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Summary
The first science fiction written by a Black woman, Kindred has become a cornerstone of Black American literature. This combination of slave memoir, fantasy, and historical fiction is a novel of rich literary complexity. Having just celebrated her 26th birthday in 1976 California, Dana, an African-American woman, is suddenly and inexplicably wrenched through time into antebellum Maryland. After saving a drowning white boy there, she finds herself staring into the barrel of a shotgun and is transported back to the present just in time to save her life. During numerous such time-defying episodes with the same young man, she realizes the challenge she's been given: to protect this young slaveholder until he can father her own great-grandmother. Author Octavia E. Butler skillfully juxtaposes the serious issues of slavery, human rights, and racial prejudice with an exciting science fiction, romance, and historical adventure. Kim Staunton's narrative talent magically transforms the listener's earphones into an audio time machine.
Basically, 'Kindred' is a captivating blend of history and science fiction, but with a stronger emphasis on the connections formed between a contemporary African-American woman from the 1970s and her attempts to prevent her ancestor's untimely demise by repeatedly traveling back in time.
I really liked this story centered around Dana, an African-American woman living in the 1970's, who unexpectedly finds herself transported back in time. She is transported to a slave plantation in Maryland during the early 1800's. The perspective of witnessing and experiencing slavery through the eyes of a modern and educated black woman was truly impactful and captivating. Dana continuously travels back and forth through time, establishing a connection with a young white boy who happens to be the son of the plantation owner. While this story may not have delved particularly deep or pushed boundaries, it was gripping and kept me engaged from start to finish. Unfortunately, the supporting characters and the portrayal of daily life didn't come alive as much as I had initially expected, but overall, I still found it enjoyable.
Both the narration and the writing style could use a bit more liveliness. However, I must say that the concept itself is quite intriguing. It seems like a story that would translate really well to the big screen.
I found this book to be somewhat similar in nature. The only issue that bothered me was the lack of emotional response to the terrible things the character witnessed. It was almost as if she had accepted them as a routine and approached them with a detached and clinical mindset, unless she was personally experiencing those horrors. It slightly annoyed me because I felt that some level of social commentary and engagement was necessary.
However, despite that, I did enjoy the book and found the concept to be intriguing. The narrator did a decent job, neither enhancing nor diminishing the overall story.
For those of us who have never experienced the hardships of the Old South -- and that's all of us, really -- this book offers a stark and bitter glimpse into that world.
The characters, setting, and themes explored in this book are eye-opening. The combination of the author's writing and the narrator's performance bring this surreal journey to life in a terrifyingly authentic way. While I'm not entirely convinced that I would revisit this book, it has accomplished its dark purpose and made a lasting impact in the most effective manner.
My only disappointment is that I read this after King's 11-22-63. If the order had been reversed, my expectations for a contemporary time travel novel wouldn't have been unfairly heightened and I could have savored this book even more.
I was really hyped about this book and the author because of all the positive feedback I had heard. So, when I saw it available as a daily deal, I was stoked. However, I ended up feeling extremely let down. The writing style gave me the impression that I was delving into a young adult novel, and the narrator's voice sounded like she was narrating a children's storybook. I attempted to push through, thinking it might improve, but after reaching chapter 5, I threw in the towel and returned it.
I totally dug this book! I had to make sure my daughter wasn't around because of some occasional swearing, but overall, it was solid and really got me thinking, you know?
I haven't finished this book yet, and usually, if I start a book and know I won't continue reading it because it's that bad, I return it. I guess I haven't returned this one because I feel guilty about how many books I've returned in the past. The storyline is not very strong, but what makes the book worse is the narrator. The narrator can make or break a book, and in this case, she has definitely broken it. It sounds like she's reading a children's book. Her intonation during some of the dialogue is inaccurate and/or inappropriate. I usually enjoy time travel books, but this one isn't very interesting, and I still haven't reached the point where it's fully explained why the main character is traveling back in time. I know this book has received good reviews (which is why I bought it in the first place), but the narrator has really ruined it for me, and it's hard for me to give it a positive review. I would advise against using your credit for this one, honestly.
In a sense, every reading of a book is like an interpretation. In this particular reading, the effort was made to steer clear of any kind of interpretation for quite a while. The narrator succeeds in delivering the accents well, but struggles to truly capture the emotional journey of the main character. As a result, the overall tone comes across as excessively cheery and overpronounced, almost as if it were intended for a younger audience.
However, despite this, the story itself remains captivating and captivating.
I loved the book! After having read from the corner of the oval, I did find the author less descriptive. I thought the writing was great and it was an easy read! The author did a suburb job of weaving the beginning, middle and end into an excellent story! The time travel into the slavery days was a bit hard to read, but, very understandable. I would recommend the book.
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