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femiamarisa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Drug abuse, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt
queer_bookwyrm'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? No
4.0
Transcendent Kingdom is the second novel by Yaa Gyasi, and is literary contemporary fiction. I'm not usually a big fan of contemporary stories, but I love the way Gyasi writes. She lays out her ideas in clear ways, but never tries to shape the reader's view, instead she lets us come to our own conclusions. Though it is a sad story, it wasn't a tear jerker for me, mostly because I think Gifty isn't a crier.
We follow Gifty, the daughter of a Ghanian immigrant mother, who is living in Alabama. Gifty narrates the story of how her mother came to America, the hardships they encountered as Black folk in the south, and the tragedies that followed. We go between Gifty's childhood and her present, where she is a PH.d student at Stanford studying neuroscience. We see how Gifty's upbringing in the church has affected her, as well as her brother's overdose, and her mother's depression.
This book is an examination of identity, religion, addiction, and how science and religion are both diametrically opposed to one another, but has also shaped Gifty's approach to life. As someone who grew up with Christianity and later left it behind, it was fascinating seeing Gifty's transition from being a serious Christian to doubting religion, the church, and losing her faith. Though Gifty no longer truly believes, it has still shaped her outlook on life and her approach to science.
If you liked Homegoing, this is a must read!
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Pregnancy
sarahrhanks'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: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
pagesofkenzie'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
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, and Classism
chaos_fairy'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
4.0
Gifty uses religion and science in very similar ways, though at different stages of her life. Both, for her, are refuges from a world in which she feels powerless; both, she turns to for answers to some of the most difficult questions.
It takes time for Transcendent Kingdom to move from an interesting array of snippets from Gifty’s past and present to the engaging and thought-provoking heart, but once you get there, there’s so much to unpack. Much like Gifty herself.
The story includes starkly honest representations of substance abuse, addiction, depression, abandonment and grief, and how the human - mind, soul, brain - strives to process and overcome these hardships. At times overtly religious or loaded with scientific jargon, it is never alienating. It is simply the world as Gifty strives to understand it.
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment
lauren_may_reads'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
Graphic: Addiction and Mental illness
Moderate: Death, Racism, and Suicide attempt
lorea'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, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
chloe_hazel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Drug abuse
Moderate: Suicide attempt
mszurawski's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Mental illness
Moderate: Racism and Suicide attempt
agnesg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, and Grief
Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt
Minor: Excrement, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail