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marissaheffler's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
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
5.0
This book was incredibly well written and moving. Using chapters to separate the snapshots of individual stories was really helpful in keeping the pace of the book and preventing any chapter from being too emotionally difficult to get through. Gyasi did an incredible job of capturing a moment in a characters life while sharing enough context to be meaningful and enough specificity to put you exactly in the key moments. Following the generations and seeing how previous events showed up in later chapters was a really cool way to illustrate the impact of our ancestry on our lives in both visible and unconscious ways - it made me think about the chain of past and future we’re all living in.
Content wise, it was interesting to read about the experience of those in Ghana both during and after the slave trade. This is not a perspective that is usually centered or that I have had much exposure to. Pairing it with the peers in America was a really powerful way to highlight the branching impact of this system throughout the generations.
(~6 hr read, physical book)
Content wise, it was interesting to read about the experience of those in Ghana both during and after the slave trade. This is not a perspective that is usually centered or that I have had much exposure to. Pairing it with the peers in America was a really powerful way to highlight the branching impact of this system throughout the generations.
(~6 hr read, physical book)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Addiction and Drug use
nessreadsalot's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
This book begins in the 18th century with two half sisters who have never met. One marries a white slave trader and the other is captured and sold into slavery. The story is written with each chapter following someone from each subsequent generation up to present day.
The short insights into each characters lives and how slavery and colonisation has affected and shaped their lives are so well written that each chapter leaves you wanting more about that person's story. I found it a little difficult to keep up with who was related to who at times because of the quick pace of the chapters and in the audiobook there was no chapter title to indicate the move to another character. I have seen others mention a family tree is printed in the physical book which would be very useful to help follow.
The short insights into each characters lives and how slavery and colonisation has affected and shaped their lives are so well written that each chapter leaves you wanting more about that person's story. I found it a little difficult to keep up with who was related to who at times because of the quick pace of the chapters and in the audiobook there was no chapter title to indicate the move to another character. I have seen others mention a family tree is printed in the physical book which would be very useful to help follow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Racism, Rape, Slavery, and Colonisation
jordanglass's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and Colonisation
desana75's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Torture, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Addiction
0hannah0banana0's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
10/10 the author managed to beautifully show us many generations and their lives and trauma in this book. This book made me feel all the feelings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Police brutality, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and War
rkwaterski99's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
If you are a fan of interwoven vignettes and connections, I highly recommend this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction and Fire/Fire injury
chuck3791's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A pretty great about inherited trauma. Worthwhile but I will definitely not be reading it again and would only recommend with heavy caution
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Trafficking, Grief, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Colonisation
serenspace's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and War
This book is structured in an intricate, fleeting way that relayed entire lifetimes in twenty pages or less. It took a few chapters to get used to the generational jumps and the unfinished stories that preceeded them, but what Gyasi chooses to tell us and what she chooses to leave behind is carefully selected to convey the primary themes of grief, history as a map and generational trauma. Each member of this family has a rich inner life that carries the weight of the Gold Coast all the way to present day America, each significant in their own right and as part of this intricate story. Gyasi's voice is, as always, reflective, a perfect conveyor for such a grand history. She has an immense talent for building an image of the world as a collective effort, more than any one person can bring to it.tibbarasden's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
The format of this book was brilliant. I love how the history of the slave trade and racism is told through the two different generational lines across the two continents. I thought the author did really well with creating unique personalities and storylines for each character. The family tree at the beginning really helped me, though I do wish dates had been included as it was a little difficult for me to keep the time frame in mind. It does deal with some heavy topics (besides slavery), so I would recommend checking the trigger warnings.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Racism, Rape, Slavery, and Fire/Fire injury
henlovesbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
This book had me both devastated and captivated the whole way through. I will admit I went into the book blind and was at first confused as each chapter revealed a new member of the family. It was a bit harder for me to keep track of the stories but finding the family tree definitely helped.
After the initial confusion, I found myself completely engrossed in each of the narratives. The storytelling skillfully navigates between the darkest shadows of our history and the delicate threads of human connection. In her haunting poetic exploration of generational trauma, Gyasi breathes life into each character with an aching tenderness that deeply resonated with me.
This book was challenging, informative and captivating. I cannot recommend it enough
After the initial confusion, I found myself completely engrossed in each of the narratives. The storytelling skillfully navigates between the darkest shadows of our history and the delicate threads of human connection. In her haunting poetic exploration of generational trauma, Gyasi breathes life into each character with an aching tenderness that deeply resonated with me.
This book was challenging, informative and captivating. I cannot recommend it enough
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, and War