Kindred by Octavia E. Butler - A "NO" Stars Novel 

Excellent review. We get so wrapped up in rating things that sometimes we miss the forest for the trees. I read Kindred in a day last year, I just could not put it down. Absolutely exceptional but also so heavy. Thanks for sharing your experience!

I'm gonna try not curse........but HOLY SHIT this video gave me chills. Ugh, your damn town you live in now was mentioned!!! Hearing that really puts things in perspective. Honestly this video floored me. My great Aunt had numbers tattooed on her forearm and I can't stop thinking about what I would do if I was transported to 1930's Germany. Would I accept what was happening or would I essentially commit suicide in an attempt to revolt? This is one of the best videos on the tube. Excellent job man. Just bumped Kindred up in my TBR to late next month. I might need a good head space for this one. lol.

One of the best and most beautiful reviews I've seen on BookTube. Thank you, Dark-o! Also, it's crazy that you live where the story takes place.

Amazing thoughts and I'm so glad you made this video Dark-O. Your passion really comes through and I am sure it will inspire many people to read this book. Glad you are here!

This is honestly one of the best book reviews I've seen. Thank you for your "no stars" review and I agree 100%. Such a thought-provoking work.

Great review! Fellow Marylander here (until 10 years ago) It’s funny because I just mentioned Kindred in a video I filmed yesterday. 👏🏼👏🏼

I have not read this book yet, but felt very compelled to watch your review after several booktubers whose voices I trust said to watch it. Very poignantly said. I too live in Maryland and am very curious as to where was mentioned. Few books can change us in this manner and leave us with such an imprint. What an experience to have as a reader. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Such a powerful review! Those are are hard questions ❤

This was special man thanks for sharing it.

Thanks for making this video

One of my favourite things on booktube: someone shares an honest, heartfelt opinion on a book that moved them. Even better, it’s coming from a perspective that I don’t, and can never, have, so I can really learn something. Quite a video, Dark-o. Thank you.

Kindred is one of my favorite books, and this is the review this books deserves! The questions and impact you described is why this book stands the test of time. Thank you for this!

I saw you on Belltube. Nice to meet you 🙂 I just ordered “Kindred”. Thanks for the review. I appreciate where you’re coming from.

And by putting out soon, we mean tomorrow as of the creation of this video! Seriously though, this was a great review Darko. I had to cave and give this a five stars, because this is a book everyone should read at least once in their lives. There was an intensity to your review that really got to me. I'm glad that we got to read this together, and we should do this again at some point! Keep it up man!

Wow, it's on my shelf but I have been too afraid to pick it up. But I will now. Thanks Darko ❤

Great review! I've been wanting to read Kindred for a long time, and your passion for how it impacted you has definitely bumped it up the list for me!

Wowowow

Some books - some works of art - simply defy all rating, all classification. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, this is a wonderful video!

Incredible review, Dark-O! Octavia E. Butler defies stars, genre, convention. The power, control, and command of her craft is unmatched. Butler evokes emotion and explores themes with such a unique ability, especially with Kindred, making it a kind of litmus test for the reader, telling of how or why you enjoyed the book as the type of person you are. I often think about how overpowering norms can easily numb people to ills of society--in the past and in our current age--and how that numbness can just as easily turn to apathy and then to acceptance. And that apathy and acceptance just perpetuates and heightens those powers and reinforces those societal norms.

Fantastic review! I’ve read Parable of The Sower, but I’ve yet to get to Kindred. Because of this review I’m going to bump it up on my list. Thank you for the very thoughtful discussion of it.

Great video, and a really thoughtful and thought-provoking review. Thanks

Incredible review of an incredible book. ❤❤❤

Dark-o, this is a brilliant discussion of this incredible novel. You have a beautiful heart. I feel your passionate reaction to this important book, and I agree that there can be no star rating for such a life-altering book. Thank you for this powerful presentation.

I’ve never read any Octavia Butler, but this has been on my list for a long time. It sounds heart wrenching at times. I would like to think that I would be part of the abolitionist group. I know I would if I could go back in time. I’m really thankful I was born when I was. What an awful period of time this book is set in.

I feel your deep passion for this book and it’s subject. I have yet to read Kindred, it’s waiting for me on the shelf, and if it hits me the same way Beloved did, when I read it a couple of years ago, than it will be one of the three most important books I’ve read in my life. So I hear you Brother. I need for stars.

Great review. I've been putting off reading this book because I think it will be too hard for me to read. 😢

Great review! I have not read Kindred yet but had a similar feeling recently. I read Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass in January and its another book that I'm not sure how you rate. Like how do you read those life experience and tie it to a star rating seems impossible.

Some books defy rating. Those books are mind altering.

I read Kindred earlier this month. I gave it 5 stars but at the same time I completely understand why you gave it 0 stars. It’s the type of book that makes a person think about what they would do in Dana’s shoes. I’m a white woman so this book hit differently than it would for a Black person. I cringed when Kevin basically said that the conditions weren’t that bad for the slaves at that plantation. Kevin must have been wearing rose colored glasses up at the big house if that’s what he thought. Dana was seeing a different picture down in the slave quarters. I don’t know what I would have done. I also read The Bluest Eye. Toni Morrison was from Ohio which is where I live. That book made me sick to my stomach. She set the book in the past but it felt like those realities are going on around me even today sight unseen. I haven’t read Beloved yet. Maybe next year. I’ve heard it’s even harder hitting.

This sounds awful. I want to read it because you are having your love and morals tested to the furthest point! Thought provoking literature that may open eyes! I’m all for stop and think how do we treat each other. That’s strong! ❤