This book will have me thinking for years to come.
I've had it on my shelf for a long time and I wish I hadn't waited so long to read it.
It's prose is typical of a first book, but Butler's grasp of her genre and themes prove she was always a talented writer. Dana's voice, of a modern Black woman forced to live in slavery in the 19th century, was a fantastic choice by Butler to explore the messy history of the South. I didn't mind one bit the lack of scientific explanation for her time traveling and I think Butler sold it. But the most impressive aspect for me was the willingness to take on the complicated and nuanced topics of slavery and the choices people make while having to survive in a system they didn't create and can't escape. I'm grateful for Butler's work.
The ending was by far the best part. I stayed up late until I finished it, and cried several times.
I loved the characters in this story, each fleshed out and whole on their own, and the quirkiness that weaved throughout the book (how many books do you read that give the dog an inner monologue?). I especially loved the historical aspects, and the feminist issues brought up that are still relevant today.
Great summer read, sweet love story, and a fantastic exploration of family and what that means.
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