Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

524 reviews

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Death, Slavery, Sexual violence, Colonisation, Pregnancy, Rape, Child death, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Drug abuse, Trafficking, Addiction, and Grief

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Grief, Racial slurs, Racism, Colonisation, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Addiction, and Slavery

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.

asha_m's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad fast-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: Slavery, Xenophobia, Violence, War, Trafficking, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Rape, Racism, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, and Torture

dunk1n's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery

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.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Rape, Slavery, Addiction, Child death, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Drug use

danisbookshelfx's review against another edition

emotional sad tense fast-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

I’ve never read a book structured like this before. I enjoyed following the different characters through the generations. I was torn between anticipation of what was going to happen to the next generation and sadness that I didn’t get to see more of the previous generation! 

Really moving story. Make sure you read trigger warnings!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Rape, and Slavery

Moderate: Sexual violence and Violence

Minor: Drug abuse and Suicide

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Slavery, Addiction, Violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

beetree's review against another edition

challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

The fact that this was published when the author was 26…I’m gobsmacked. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Racism, and Rape

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Child death, and Mental illness

nad_books623's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

As an African American and descendants of slaves this book was amazing.

I did not expect them to meet to meet at the end. I was so shocked to read that Marcus met Marjorie. The ending was everything and I did not think it would connect. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Grief, Suicide, Violence, Religious bigotry, Rape, and Drug use

Moderate: Trafficking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Violence

Minor: Toxic relationship, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Homophobia

rwinchesterm's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery and Fire/Fire injury