From the Bookshelf of EVERYONE Has Read This but Me - The Catch-Up Book Club…

Kindred

Octavia E. Butler

Start date: December 1, 2022

Finish date: December 31, 2022

Discussion: MODERN / POPULAR READS

Why we're reading this: December 2022 - Modern Selection
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What Members Thought

Jan 07, 2023 Beth rated it really liked it

Shelves: 52-books-challenge-2023

Kindred has an interesting premise: how would a Black woman (and, later, her white husband) fare if they were suddenly transported from 1976 to the antebellum South? The answer makes for an interesting thought experiment, which adds a fresh edge to the genre of tales of the horrors of slavery. Kindred is a powerful and disturbing book, less science fiction than historical fiction, as the only science fiction part is about how Dana, the narrator, keeps finding herself returning to the time of her Kindred has an interesting premise: how would a Black woman (and, later, her white husband) fare if they were suddenly transported from 1976 to the antebellum South? The answer makes for an interesting thought experiment, which adds a fresh edge to the genre of tales of the horrors of slavery. Kindred is a powerful and disturbing book, less science fiction than historical fiction, as the only science fiction part is about how Dana, the narrator, keeps finding herself returning to the time of her antebellum "kindred," the white son of a brutal plantation owner and a free Black girl (they're quite young the first time Dana is transported there). Dana's "mission" seems to be to make sure Rufus, the white boy, survives long enough to father the child who will be Dana's ancestor. The novel raises interesting questions about the ways enslaved people survived, too often accepting the things they could not change, which often meant some pretty painful ethical choices. That aspect of the book is thought provoking, as one is not sure how to evaluate every choice Dana makes. It's also an interesting meditation on time travel and what Star Trek calls the temporal prime directive. In this instance, Dana HAS to interfere with the past for her present existence to be possible. However, the continuing life of Rufus has some other pretty unpleasant consequences. Again, thought provoking.

The story telling is gripping, making for one of those hard-to-put-down reads. On the other hand, it *almost* makes me sympathetic with those parents who want to protect their little darlings from books about race that might make baby feel bad. This is NOT a feel-good book. That is not to say people shouldn't read it, of course. It's a very good but not great book, lacking the invention and stylistic brilliance of a Beloved, for example. Still, I understand why it has a reputation as an important book, if only historically as a pioneering work of science fiction by a Black woman.

I can't believe I hadn't heard of Octavia Butler until a couple of months ago. While this was not my favorite book ever, I plan to read more by her. ...more

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Apr 21, 2019 Sarah5 rated it liked it · review of another edition

An interesting premise about a character who can time travel to help one of her ancestors. Fast paced and this deals with themes of racism as well. Didn’t quite live up to expectations though.

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