Comments on things mean a lot: Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

Brilliant book - I've enjoyed (if you can call...

2010-08-27T19:38:23.669+01:00

Brilliant book - I've enjoyed (if you can call it that - been engaged by, loved, etc) everything I've read by Butler (and that's quite a bit).

C.B. James: Yes, I can definitely see this becomin...

2010-08-17T09:12:29.504+01:00

C.B. James: Yes, I can definitely see this becoming a classic. I wonder if it will ever cross the line from "genre" classic to classic, period. That seems to happen more easily the older a book is. I'm afraid I'll have to disagree with you on this cover, though :P

Excellent review of a wonderful book. I think it ...

2010-08-16T12:41:00.120+01:00

Excellent review of a wonderful book. I think it may be time for mre to re-read this one. I think that if any of Ms. Butler's books do become "classics" this will most likely be the one.

But can I say how much I hate this new cover.

Zibilee: That's one of the nicest things anyon...

2010-08-15T18:42:12.631+01:00

Zibilee: That's one of the nicest things anyone's ever told me about my posts - thank you so much! I can't wait to hear your own thoughts on the book!

Lightheaded: I'm glad I did too! And the same goes for Atonement. Really, I should just listen to you sooner, on anything :P

Amy, it really was!

Aarti: I look forward to hearing what you think of them both!

Kristen M: I have Fledgling on my tbr pile - it seems to be a book that divides opinions but I hope to fall on the love it camp. Also, I'm afraid that the space travel is also never explained :P

Jeanne: She really did. I can't believe it took me so long to read her.

Jenny: I'm sorry you didn't like it, but don't feel guilty! (I completely understand, though. I always feel bad to say something like that about a book that deals with Big Issues.)

Kathleen: I think both are interesting concepts, but I especially love what Butler did with it!

Mee: Really? That's a scene I can't see myself forgetting! Or so I think now anyway :P

Jennifer: I'd love to read this in a class. So much to discuss!

Brenna, thank you so much!

Naida: Thank you! It's really an excellent book.

Dominique: It really was. I hope you'll enjoy it if you decide to pick it up.

K. Krishna: I hope you'll enjoy it!

Iliana: I definitely need to read more as well.

Rebecca: The moral complexity was one of my favourite things about it. I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did!

J.T. Oldfield: I'm glad to hear it - happy reading!

I've been wanting to read this for a while now...

2010-08-13T03:31:51.512+01:00

I've been wanting to read this for a while now, but your review just sealed the deal for me!

I have not heard of this book but I am more than i...

2010-08-12T09:19:51.632+01:00

I have not heard of this book but I am more than intrigued by the concept. What an ingenious way to explore the moral complexities of slavery and how it compares to the society and prejudices of today. I also like that the book is about how the past changes her instead of the other way around. I think that was the hook, line, and sinker for me. Very good review!

Jodie: Yes, exactly. There's a lot of potentia...

2010-08-11T20:45:30.832+01:00

Jodie: Yes, exactly. There's a lot of potential in the concept alone, and Butler makes excellent use of it.

Rhinoa: This was my first Butler, but I also have Fledgling and hope to get to it soon. It sounds hard to go wrong with her.

Iris: I think you'd definitely get a lot out of it :)

Sandy, I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did!

Debi: From what I hear Fledgling is excellent too, though! Hopefully I'll soon find out :P

Kinna: Thank you for the kind words and recommendations! And I see just what you mean by accessible and complex at the same time.

Violet: We really can, and sadly we tend to forget that we can. Another book that explores this topic well is The Handmaid's Tale - I was so impressed by how quickly the unthinkable became familiar.

Amanda: I'm glad it passed the test, and I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did!

Claire: Yep, you do need to read it :P

Stephanie: I hope you'll enjoy it when you get to it!

Christina: My secret are other book bloggers ;)

Jill: It definitely does.

Emidy: I think it's mostly that the time travel is not the main thing. She almost avoids drawing attention to the mechanism itself, which actually makes the novel stronger.

Heather J: Thank you for the kind words! And yes, I wish more people would read it too.

Kathy: It really was.

Clare: I was surprised that she focused so much on the power dynamics - and that really was what made the book for me.

Jessica: You're most welcome! I'm hoping to read Fledgling myself soon.

This sounds like a really neat take on the time tr...

