Kindred
Author: Octavia E. Butler
Genre: Science Fiction
Year: 1979
Rating: 10 of 10
Damn! This is one powerful book. Before reading this novel I had only read short stories of Butler’s and I had enjoyed them but this book was next level. While it was a difficult read because of the subject matter I couldn’t put the book down and the writing was beautiful. Never before have I encountered such a vivid depiction of what the realities of slavery were like. Of course we all know that chattel slavery, or any slavery for that matter, is horrific and inhuman, but we seldom stop to think of how damaging it is to the human psyche. How Stockholm syndrome plays into it, or how fear of death will make one tolerate severe abuse. In America we should be ashamed that this is part of our history and I think that everyone should read this book to get the feeling of just how terrible the racism actually was. I don’t want to talk too much about the story because I don’t want to spoil it for readers, but I defiantly consider this book obligatory reading, particularly for Americans.
Purchase: Buy!