Book Review

Kindred by Octavia E Butler can be classed as science fiction. But like Margaret Atwood’s Handmaid’s Tale it explores big ideas in a brilliantly clear and riveting piece of fantasy.

If the idea of reading about time travelling puts you off, don’t let it. The main character, Dana, travels backwards and forwards between 1970s California and the American south in the early 1800s. But this tale doesn’t feel like normal sci fi – more a way of comparing the two periods. What seems right and accepted at one time is shocking seen through modern eyes. This is powerful and sometimes very graphic stuff. But it’s not simple good guy, bad guy and the complex human understanding is what makes this such a good read.

And it certainly is readable. Once you’re past the first few pages, it’s almost unputdownable. It’s not a new book, but it’s easily available in paperback and it is one that’s very relevant in these times of All Lives Matter.