Reviews

Listened to audiobook version. Very quick and lovely read. Prompted reflection on my own first generation experience. Gifty was such a likable character and her history and personality felt so real. Her mother as well. I think I’ll carry this story and its themes with me for a long time.

justkirstie's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad fast-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

5.0

92% of my reviews consist of: "made me sob, 5/5" because i'm not smart enough to organise my thoughts, to even begin to describe my reading experience or to effectively summarise what even happened

but Yaa Gyasi? she deserves more from a review and i wish i could deliver
it's frustrating to me that i barely remember any detail about Homegoing but i remember vividly how much it moved me
this is a very different novel but much the same feeling

also i just HAVE to mention that at the "end" of Chapter 54, where Gifty was about to drive back home - i fully thought the book was over. so when i swiped to the next page and was met by the confirmation of her relationship with Han, i was filled with such immense relief that i immediately burst into tears and had to put my phone down to recover. i was fully ready to just ~imagine~ that Things Were Ok in the end without the gratification of the story actually telling me. as miserable and wretched as i am, as much as i enjoy tragedy; i cannot express the depths of my gratitude for those final few pages and, specifically, that one sentence that set me off. truly incredible reading moment. thank you.

please, i beg, read Yaa Gyasi
whether this or Homegoing - the choice is irrelevant because they're very different but both so beautiful

tldr: made me sob, 5/5

kirapisk's review against another edition

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This book is a lot! Much to think about for sure and very well written. I think I have to read 'Homegoing' as well.

lisaodonohoe's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

4.0

music_and_books_lover's review against another edition

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emotional sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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