Kindred

The main idea of this novel is that children are born good but as time progresses their environment changes them into what most people see them as.

In the beginning of the story Rufus is an innocent young boy and although he does have privilege he mostly tries to be nice to Dana and he remains friends with Alice. However as the novel progresses he becomes a tyrant mostly due to the influence of his father. In Dane's later trips to the past Rufus treats Alica and all other blacks horribly.

Perhaps Rufus does these things in an attempt to be loved. His father was a tyrant so Rufus may have felt in order to gain his love he must be mean to the slaves. Rufus did start out as a normal kid although he was a bit bratty he was generally good, but as time progresses he becomes bad. He rapes the slaves in a possible attempt to find the love his father never gave him.

I think this book was a interesting read and a good change of pace. But I did have a hard time getting passed the fact that Dane could time travel. I also don't understand why Dane, Rufus had hundreds of decedents why was Dane the one who could travel through space and time to save Rufus's life? Also why did she go back whenever she was in danger? I don't feel that the book explain this enough.