Kindred
12 journalers for this copy...
Really terrific stuff from the late Octavia Butler. Not sure what's going to happen to this copy; it all depends on whether or not the bookray for another copy on my shelf starts moving again.
This one is may be going overseas to continue the ray instead.
Other copies on my BookCrossing shelf:
11404091 • 9768405 • 6413713 • 1625850
This one is may be going overseas to continue the ray instead.
Other copies on my BookCrossing shelf:
11404091 • 9768405 • 6413713 • 1625850
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Not released specifially for the August 2009 One Word Release Challenge, but the timing works out. :)
The original bookray was stalled for a while. When it resurfaced, it was sent back to me and eventually became a US-only ray which was later wild released.
This copy was sent to Europe as a continuation of the original ring.
These were the people left on the original list:
1. samulli - Germany, willing to ship anywhere
2. pinkbug1 - Okinawa, Japan
Continuing onwards:
3. FrancesinSA - South Africa
4. snufkin81 - South Africa
5. klaradyn - South Africa
6. mafarrimond - UK, prefers EU shipping
7. Nell-Lu - UK
Lottiotta - UK - got her own copy
8. lils74 - Nepal
9. Sfogs - New Zealand
arugh48187 - US (MN) - transferred to another ray
GinnyRazo - US (CA) - transferred to another ray
10. goldenwattle - Australia, prefers Australia shipping
11. Dancesports - Australia - book is here!
Duskdreamer - UK - skipped
12. DubaiReader - Dubai - will receive another copy
13. iwillrejoice - US (FL) - prefers US/CAN shipping will receive another copy
The continuation of this ray is open for additional signups: if you'd like to join, please post in the forum thread and send me a PM.
Not released specifially for the August 2009 One Word Release Challenge, but the timing works out. :)
The original bookray was stalled for a while. When it resurfaced, it was sent back to me and eventually became a US-only ray which was later wild released.
This copy was sent to Europe as a continuation of the original ring.
These were the people left on the original list:
1. samulli - Germany, willing to ship anywhere
2. pinkbug1 - Okinawa, Japan
Continuing onwards:
3. FrancesinSA - South Africa
4. snufkin81 - South Africa
5. klaradyn - South Africa
6. mafarrimond - UK, prefers EU shipping
7. Nell-Lu - UK
8. lils74 - Nepal
9. Sfogs - New Zealand
10. goldenwattle - Australia, prefers Australia shipping
11. Dancesports - Australia - book is here!
The continuation of this ray is open for additional signups: if you'd like to join, please post in the forum thread and send me a PM.
The book just arrived in the mail. Good timing, since I was just trying to decide what to read next. :o)
Thanks a lot, hyphen8, for going to the trouble to revive this ray.
Thanks a lot, hyphen8, for going to the trouble to revive this ray.
Wow, this book was something completely different than I expected. I had read neither a review of it nor the other journal entries on the bookray copy, so I was expecting another science fiction story like the other books I read from Ms. Butler. But even though this time-travel thing could be classified as an SF component, the story itself felt more like a history lesson. In a good way, I might add.
It's amazing how she managed to make the reader completely forget about the impossibility of the time travel and make the story feel completely real and believable. Very impressive and a captivating read.
Thank you very much for giving me the chance to read this book, hyphen8! If I had stumbled upon it in a bookshop and read the back blurb I'm not sure I would have picked it up.
I sent it off this afternoon to pinkbug1. Surface mail, so it might take a while. Or not - one can never be sure of the travel times beforehand.
It's amazing how she managed to make the reader completely forget about the impossibility of the time travel and make the story feel completely real and believable. Very impressive and a captivating read.
Thank you very much for giving me the chance to read this book, hyphen8! If I had stumbled upon it in a bookshop and read the back blurb I'm not sure I would have picked it up.
I sent it off this afternoon to pinkbug1. Surface mail, so it might take a while. Or not - one can never be sure of the travel times beforehand.
