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plantybooklover's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I initially did not want to read this because I enjoyed Homegoing and I could tell this would be different, but I like having a audiobook going when I'm at the gym, and my library is limited, so this was it. I really did not want to read another tragic tale of drug abuse and death, but in the end, I did. Mostly actually because I forgot the blurb and by the time we got to the drug use, it was mid story.
Overall I enjoyed the book, there were some slower sections that I wished had moved along faster- but I solved that by speeding up the narration!! I thought it was a very good book for book clubs or classrooms because it opens up a lot for discussion. I was surprised and delighted by the ending, which to me seemed like a happy one, which is not at all what I was expecting mid novel.
I think this is a great jumping off point for discussion of women in STEM, people of color in academia, rascism in America and drug use/abuse crisis.
Not one of my favorite reads of the year-because it was a little just depressing at moments, but giving it 5 starts because it's well written and tells an important story that added to my understanding of the world.
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Racism, and Racial slurs
Minor: Child abuse and Sexual content
jaynovara's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Mental illness, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Animal death, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, Child death, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Death of parent, Drug use, Racial slurs, Racism, and Suicide
Minor: Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Physical abuse
lenni_sc's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Grief, Terminal illness, Death, Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content, Racial slurs, and Racism
reddeddy's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Addiction, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Medical content, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Body shaming, Sexual content, Cursing, Pregnancy, Violence, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Classism, Dysphoria, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Bullying, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Animal death, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Blood, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
demog_and_stories's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: Sexual content
linesiunderline's review against another edition
- 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
I am only beginning to appreciate all of the things that are breathtaking about this book, that I know will linger with me, becoming part of me and how I see the world. You’re left with more questions than answers. Invitations to consider big things and small and the story of your own life.
Gifty will feel as real to you as anyone you’ve ever known. Her humanity and complexity may be the most impressive thing about this book. It’s certainly one of the most memorable. She is the heart of the novel.
Transcendent Kingdom will be one of my top reads of this year. I cannot recommend it highly enough and also have to praise Bahni Turpin’s stellar audio performance.
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, and Vomit
Minor: Excrement, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
mirireads's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Suicide attempt, Religious bigotry, Racism, and Medical content
Minor: Alcohol, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Sexual content
foreverinastory's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
CWs: Addiction, alcohol consumption, child death, death, drug abuse/use, death from overdose, grief, mental illness (depression), misogyny, racism, religious bigotry, sexual content (mild), sexism.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, and Sexism
zombiezami's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Addiction, Racial slurs, Racism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Child death, Mental illness, Medical content, Grief, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Abandonment, Cursing, Sexism, Colonisation, Bullying, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Infidelity, Vomit, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Pregnancy
n_asyikin_'s review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Perhaps, I'm being biased; there were many parallels between Gifty & I - we're both in the same field (though focused on different approaches), we're both grappling with our purpose & how our past (relating to mental illness) influenced it, and we're both struggling with our faith & it's place in our life. Transcendent Kingdom explored all of these, & for that, it became special to me.
The book cemented my view that Gyaasi is a master storyteller. Gyaasi's proses were effortlessly beautiful; structured in concise paragraphs, flowed between differing timeline, held by the topic being contemplated. I adored how some analogies stayed & repeated (though not overly done), embedded within the tapestry of the story. The characters were dynamic; even in their death, or brief appearances, they were significant in a way that highlighted their impact, no matter how brief, in Gifty's life (i.e. the narrator). Do note that for those who preferred plot-driven story with clear resolution, you may found the story difficult to follow. But I still think that the contemplative & wise manner Gifty shared her thoughts & her experience were more than compelling; as a narrator, she was a unique voice.
This story felt like it was written for me specifically. I found a kindred spirit in Gifty. The book was relatively short, but I took my time to savour, to reflect on the stories relayed by her. I found myself needing breaks in between; purely because the story led me to my own discoveries. Gifty's "letters" to God really hit me hard.
I know I will sound cringey, but the book was rather transcending to me - it led me to go beyond the barriers I placed around my feelings. The book moved me to tears. One of my best reads. And Gyaasi is also becoming one of my favourites.
Graphic: Addiction, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Racism and Ableism
Minor: Sexual content