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francescafg's review against another edition
5.0
best book I’ve read since the warmth of other suns like over a year ago
motmoove's review against another edition
challenging
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? It's complicated
4.25
jeni_lin's review against another edition
5.0
Such a beautiful piece of literature. Yaa Gyasi is an incredible writer who perfectly illustrated love, pain, loss, and hope in the context of generational trauma stemming from the start of the TransAtlantic Slave Trade. Everyone should read this.
bookthia's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I have wanted to read this for ages, but I knew I had to be the right frame of mind. Books about slavery and racism are emotional sledgehammers. I need to be ready for the pounding.
This is a superb novel that traces generations of a family across 4 centuries. Two half-sisters (same mother, different fathers), two completely different circumstances. The story begins in the 17th century in what is now Ghana, when the British colonizers are forming alliances with certain African tribes in order to capture and sell enemy tribespeople into slavery. Effia is married off to a British white man who is the key figure managing the sale of slaves. She lives in privilege in the castle, benefitting from the sale of her father’s enemies. Esi is Effie’s half sister although neither knows of the other. She is captured and sold into slavery. Each chapter alternates between the lines of each sister, one generation along.
The story deals with war, slavery, colonization, rape, sexual assault, prejudice, racism, Jim Crow, wrongful imprisonment, drug addiction and more. All the things. And yet, amidst all the things, there is love and devotion and loyalty and beauty. The ending was just so lovely.
This was Yaa Gyasi first novel and I cannot wait to see what else she puts out into our world.
This is a superb novel that traces generations of a family across 4 centuries. Two half-sisters (same mother, different fathers), two completely different circumstances. The story begins in the 17th century in what is now Ghana, when the British colonizers are forming alliances with certain African tribes in order to capture and sell enemy tribespeople into slavery. Effia is married off to a British white man who is the key figure managing the sale of slaves. She lives in privilege in the castle, benefitting from the sale of her father’s enemies. Esi is Effie’s half sister although neither knows of the other. She is captured and sold into slavery. Each chapter alternates between the lines of each sister, one generation along.
The story deals with war, slavery, colonization, rape, sexual assault, prejudice, racism, Jim Crow, wrongful imprisonment, drug addiction and more. All the things. And yet, amidst all the things, there is love and devotion and loyalty and beauty. The ending was just so lovely.
This was Yaa Gyasi first novel and I cannot wait to see what else she puts out into our world.
aislina's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
hannaheglane's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.5
kitkat962's review against another edition
5.0
Such an epic read. I like the book structure, divided by the seemingly short stories of a person's life, all intertwined in the North American-African tragic history of slavery, colonization, and racism. I am amazed how Gyasi can fit in such depth in personalities, shortcomings and strengths, hardship and triumph for a person in each chapter, and how it all makes sense, and it all seems so real. Homegoing motivated me to learn more about Ghana and colonization, to make sense of slavery and segregation.
Gyasi's writing is also on point, considering this is a debut novel. The only unsatisfying detail for me is the final chapter. I think it's a great tie-up for two individuals, with the entire family history before them, who came out to be educated people and decided to return to "home". But there is a certain forcefulness about it, especially with the fire/water analogy, and the final beach scene that I just don't feel a powerful emotion upon closing the book.
Regardless, 5 stars
Gyasi's writing is also on point, considering this is a debut novel. The only unsatisfying detail for me is the final chapter. I think it's a great tie-up for two individuals, with the entire family history before them, who came out to be educated people and decided to return to "home". But there is a certain forcefulness about it, especially with the fire/water analogy, and the final beach scene that I just don't feel a powerful emotion upon closing the book.
Regardless, 5 stars
sereia8's review against another edition
4.0
Some favorite quotes:
“We believe the one who has power. He is the one who gets to write the story. So when you study history, you must ask yourself, Whose story am I missing? Whose voice was suppressed so that this voice could come forth? Once you have figured that out, you must find that story too. From there you get a clearer, yet still imperfect, picture.”
“History is Storytelling.”
“This is the problem of history. We cannot know that which we were not there to see and hear and experience for ourselves. We must rely upon the words of others.”
“We believe the one who has power. He is the one who gets to write the story. So when you study history, you must ask yourself, Whose story am I missing? Whose voice was suppressed so that this voice could come forth? Once you have figured that out, you must find that story too. From there you get a clearer, yet still imperfect, picture.”
“History is Storytelling.”
“This is the problem of history. We cannot know that which we were not there to see and hear and experience for ourselves. We must rely upon the words of others.”
soapsoapsoap's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Fire/Fire injury, Slavery, Racism, Colonisation, Drug use, Excrement, and Racial slurs