Just got in the mail from Germany!!! Whoo-hoo! can't wait to read! I am gonna start right away!
After I read it:
Octavia Butler is one of the best writers of the twentieth without a doubt. A story about an several agonizing trips across time and country that modern black woman Dana makes into the deep south. She is torn between saving the man who is her white ancestor to ensure her own survival in the space time continuum, and stopping him from committing atrocities towards black slaves. Deep in so many different levels this is probably Octavia Butlers most "real book". Although time travel cannot be considered "real" obviously, the book has a more historical point of view. Where as she usually has more of a scifi theme to her books, or a somewhat erotic theme, this book has neither of these. Kindred will make you think , and question what it was really like in the south at this time in history, while at the same time cement the horrors that you have already heard about. (show less)
After I read it:
Octavia Butler is one of the best writers of the twentieth without a doubt. A story about an several agonizing trips across time and country that modern black woman Dana makes into the deep south. She is torn between saving the man who is her white ancestor to ensure her own survival in the space time continuum, and stopping him from committing atrocities towards black slaves. Deep in so many different levels this is probably Octavia Butlers most "real book". Although time travel cannot be considered "real" obviously, the book has a more historical point of view. Where as she usually has more of a scifi theme to her books, or a somewhat erotic theme, this book has neither of these. Kindred will make you think , and question what it was really like in the south at this time in history, while at the same time cement the horrors that you have already heard about. (show less)
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sent To South Africa, Enjoy!
Sent To South Africa, Enjoy!
I received this book today. Thanks for sharing. Thank you pinkbug1 for posting it to me and for the great bookcrossing keyring, bookmark and postcard. :-D
I’m glad that I read this book even though I didn’t particularly enjoy it. I’ve often wondered how large groups of people; - slaves or the victims of the Holocaust, - could let themselves be subjected to the horrors they endured but this book made me realize that people are willing to put up with abuse because of other people they are trying to protect.
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
I will post this today to snufkin81.
I will post this today to snufkin81.
Journal Entry 10 by snufkin81 from Cape Town, Western Cape South Africa on Thursday, January 28, 2010
This arrived today. I have a few rings ahead of this but I'll read it asap.
This is a really thought-provoking novel. I have read books about slaves and slavery before, but I think this is the first time I really felt the horror, the hopelessness of it. Although the premise of the story is fantasy, Butler's characters are so believable that I didn't bother thinking about the 'hows' and 'whys', and just kept reading to find out what would happen next.
I'll be looking out for more by Octavia Butler, and I'll also try to read more about the history of the slave trade and the plantations because of this book.
Thanks so much, hyphen8, for giving me the opportunity to read this book! I'll see Klaradyn some time over the next few days and pass this on to her then.
I'll be looking out for more by Octavia Butler, and I'll also try to read more about the history of the slave trade and the plantations because of this book.
Thanks so much, hyphen8, for giving me the opportunity to read this book! I'll see Klaradyn some time over the next few days and pass this on to her then.
Journal Entry 12 by snufkin81 at To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, March 13, 2010
Released 14 yrs ago (3/13/2010 UTC) at To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
I'll hand this over to Klaradyn at the OBCZ this afternoon.
I'll hand this over to Klaradyn at the OBCZ this afternoon.
I received this book from snufkin81 on Saturday. Spent a large part of yesterday devouring the book, and have already finished it! I will make a longer journal entry a bit later, when I've composed my thoughts on the story.
Will also contact mafarrimond and will have the book in the mail next week.
Will also contact mafarrimond and will have the book in the mail next week.
I have been thinking about this book. While it was very gripping and I read it in one or two sittings, I wouldn't count it among my favourites or among the best books I've ever read.
The sci-fi/fantasy element didn't really work for me. I suppose the time-travel part of the plot was supposed to illuminate the differences between the present time and the time in which slavery was prevalent. Another aspect that felt under-developed to me was the complex relationship between Dana and Kevin, and how he reacts to her learning more about her ancestors and her past.
