Middle

My feelings about the novel were fairly positive by this point. Rufus has become my favorite character by this point; not because I like him, but because his complexity and the relationship he develops with Dana intrigue me. Although he does some horrible things, I have at multiple points in the novel found myself pitying him. He seems to see Dana as a sort of mother figure, but of course in an Oedipus Rex sort of way. The involvement of Kevin in traveling to the past with Dana was an interesting twist, and I looked forward to finding out the toll that it would take on their relationship. Another thing I have enjoyed up to this point in the novel is Butler's depiction of the ease with which people (such as Rufus, Dana, and Kevin) can be assimilated into such a repulsive society. It became clear that the reason for which Dana was being called back in time, time and again, to save Rufus was because he represented some part of her family line, although this explanation is found wanting.

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The book ended as I thought it probably would. I knew that Dana would somehow have to free herself from Rufus in one of two ways: with either her death or his. I hated the fact that Rufus fell into the part of the stereotypical white male of the time. In the beginning of the book, I thought that he would be different from others. I thought that he would respect Alice and that they would have a happy romance. I guess that this was too much to expect in their time period. It also would not provide a good plot line in any case. I must admit though, that I am glad Dana killed Rufus. Although this marked a change in her, it may not have been for the worst. She stuck up for herself when she saw that she there was need. She knew that she would never be rid of Rufus if she did not kill him. Her action may have had negative consequences, but it was something that needed to be done. Dana did not deserve to be Rufus' personal little bodyguard. She had a life of her own that needed to be lived.

1st Thoughts

The first chapter of Kindred successfully did it's job by actively drawing me into the story and keeping me interested. At first I was hesitant about the concept of time travel and American slavery together, but the fact that it started with a woman's arm being amputated and the fast pace of the story did the trick. The main questions that came into my mind upon reading the first chapter regarded the method or purpose of Dana's journey through time, why Rufus was a significant enough character to pull Dana back in time, and how it came to be that her arm is being cut off. Overall, the book looked like it would make for an interesting read, if nothing else.

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I, too, thought the explanation of Dana’s lost limb was a bit…disappointing, maybe? One would think that since Butler decided to start the novel off with this tidbit, it would be an integral part of the conclusion.
Rufus’s unpredictability throughout the book kept it interesting. I didn’t know whether it was possible for him to shed the norms of his time. Apparently it wasn’t. I guess since Rufus was not a one-dimensional character, he couldn’t have been strictly the “good guy” or the “bad guy.” The ending seemed to leave many things unanswered, as I'm sure was intended, but I didn't like this aspect.

Middle

As I was reading, I got a bit distracted with the way Butler worded things sometimes. The little sprinkling of facts and explanations seemed too like an ill-disguised history lesson. And I felt that everything clicked too quickly for Dana in terms of who everyone was, where she was, and why she was there.
The twists did keep me on my toes, though. Kevin making the jump with Dana added whole new levels to both their relationship and the struggle of daily life in the 19th century. Both of them now have to assume different roles – a reminder of how far into this world they are weaving themselves.
It was long foreshadowed that Rufus would do terrible things, so I was not surprised about this. Rufus still remains a complex character, though. I wonder how much longer his dwindling conscience can still manage to exist. The gun incident could lead to the end of the Rufus with morals (admittedly, not many morals) but somehow I doubt it. I think he will return and we will see him diminish even further. His relationship with Dana has changed as he has; as he becomes the domineering man society expects, Rufus seems to take more pleasure in controlling Dana’s circumstances. He continues to hurt her despite the guilt that comes from it.

Middle

I am not sure that I particularly like the direction in which Kindred is heading. To me, it does not seem that any good can come out of the Dana's current situations. Also, I was hoping that more of my questions would be answered. Why is Dana dragged back and forth throughout time? Why does Rufus need saving? Surely every boy who puts himself into danger does not have a futuristic relative come save him. I mainly want to know why Dana was chosen. In some cases, I am sure that she would much rather give up than be put through different obstacles and trials. I had kind of hoped that Dana would mainly be on the side of Rufus' life helping him, and not actually in it. Of course, I would imagine that it would lead to a very boring book. In any case, I mainly just feel sorry for Dana. She does not have the choice of when she time travels. No one should be forced to live with this unfairness.

1st thoughts

I am not fond of the topic of time travel, but I liked the presence of evidence of Dana's time travel (returning with wet clothes, etc.). We aren’t left to wonder until the end of the book if she was really traveling through time or whether it was one huge hallucination; other evolving issues can be focused on.
Kevin and Dana adjusted to everything far too quickly, I felt. Kevin’s initial reaction of disbelief, confusion, and so on was much more believable and expected than his fairly calm demeanor by the end of the chapter.
The difference in how time passes between the two eras is interesting. I don’t know if the ratio will remain consistent, though.

Introductions

Hello, I’m Jennifer Boyd, but you can call me Jen. I’ve lived in Austin my whole life (in the same house, even), so adapting to a smaller environment should be interesting. I have one older sibling – a 24 year-old sister who lives outside of Detroit. She’s my best friend, and I hate living so far away from her.

I’m not extremely talkative in groups, but I’m working on improving that. I can’t tell a joke to save my life, but I do enjoy hearing them. My attention span is a bit short, so I look around and move a lot. It doesn’t mean I’m not listening, I promise! My major is Business right now, but I don’t know what specific field or career I’m interested in yet.

I’m not sure how else to describe myself; I am a bit biased, after all.

Introductions

Hey everyone.

For those of y0u that don't know, my name is Brandon Ramirez. I'm proud to say that I come from Lubbock, Texas (please note the extreme sarcasm). I was born on October 28th, 1988, thus making me 18 years old. Technically, my major is biology, but mentally I am pretty much undecided on what I want to commit myself to. I would love to tell you all more about myself, but you probably wouldn't find it to be too interesting. In all honesty, I do not feel that an internet blog is the best medium for introducing myself to you because you would inevitably be reading about the person that I want you to think I am, and I'm not nearly that cool.

In any case, I look forward to class tomorrow/later today and getting to know you all better.

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There was definitely a bit of confusion on my end after finishing Kindred. I can't say that I was entirely happy with the ending either.
As the novel progressed, I was nearly positive that something would have to be done to keep Rufus from completely ruining any chance Dana had of returning to life as she knew it, in 1976. However, I didn't really think she would eventually come to the point where murdering him was acceptable. I understand what he was trying to do and obviously I didn't expect her to let it happen...but could she not have simply stabbed him in the chest or elsewhere to wound him just enough to enable her escape? With her conscience, I figure she would have felt remorseful enough after doing so that she could somehow use that to get back to present-day as she actually did post-murder. I dont know, maybe it's the optimist in me, but I really don't think his death was vital to the plot. From the way Dana constantly talked about how she worried of what Rufus may do to the slaves on the plantation now that his father was gone, I didn't think she would have the gall to kill him as that would ultimately result in the selling of most of the Wyelin plantation slaves.
Also, I guess I'm not entirely sure how Dana's hand just...came off. I understand that it was molded in plaster but you would think there was another way around getting it out, as opposed to having it completely come off. A bit dramatic, I thought. Then again, trying to look at all sides, it is a novel and I do notice the symbolism in that in leaving her arm in the 1800s, she left a part of herself...both physically and emotionally. Anyway, overall I do see what Butler was trying to do with the novel but I'm not sure I would include in in my list of favorites.