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Book #25 - Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
Oct. 25th, 2012 09:49 amI grabbed this one last spring when I couldn't find any good lesbian romance at the local Athens bookstore. I think the lack of lesbians put me off for a bit, and it took me a while to get into the story. Once I did, though, I couldn't put it down, even when it got a little upsetting.
The story is told from the point of view of Dana, an educated black woman from California in 1976. She finds herself being mysteriously transported back in time, to 1815, where she saves a little boy from drowning. Over and over again, as the boy's life is in danger, he "calls" her back to him, for longer and longer periods of time as he grows up. At first, the two have a certain understanding, but as he grows into his role as white southern plantation (and slave) owner, he gets increasingly dangerous. He is erractic and unpredictable, but Dana is stuck with him. The story explores the factors keeping not only Dana, but all slaves of the period, in bondage, and how they rationalize their submission to themselves and each other.
The story is told from the point of view of Dana, an educated black woman from California in 1976. She finds herself being mysteriously transported back in time, to 1815, where she saves a little boy from drowning. Over and over again, as the boy's life is in danger, he "calls" her back to him, for longer and longer periods of time as he grows up. At first, the two have a certain understanding, but as he grows into his role as white southern plantation (and slave) owner, he gets increasingly dangerous. He is erractic and unpredictable, but Dana is stuck with him. The story explores the factors keeping not only Dana, but all slaves of the period, in bondage, and how they rationalize their submission to themselves and each other.
