Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Más allá de mi reino by Yaa Gyasi

334 reviews

pagesofkenzie's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, and Classism

chaos_fairy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

The story explores the apparently incongruous viewpoints of science and religion, both central to the development of main character, Gifty. Born to Ghanaian immigrants in Alabama, Gifty is raised in an Evangelical tradition by her mother, and as an adult, works in researching neuroscience out of Stanford University. From a family of four, to a family of two. Where the missing family members have gone is revealed in time, but from the outset it is clear that Gifty has had her share of childhood trauma. 

Gifty uses religion and science in very similar ways, though at different stages of her life. Both, for her, are refuges from a world in which she feels powerless; both, she turns to for answers to some of the most difficult questions. 

It takes time for Transcendent Kingdom to move from an interesting array of snippets from Gifty’s past and present to the engaging and thought-provoking heart, but once you get there, there’s so much to unpack. Much like Gifty herself. 

The story includes starkly honest representations of substance abuse, addiction, depression, abandonment and grief, and how the human - mind, soul, brain - strives to process and overcome these hardships. At times overtly religious or loaded with scientific jargon, it is never alienating. It is simply the world as Gifty strives to understand it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment

lauren_may_reads's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Mental illness

Moderate: Death, Racism, and Suicide attempt

swordsmith's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Yaa Gyasi strikes gold (again)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Mental illness, and Racism

Moderate: Animal cruelty

sakisreads's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This book was BRILLIANT. I had seen it on the bookstores’ bookshelves and always thought to pick it up, but never gave myself the chance to read it until now. Gifty is a gorgeous character, with so much nuance, and I loved being able to feel her energy throughout the book. Although I am not religious, I could appreciate how she saw God as an integral part of her life and even as she moved into her idyllic world, they were still there. 

Throughout the book, I felt the pain of Nana’s overdose and of her mum feeling/having (?) anhedonia (the inability to feel pleasure), so it made me tear up so much when she finally found her joy in Hans and found a partner who could know her and understand her 🥹

I would HIGHLY recommend this to anyone who’s not yet picked it up! There were so many incredible quotes as well. ❤️✨

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Drug use, Racism, and Classism

ebba94's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Racial slurs, and Racism

mszurawski's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

I really liked this book’s exploration of religion and science and the space between on the Venn diagram. Gifty felt so real, and I enjoyed grappling with the big questions with her. I’ve been reading lots of books with switching perspectives and sprawling histories, so I found myself wanting to zoom in to her mom’s storyline and hear her history. The writing was excellent and there were so many powerful lines that really will stick with me. I did feel like the ending just popped up and I wasn’t ready for it. I’m happy with that ending for Gifty  but do wish we could have journeyed there with her. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Mental illness

Moderate: Racism and Suicide attempt

agnesg's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, and Grief

Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt

Minor: Excrement, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

mair_mcc's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Alabama. The writing style of this book was nothing short of moving. The multiple topics, all very difficult, were woven together in a way that made them interesting, gripping, heartbreaking & relatable all at the same time. I cannot wait to get my hands on more of this author's work.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment

Minor: Animal death

elenai7's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

incredible book I think the first book I have ever read that has  cultural references I can actually relate to and understand. Transcendent Kingdom has made me realise and want to start reading more books that can do this for me. I really enjoyed the religious parts of this book which i didn’t have an understanding of before reading, but that i now appreciate more. I found pretty much every character likable despite their flaws. The way this book was written was perfect, Yaa Gyasi has a real talent for writing. I know that i am going to be thinking about this book for a very long time!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Racism, and Grief