This is one of those really challenging books to get through on an emotional level. Far more than any history book I've read, Octavia Butler takes the reader through an examination of the emotional and psychological tolls of slavery.

The main character, Dana, is living a normal live with her white husband, Kevin, in the 1970s, when she finds herself inexplicably time-traveling back to the site of one of her white ancestor's plantations to save his life. The plot evolves as Dana shuttles back and forth between times and tries to ensure both her own survival and the survival of her family.

One of the main themes of the book is how easy it is to get used to a system of oppression such as slavery (both from the perspective of the slave owner and the slave), and it's a point that Butler illustrates chillingly well. There are several scenes and mentions of physical and/or psychological violence that are hard to get through. Props to Butler for being able to navigate the reader through such a complex and emotionally-laden setting and plot.

See my full review here.