I enjoy both science fiction and historical fiction, so I was excited to dive into “Kindred.” This novel also incorporates an element of mystery. The protagonist, Dana, is a black woman married to a white man named Kevin during the 1970s. Both characters are writers, which resonated with me as a fellow writer.
Time travel is tricky, yet we follow Dana closely as she organizes the facts to understand her journey back to 1815. The time distortions are craftily portrayed as well.
This is one of those novels I had hoped somebody would write and write it well. In this story, the slave-worked plantation that Dana journeys to is managed by tyrants who commit cruelties upon the workers. These patrollers lack any semblance of humanity—in fact, there is not one white character from that era who displays compassion. However, Kevin, who finds himself in the past as well, has goodness.
Real fear acts as a defense mechanism for survival. Its power transforms. It can cripple you, it can distort your mind, or it can give you extraordinary strength. The reader will love Dana—her strength of character and mind.
This book is obviously a serious novel, not a fun time-traveling story. Butler succeeds in awakening the awareness of slavery in the colonies. Her writing is A+. She takes you back to a horrifying time and place and gives you an artfully suspenseful and unforgettable story. The symbolism, too, will inspire scholastic discussions.
I recommend Kindred by Octavia E. Butler.
Thank you for reading,
Tracy
#bookreviews #Kindred #OctaviaEButler
3.5/5 STARS Rating is not academic but according to my personal preferences.
