70s it is still jarringly timely, which makes Butler’s writing feel perennial in an eerie way that forces the reader to reflect on how little progress our country has made in terms of racial equity and justice. This book demonstrates that the deep wound of enslavement has reverberated across our nation’s entire history and likely will continue to do so unless there is a deep, collective reckoning with our country’s insidious history. 

There is SO MUCH MORE to say about this book. Just read it, it was very good and I am excited to dive into more of her work!