Maybe my opinion has been influenced by a brilliant novel I read recently on the topic of slavery, The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill (published in the US as Someone Knows My Name). I highly recommend it if you are interested in this part of history.
The sci-fi/fantasy element didn't really work for me. I suppose the time-travel part of the plot was supposed to illuminate the differences between the present time and the time in which slavery was prevalent. Another aspect that felt under-developed to me was the complex relationship between Dana and Kevin, and how he reacts to her learning more about her ancestors and her past.
Maybe my opinion has been influenced by a brilliant novel I read recently on the topic of slavery, The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill (published in the US as Someone Knows My Name). I highly recommend it if you are interested in this part of history.
Released 13 yrs ago (4/26/2010 UTC) at Cape Town, Western Cape South Africa
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
On the way to mafarrimond in the UK. Unfortunately I had to use surface mail, so it will take a little while to get there!
My book 16 for the KTMC challenge 2010.
On the way to mafarrimond in the UK. Unfortunately I had to use surface mail, so it will take a little while to get there!
My book 16 for the KTMC challenge 2010.
The book has arrived safely. I have a few to read before it but will get round to it asap.
Quite a story! Brings quite keenly to mind some of horrors of slavery. I was taken by surprise by the ending!
Thank you for sharing this with me.
Thank you for sharing this with me.
Posted on to Nell-Lu. Enjoy!
This has just arrived. Thanks for posting mafarrimond and for starting the ray hyphen8. I'll look forward to reading it at the weekend.
This is why I like BookCrossing and GoodReads! I hadn't heard of Octavia E. Butler until recently (her books aren't generally stocked in bookshops here in the UK - I'm not even sure how many of them are in print) when some of her work was mentioned by various people I know on GoodReads. It was great to be able to sign up for this bookray.
Kindred is an amazing, powerful novel. It, along with the best of science fiction, creates a distance allowing attitudes to be examined. Dana, a black woman from the 1970s, is transported back to the American South in the early nineteenth century. But, it's not just antebellum society that is considered. Dana's first-person story also - with the lightest of touches - looks at twentieth-century attitudes towards slaves and, painfully, parallels between her white husband Kevin and her white owner/ancester Rufus. Neither Kevin nor Dana's time in the past leaves them unmarked, but the changes in their ways of thinking are even more profound than their physical injuries.
I'm glad I had the chance to read this and I'll try to get hold of the rest of Butler's novels. Many thanks, hyphen8, for starting the ray. lils74 has PMed with a postal address, so I'll get this packaged up and into tonight's post. It will be travelling surface mail, so is likely to take around 3 months to arrive.
Kindred is an amazing, powerful novel. It, along with the best of science fiction, creates a distance allowing attitudes to be examined. Dana, a black woman from the 1970s, is transported back to the American South in the early nineteenth century. But, it's not just antebellum society that is considered. Dana's first-person story also - with the lightest of touches - looks at twentieth-century attitudes towards slaves and, painfully, parallels between her white husband Kevin and her white owner/ancester Rufus. Neither Kevin nor Dana's time in the past leaves them unmarked, but the changes in their ways of thinking are even more profound than their physical injuries.
I'm glad I had the chance to read this and I'll try to get hold of the rest of Butler's novels. Many thanks, hyphen8, for starting the ray. lils74 has PMed with a postal address, so I'll get this packaged up and into tonight's post. It will be travelling surface mail, so is likely to take around 3 months to arrive.
Journal Entry 21 by lils74 at Kathmandu, Bagmati (incl. Kathmandu Valley) Nepal on Thursday, September 30, 2010
Received safely today, thanks Nell-lu! Is there anyone else out there who occasionally receives "surprise book-rings" that you've forgotten you signed up for? Hope I'm not alone there... :)
This looks like a great read, can't wait to dig in--looks like good JEs from other readers too, and I always enjoy going over those. Thanks for sharing, hyphen8!
This looks like a great read, can't wait to dig in--looks like good JEs from other readers too, and I always enjoy going over those. Thanks for sharing, hyphen8!
Journal Entry 22 by lils74 at Kathmandu, Bagmati (incl. Kathmandu Valley) Nepal on Tuesday, October 26, 2010
This was a really good read; I surprised myself by how 'into' it I got once I started--it seemed to go so quickly! I really liked how the author combines history and background with a clever, page turning story. Really well written and I will certainly be on the lookout for more from this author.
I received Sfogs' address and will mail it out next time I get to the post office, hopefully within a day or two.
Thank you, hyphen8, for including me in this ring--I really enjoyed this book!
I received Sfogs' address and will mail it out next time I get to the post office, hopefully within a day or two.
Thank you, hyphen8, for including me in this ring--I really enjoyed this book!
Journal Entry 23 by lils74 at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Friday, November 19, 2010
Released 13 yrs ago (11/19/2010 UTC) at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Mailed this out today--sorry it took me a while to get my act together on it! Safe travels, little book.
This book has arrived safely! Thank you everyone!
It has around 4 books ahead of it, but I'll get onto it as soon as I can!
It has around 4 books ahead of it, but I'll get onto it as soon as I can!
I really didn't enjoy this book, but at the same time I found it hard to stop reading.
This is one of those books that you need to read at least once in your lifetime even if you don't enjoy it, there is too many messages in this book and if we forget the mistakes of the past how can we correct the mistakes of the future?
This is one of those books that you need to read at least once in your lifetime even if you don't enjoy it, there is too many messages in this book and if we forget the mistakes of the past how can we correct the mistakes of the future?
Released 13 yrs ago (12/8/2010 UTC) at Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
On it's way to Australia!
Journal Entry 27 by 
goldenwattle
at Narrabundah, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Wednesday, February 9, 2011
goldenwattle at Narrabundah, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Yippee - this book is not lost. It arrived today, postmarked 9th December 2010. It took two months to travel from New Zealand to Australia. Thank you Sfogs for sending it.Alright little book, what have you been up to? Swanning around the south Pacific, enjoying a slow boat to Australia, taking in the Islands on the way. How was the weather in Fiji, New Caledonia and the other islands? What's that tan I see!
Journal Entry 28 by goldenwattle at Narrabundah, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Friday, February 11, 2011
goldenwattle at Narrabundah, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Friday, February 11, 2011
Released 13 yrs ago (2/12/2011 UTC) at Narrabundah, Australian Capital Territory Australia
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
This book is a page turner, but at the same time it wearied me; the injustices of slavery and the hopelessness many suffered from lack of rights. I wanted to arrest, make the plantation owners face justice, but of course that wasn't going to happen.This book is travelling to Dancesports in Tasmania. Go straight there little book, no touring on the way this time.
This book is released for:
2011 Keep Them Moving Challenge
The book has arrived safely in Tasmania, not sure if it arrived Thursday or Friday as I have been to Launceston for work; anyway it didn't take too long. I have a few bookrings in front of this one, but I have reduced the pile since the Christmas rush.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I have another by this author which is moving up my tbr pile, once I clear my bookring commitments.
Whooops - I read this a while ago and forgot to journal, I really enjoyed the book - thanks. I have pmmd the next reader twice with no response, now trying the next person on the list.
Just wanted to note that I think that I sent this book on to Dubai reader in January. I am 90% sure. I think I sent it surface mail so I am hoping it is still on its way. I mailed several books at the same time and I think that is how I forgot to make a release note. But if the book is not there by Easter then I'll source another copy and send on as there is a 10% chance that I have misplaced the book altogether.
Sadly, this book seems to have gone astray somewhere between Australia and Dubai.
Dancesports has offered to find a replacement, so the ray will continue here.
Dancesports has offered to find a replacement, so the ray will continue here.
