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2021: 10/10 definitely enjoyed this one - I haven't stopped thinking about it yet!
I was a little hesitant about jumping into another sci-fi / fantasy novel, after feeling a little disappointed from my two most recent forays, but honestly, this one lined up with exactly what I was looking for. The novel is clear, concise, and dialogue heavy, which made the plot move right along.
Kindred starts off with our narrator, Dana, completely randomly disappearing from her life in 1976 California, and finding herself at some point in the past, in the South. She comes to discover that it's actually 1815 and she's in Maryland, and as a Black woman, is considered a slave. I really enjoyed that Dana had no idea what was going on, so that we readers were on the journey of discovery together with her.
Butler does not hold back, and some of the discussions of what's happening in the early 1800s are brutal. The descriptions are not as violent or graphic as they could have been, for which I am grateful, but there's enough to work with that I had to take a couple of breaks from the book. I really don't have any interest in watching Antebellum, a 2020 film loosely based on Kindred.
Butler also very consciously has Dana in a relationship with a White man in the present. Butler does not want to convey the idea that all White people are terrible; however, she does not shy away from the critique that all White people can become drunk on power, and take advantage of systems that are purposefully designed for them to grow more powerful. I think it's an incredible commentary on institutional racism, and how our society was not built to protect Black women.
Let me just warn you now: the ending will NOT answer all of your questions (unfortunately). The time travel is not explained, and the general acceptance of "oh, this is happening" is never questioned. For me, that didn't really bother me (surprisingly!) but if having everything wrapped up nice and neatly in a perfect bow is a requirement for you, you've been warned!
I was a little hesitant about jumping into another sci-fi / fantasy novel, after feeling a little disappointed from my two most recent forays, but honestly, this one lined up with exactly what I was looking for. The novel is clear, concise, and dialogue heavy, which made the plot move right along.
Kindred starts off with our narrator, Dana, completely randomly disappearing from her life in 1976 California, and finding herself at some point in the past, in the South. She comes to discover that it's actually 1815 and she's in Maryland, and as a Black woman, is considered a slave. I really enjoyed that Dana had no idea what was going on, so that we readers were on the journey of discovery together with her.
Butler does not hold back, and some of the discussions of what's happening in the early 1800s are brutal. The descriptions are not as violent or graphic as they could have been, for which I am grateful, but there's enough to work with that I had to take a couple of breaks from the book. I really don't have any interest in watching Antebellum, a 2020 film loosely based on Kindred.
Butler also very consciously has Dana in a relationship with a White man in the present. Butler does not want to convey the idea that all White people are terrible; however, she does not shy away from the critique that all White people can become drunk on power, and take advantage of systems that are purposefully designed for them to grow more powerful. I think it's an incredible commentary on institutional racism, and how our society was not built to protect Black women.
Let me just warn you now: the ending will NOT answer all of your questions (unfortunately). The time travel is not explained, and the general acceptance of "oh, this is happening" is never questioned. For me, that didn't really bother me (surprisingly!) but if having everything wrapped up nice and neatly in a perfect bow is a requirement for you, you've been warned!