2010-08-11T20:24:16.018+01:00

This sounds like a really neat take on the time travel theme. I've read one of her books and thought it was really good and need to get around to reading more!

Wow, this sounds really powerful. I'll have to...

2010-08-11T14:03:07.646+01:00

Wow, this sounds really powerful. I'll have to check it out!

Great review! This sounds like a very complex and ...

2010-08-11T05:33:13.910+01:00

Great review! This sounds like a very complex and unique book. I like the concept of the past changing you rather than going back and changing the past. I think I might have to read this.

This sounds really good, I like the idea that the ...

2010-08-11T02:59:36.744+01:00

This sounds really good, I like the idea that the past can change you.
Excellent review.
http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

This is one of my all-time favorites. You're r...

2010-08-11T01:24:43.064+01:00

This is one of my all-time favorites. You're review gave this great book the justice it deserves.

This is one of my all-time favorites. You're r...

2010-08-11T01:24:39.046+01:00

This is one of my all-time favorites. You're review gave this great book the justice it deserves.

Great review. This is one of my favourite books. I...

2010-08-11T01:23:00.070+01:00

Great review. This is one of my favourite books. I read it in University and it has stuck with me ever since.

I read this book a while go but remember very litt...

2010-08-11T00:21:02.104+01:00

I read this book a while go but remember very little about it apart from it being "pretty good". (I'm surprised to even know that she lost an arm!)

I've always been fascinated with the idea of t...

2010-08-10T23:42:46.119+01:00

I've always been fascinated with the idea of time travel and changing the past but I like what you said here about the past changing the character not the other way around.

Kindred was a case where I wanted to love it far m...

2010-08-10T23:36:20.306+01:00

Kindred was a case where I wanted to love it far more than I ended up doing. I didn't connect with any of the characters, which probably contributed to how dissatisfied I was with Butler's handling of the issues she brought up. They were fascinating issues, but I thought Butler dealt with them in rather shallow, predictable ways. (I feel guilty saying "shallow" about a book that deals with something as weighty as slavery.) I wanted her to do more.

I have an older friend who knows O.B. and urged me...

2010-08-10T21:52:25.411+01:00

I have an older friend who knows O.B. and urged me to read her books--all of them--when I was in my 20s. She paved the way for so many female SF writers.

I wasn't thrilled with Fledgling but it sounds...

2010-08-10T19:53:36.144+01:00

I wasn't thrilled with Fledgling but it sounds like I should give Butler another shot with this one.

I wouldn't have a problem not knowing the mechanism of time travel. It's the space travel that might bother me. How do they get from California to Maryland? That's much stranger to me! ;)

I REALLY need to read Butler, stat. She and China...

2010-08-10T19:05:38.903+01:00

I REALLY need to read Butler, stat. She and China Mievelle are two authors that I have been completely remiss with.

Wow, sounds like a great exploration of slavery an...

2010-08-10T16:23:34.011+01:00

Wow, sounds like a great exploration of slavery and its effects on ordinary people, including how it can become so ordinary. Definitely sounds like a great and thought-provoking book.

Well put, as always. Glad you finally read this.

2010-08-10T16:18:20.765+01:00

Well put, as always. Glad you finally read this.

I have only read one Butler, and it wasn't thi...

2010-08-10T16:14:56.455+01:00

I have only read one Butler, and it wasn't this one. This sounds like an amazing book, and like it's really ripe with the ethical implications of slavery. I find the synopsis that you provided to be really intriguing and think that I am going to have to give this book a try. It's funny because often when I read your reviews, the books are not really new to me, but the way you analyze and describe them make me wonder how I could have ever passed them up in the past!

I'm glad to see this review. I'm in the mi...

2010-08-10T16:02:20.234+01:00

I'm glad to see this review. I'm in the middle of Butler's Fledgling right now, and have been pondering the commentary on race and racism contained in it. With how much I'm enjoying that story, I have plans to move on to her other writing - perhaps Kindred should be the next one.

Thanks for the excellent review!

I have been wanting to read Butler for a while now...

2010-08-10T15:53:09.968+01:00

I have been wanting to read Butler for a while now, and Kindred never really captured my interest- until your review. I didn't realize how much she focuses on the power dynamics, which fascinate me. I'm going to read this soon.