Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

167 reviews

tallywinkle's review against another edition

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

a beautiful, difficult, important book

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Rape, Slavery, Sexual harassment, and Drug use

mndy's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery and Drug use

marissaheffler's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative 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

5.0

This book was incredibly well written and moving. Using chapters to separate the snapshots of individual stories was really helpful in keeping the pace of the book and preventing any chapter from being too emotionally difficult to get through. Gyasi did an incredible job of capturing a moment in a characters life while sharing enough context to be meaningful and enough specificity to put you exactly in the key moments. Following the generations and seeing how previous events showed up in later chapters was a really cool way to illustrate the impact of our ancestry on our lives in both visible and unconscious ways - it made me think about the chain of past and future we’re all living in. 

Content wise, it was interesting to read about the experience of those in Ghana both during and after the slave trade. This is not a perspective that is usually centered or that I have had much exposure to. Pairing it with the peers in America was a really powerful way to highlight the branching impact of this system throughout the generations.  
(~6 hr read, physical book)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery

Moderate: Addiction and Drug use

irshtnk's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Drug use, Slavery, Violence, Racism, and Colonisation

0hannah0banana0's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

10/10 the author managed to beautifully show us many generations and their lives and trauma in this book. This book made me feel all the feelings.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Slavery, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, War, Racism, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Death, Vomit, Torture, Police brutality, Murder, Drug abuse, Colonisation, Addiction, Violence, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Genocide, and Drug use

redefiningrachel's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, Slavery, Sexism, War, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Mental illness, Rape, Torture, Confinement, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Drug use, Pregnancy, Police brutality, Body horror, Blood, Alcohol, and Drug abuse

Minor: Bullying

linhsreadinghour's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Beautiful beautiful historical fiction novel that follows the descendants of two sisters and how the decisions of each family member impacted the next. The writing was gorgeous and hooked me right in. Despite following each character for one chapter each time, Yaa Gyasi doesn’t fail to explore the intricacies and conflicts of their own lives, whilst weaving in the historical context and significance of the time period. Stunning book and so illuminating as a non-black person. Will become a classic in the future no doubt, a must read for everyone.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, War, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Colonisation, Drug use, Death, Pregnancy, Racism, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Kidnapping, Police brutality, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Child death, and Rape

chuck3791's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad

• 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

4.0

A pretty great about inherited trauma. Worthwhile but I will definitely not be reading it again and would only recommend with heavy caution

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Death, Slavery, Sexual violence, Colonisation, Pregnancy, Rape, Child death, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Drug abuse, Trafficking, Addiction, and Grief

tibbarasden's review against another edition

dark informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

The format of this book was brilliant. I love how the history of the slave trade and racism is told through the two different generational lines across the two continents. I thought the author did really well with creating unique personalities and storylines for each character. The family tree at the beginning really helped me, though I do wish dates had been included as it was a little difficult for me to keep the time frame in mind. It does deal with some heavy topics (besides slavery), so I would recommend checking the trigger warnings.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Rape, Slavery, Addiction, Child death, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Drug use

nad_books623's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

As an African American and descendants of slaves this book was amazing.

I did not expect them to meet to meet at the end. I was so shocked to read that Marcus met Marjorie. The ending was everything and I did not think it would connect. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Grief, Suicide, Violence, Religious bigotry, Rape, and Drug use

Moderate: Trafficking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Violence

Minor: Toxic relationship, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Homophobia