Reviews

Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi

heatherradloff's review against another edition

Just not for me. 

za_'s review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

A book about faith, addiction, taking care of your parents, growing up

the MC has a brother who dies from a drug addiction, a mother who never recovered from that loss. The MC now studies mice to see if you can help humans overcome their addictions

A book about the far reaching impact of dealing with someone else’s addiction, the way it shapes you, your actions, how you move throughout the world. 

A book about leaving your home, Ghana, in hopes of a better future for your family - but your husband returns home and your son becomes an addict. 

Has to step away from the books at times, as the topic is heavy, but beautifully written. 

abenteuerlichesoul's review against another edition

informative reflective 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

3.5

freya_sw's review against another edition

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

4.0

biobabe's review against another edition

5.0

4.5

drrock'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
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

cierradouglas99's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective 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

5.0

lott_oh's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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? It's complicated

4.5

laplatts's review against another edition

5.0

Gift is a young woman marked by the tragedy of losing a brother and dealing with the ripple effects that it has on her family. Now studying neuroscience and addiction, her past catches up with her as her mother relapses into the depression that claimed her all those years ago. Grappling with the realities of science and her the faith she grew up with, Gifty is determined to discover a scientific basis for suffering.

Gyasi writes a beautiful tale of family in Transcendent Kingdom . The topics of emigration, science, love, faith, addiction and what it means to be a family are masterfully and poetically woven together. Gifty has a powerful voice that I believe will resonate with anyone that has struggled to find their way in the world, especially those that grapple with questions of faith.

I will definitely be checking out Homegoing by Gyasi, but I think readers of Elizabeth Strout and Michael Chabon will also enjoy this one.

annakeinonen's review against another edition

3.0

Tämä kirja on uskonnosta, tieteestä, vaikeista perhesuhteista ja riippuvainen lähimmäisenä elämisestä.

Gyasi kirjoittaa kauniisti ja kirjassa on monia hienoja oivalluksia. Erityisen ansiokkaasti on kuvailtu huumeriippuvaisen lähimmäisen elämää.

Itseäni ehkä kirjassa häiritsi se, että siihen oli samaan aikaan haluttu laittaa todella monta päällekkäistä teemaa. Vähemmän olisi voinut toimia paremmin. Tämän kirjan kohdalla olisin toivonut myös avointa loppua eli kirja olisi toiminut paremmin ilman viimeistä lukua.