This book was amazing. I love to read black women characters written by black women. So humane, full, and multidimensional. At first I was afraid to read this, worried that the subject matter would be too heavy for me. But I was so wrong—Butler managed to make a horrific part of history as equally realistic as it was digestible and captivating. This was one of the best books I have read, and my first Octavia Butler. I can’t wait to read the rest!!!

Despite this novel’s profound insights into a complicated situation, it is at the heart of it all, a VERY GOOD STORY. I highly recommend it, hoping it will be read by all people who identify as white. One of the things that is difficult to understand about slavery is the vast amount of complications and intricacies that incurred in this environment, many of which still plague underlying assumptions today and continue to promote structural racism. One thing is clearly evident, even today, when the white hand gives, it also takes away. There is a different set of realities when anyone if color is promoted by a primarily white establishment and when a white person is promoted in the same situation. There is a completely different set of expectations when a person of color is pulled over by a cop that a white person. Grace is the assumption fir one, fear, for darn good reasons, is the assumption of the other. Without spoiling anything, I will say that this poignantly and painfully demonstrated in this story with the birth of a child. What compromises would each of us make to live? Is there justice in this world? Does love conquer all? Timeless questions in this story are revealed and thoughtfully answered.

I found this book very emotional for me and so we'll written I could experience the story as if I were traveling with Dana.

it was good

A good listen. Wish their would have been dual narrator's though. Wouldn't listen again.

The narration was off making it hard to get into the story at first. I stuck with it and enjoyed the book.

Makes me wonder what cane first, this book or Outlander. Very similar

I loved the book! After having read from the corner of the oval, I did find the author less descriptive. I thought the writing was great and it was an easy read! The author did a suburb job of weaving the beginning, middle and end into an excellent story! The time travel into the slavery days was a bit hard to read, but, very understandable. I would recommend the book.

GREAT read!! very interesting concept for the time it was written. Great narration too

Should be widely read by Americans, especially white Americans.

waving cloud never reach it despair route ,

An easy read that allows you to immerse yourself into the scene and characters. Very well written. Would’ve loved it more had the male characters been read in male voices, however, the reader did an excellent job in portraying all characters. Recommend.

This book was absolutely amazing. Taking you back in time feels your heart with the troubles people went through to get. How the beginning comes out at the end. Mind blowing

Great read

Excellent book! I didn’t know what was going to happen next. Excellent narrator. I would highly recommend this book.

This story fully drew me in. I listen to nearly all of it in one sitting. It really made me think about the times and what the slavery life was really like in a different way. Recommending it for our next year neighborhood book club list.

Loved the narrator.. The storyline was intriguing. Would have loved to know how she was called back by Rufus.

For the most part, I enjoyed the book, especially the historical aspect of it. I didn’t care for the ending, however.

Wow. I’m blown away. This is a skillful and powerful piece of art. Beautifully narrated, phenomenally written. A true tour de force of black history and historical fiction. I can’t wait to read another by Butler

Must read; for so many reasons. 1. Simply a great story. 2. Elegantly gets into the head and history of American racism and the peculiar institution of plantation slavery 3. Brilliant characterization and lean writing. A book that should be passed on and on. Unforgettable.

I really enjoyed this novel! I listen in my car, and I didn’t want to arrive at my destinations. The story provides a history lesson, but not at the expense of the plot. I stayed on the edge of my seat from beginning to end.

I loved this story, but I do not believe it is nonfiction.

maybe I missed the point, but was a good story told well but just a story.

Wonderful story told with excellent writing, multidimensional characters and a strong sci fi plot. Octavia Butler books are always excellent reads!

Great listen, and a well-constructed story.

it was a great book! not one of my most favorites but it's up there

First book I've read by Octavia Butler and really liked the story and time switching concept. Hard to believe this was written almost 50 years ago. The reader did a good job of conveying the feelings of the main character, Dana. I believe young readers would find this book interesting as a good introduction to slave life in the early 1800s.

Such an empathetic and beautifully written story. I guess it's easy to believe that we would be able to fo better than our ancestors did when it comes to surviving those circumstances but this is such an honest and brilliant piece of writing.

Superb story and loved narration!! Octavia Butler's books don't disappoint. Time travel was such a clever element but it focuses more on Dana's experience in antebellum South and loved, though horrifying and gruesome, the stark reality of 1800s.

An amazing narrative and an excellent narration

I really liked this book, it was an interesting take on slavery from a black woman who traveled back in time. There was a lot of truth to the book without it being to emotionally draining

Riveting!!!!

So immersive, fantastic story. Couldn't put it down! Wish I had read this book a long time ago.

Incredible story by Octavia Butler and excellent narration by Kim Staunton.

I was totally gripped the whole way though, never knowing what direction the story would take. Octavia Butler is an incredible story teller!

Loved the history!

Gripping story, well narrated.

The story is intriguing and well organized with well placed flash forwards that keep you wondering how the protagonist will arrive to the end point as well as flash backs which help provide the full background. The narrator's flatness when voicing the main character, Dana, was the only major downfall of this audiobook. Surprisingly, the narrator does well with secondary character's accents/inflections/emotion but as soon as they return to first person speaking tge inflections end.

Wonderfully written account of American slavery from a minority author!

Extremely well-written, very engaging storyline and characters. You will learn a lot about slavery, that we all need to know, just be prepared for how hard and harsh and ugly the realities of slavery were and therefore how hard this book is at many junctures. The narrator was good tho not as emotionally resonant and believable as the story called for, in my opinion. All in all a very worthwhile book, presented in a novel and fascinating way through time-travel.

best book. narrator did an amazing job

Powerful book. I learned a lot.

I love historical fiction, and this... this has stuck with me a beat.

Great narration and easy on the ear. the story theme had me wondering at points what is the aim of the story. The lack of obvious direction was made up for with the detail of life for the slaves. The ending I felt was a bit flat and I found it an anticlimax.

The narrator was phenomenal! Somehow she was able to differentiate flawlessly between the various characters. The storyline kept me engaged and coming back for more.

This book is amazing! Will definitely be reading this again. The narrator really made the characters come to life!

I feel so deprived that I haven’t read Octavia Butler’s work until now. But it was a welcomed treat during this crazy time we’re living in. It’s interesting that the book is set in a future that is now our past but still so relevant to the present. It was tough to listen to at times but that is what makes it a dark yet beautiful work of literature.

Great read. Very immersive.

I really enjoyed the book...I guess I was wishing for more at the end...narrator was ok but kinda blah

Great for learning in a fun way, real history. Highly recommend for middle and high school kids as well as adults

I have read this book multiple times now, and this narrator surely brings the novel to life. I love the juxtaposition of Dana’s slavery days and her life with Kevin in the 1970s. There is much to be learned about attitudes and just how easily one could slide so comfortably into something as insidious as slavery.

Ocatavia Butler wrote a both absolutely amazing and very tough book, introducing a cool and weird concept of time travel, exposing the sheer cruelty of slavery and weaving in gripping details about the past and present. To me, the story feels depressingly real. Also, Kim Staunton narrates the story brilliantly.

I really enjoyed this novel. I think this novel would make very good motion picture,