Reviews

Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi

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anarita's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad

4.5

smateer73's review against another edition

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5.0

I loved this book! It is such a beautiful look into the mind and depression and addiction and what it means to live with those, especially as a scientist and as someone from an African heritage. The book was beautiful, haunting, thought provoking. I devoured it but also wanted to savor every word.

stephaniesteen73's review against another edition

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5.0

Amazing! Totally different than Homegoing, but just as good. She is an amazing writer! Great themes of religion, sorrow, science, family. Only complaint is that the ending felt a little tacked on - but I still liked it.

audreychiao's review against another edition

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challenging emotional sad 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

4.0

grangerdor's review against another edition

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emotional sad 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

3.5

mitskacir's review against another edition

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5.0

This was an extremely thought-provoking book about the answers that religion and science can and cannot provide. The setting alternates between the present day, where neuroscientist PhD student Gifty studies reward-seeking behavior and restraint in lab mice, and her childhood growing up in a Ghanaian family living in Alabama and its backdrop of racism, misogyny, stigma against mental illness and addiction, and evangelism. The story focuses on her relationship with her mother, particularly after the death of her brother, Nana, from a drug overdose, and Gifty's relationship with God. Gifty's relationship with God is complicated and nuanced, and changes over the course of her life, but is always present in some way, from relying on Him, to feeling abandoned, to rejecting His existence, to seeking Him. It is a beautiful illustration of someone who is looking for the places were religion and science overlap, and where neither are satisfactory. A really painful book, but very beautiful too.