So, in honour of Groundhog Day I decided to read a book that involved time loops…. but, I couldn’t find one. I’m actually glad that I couldn’t think of one because I wound up finding a book that was on my TBR shelf that had to do with time travel that I had been meaning to read for a while, and right after I started reading it I had Kim over at By Hook or by Book  remind me that it’s Black History Month, so this book was perfect for both! I’m so glad I read it as it was a very powerful and inspiring read. It was a great snowy day to curl up and devour this book because…

 

5 out of 5 Stars

“I closed my eyes and saw the children playing their game again. “The ease seemed so frightening,” I said. “Now I see why.”

“What?”

“The ease. Us, the children… I never realized how easily people could be trained to accept slavery.”

Edana (Dana) Franklin is leading a simple life as an author in 1976 with her husband Kevin when she begins to get pulled into the 1800s with nothing her and Kevin can do to stop it.

“He frowned a little, shook his head. “You vanished.” He seemed to have to force the words out. “You were here until my hand was just a couple of inches from you. Then, suddenly, you were gone. I couldn’t believe it. I just stood there. Then you were back again and on the other side of the room.”

She is being called back to help one of her white ancestors, Rufus Weylin, who happens to be the son of a Plantation owner and an owner of slaves. It is only her that can continue to save his life to keep her timeline safe

“Again, what would have happened if the boy had drowned? Would he have drowned without me? Or would his mother have saved him somehow? Would his father have arrived in time to save him? I must be that one of them would have saved him somehow. His life could not depend on the actions of his unconceived descendant. No matter what I did, he would have to survive to father Hagar, or I could not exist. That made sense.”

When Kevin manages to hold her and follow her in to the past, there is more to worry about than before. It was hard enough staying free when she is a black woman alone in the 1800s, but can she and Kevin survive in this time without it changing their relationship?

“I felt almost as though I really was doing something shameful, happily playing whore for my supposed owner. I went away feeling uncomfortable, vaguely ashamed.”

Also, if Kevin had to be holding Dana to get there… what would happen if they were to be separated and she was called back home?

“Why did you try to stop me from coming?”

“I was afraid for you.”

“For me!”

“At first, I didn’t know why. I just had the feeling you might be hurt trying to come with me. Then when you were here, I realized that you probably couldn’t get back without me. That means if we’re separated, you’re stranded here for years, maybe for good.”

He drew a deep breath and shook his head. “There wouldn’t be anything good about that.”

“Stay close yo me. If I call, come quick.”

This was an amazing and insightful read. They definitely don’t sugar coat the lives of the slaves and they way that they were treated. This book contains scenes of graphic violence, but it’s a very real story of the corruptions of those times. Even the lives of Dana and Kevin in 1976 still had their trials as it tells of the troubles with their families when they were married showing that even 100 years in the future times may not have changed as much as we wished they had…. even looking at the world now. Things will never be perfect, but hopefully we will all never stop learning.

Kindred is Best Served with a Time Warp

Obviously, it was hard to choose a drink to go with this book as I did not want to seem insensitive to the content of the book. It is a very powerful read, so I went with a lighter fruity drink to help soften the heaviness of the content. I focused on the Time travel aspect of the book as that was the first reason for me choosing to read it, and I am immensely glad that I did.

Ingredients

• ²⁄₃ ounce melon liqueur
• ¹⁄₂ ounce Coconut Rum
• ¹⁄₂ ounce pineapple juice
• ¹⁄₄ ounce blue curacao
• ¹⁄₄ ounce raspberry cordial (you can get away with grenadine)
• 2 cherries
• cracked ice

Directions

1. Shake melon liqueur, coconut rum, pineapple juice and ice then strain into a 5oz cocktail or martini glass.
2. Add raspberry cordial and blue curacao, garnish with cherry(ies) and serve.
3. CHEERS!!