A review by sarahreadsromance
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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? Yes

5.0

I have no words.  This book does an incredible job at demonstrating the complexities of slavery in the US and the social and power dynamics along with it.  It’s easy to think of slavery as a distant issue, one that is so far from humanity today.  By humanizing Rufus and other white characters, Butler shows how society got to that place and how and why systems of oppression are maintained.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism