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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
emotional
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
This is beautifully written and sad, I had to take some time away from it because it moved me so much.
Although this is a sequel, I don't think you need to have read the first book to enjoy and understand this one.
Although this is a sequel, I don't think you need to have read the first book to enjoy and understand this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Racism, Grief
Moderate: Child abuse, Suicide attempt, Abandonment
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Grifty is a Med Student at Stanford University studying Neuroscience and trying to figure out why only some people suffer from mental illnesses such as depression and addiction. This hits home for her because her mother and brother suffer from these illnesses.
I saw this as more of a journalistic point of view versus a novel because there was no real plot or climax. And while the writing was intense and purposeful, I just really couldn’t connect at any point.
I saw this as more of a journalistic point of view versus a novel because there was no real plot or climax. And while the writing was intense and purposeful, I just really couldn’t connect at any point.
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I do really enjoy fiction like this that is highly contemplative. I think the formal achievement of this novel is how well it slips back and forth between a present day timeline, Gifty’s past, and Gifty’s deeper thoughts on addiction, science, family, and religion. It strikes a wonderful balance and seamlessly flows from one to another without feeling abrupt or disjointed. My biggest issue is the final two pages, which feels like such an amateur move, especially after how expertly crafted the rest of the book is. It’s a case where wondering how the characters end up is more poignant than actually knowing where their lives lead in five years.
Yaa Gyasi is every bit as talented as people have made her out to be. Transcendent Kingdom is a thoughtful, intricately crafted reflection on grief, addiction, abandonment, and mental illness. All of these issues are treated with a great deal of respect and careful reflection—like the subject matter is close to the author, and she prioritized painting an honest portrait. Gifty's interrogation of the intersection of science and religion gave me a lot to think about myself, and I always love it when a book prompts you to think in new ways or consider viewpoints you hadn't before. How many times have I dismissed people for their Christian beliefs? In what ways have I considered addiction to be a personal failing, rather than a medical illness? How often have I drawn a hard line between "factual" science and "fictitious" religion? This book forced me to reckon with some uncomfortable parts of myself, but I found doing so to be a positive and enlightening experience.
There's not a lot of actual plot involved in Transcendent Kingdom, which is normally a big problem for me. However, I found the flashback memories and scraps of journal entries were compelling enough on their own to keep me engaged and attentive. At times I found myself wishing for a bit more action rather than introspection, but I think the reflective tone was more true to the spirit of the book. Despite how sad the story was, it never felt crushingly heavy, or weighed down by its reflective nature. Rather, Gifty's voice is peppered with notes of humor and lightness that make her all the more interesting and realistic to read about.
I'm so eager to read Homegoing to see what else Yaa Gyasi has to offer now. I have a particular penchant for stories featuring dysfunctional families, and Gyasi caught me right in the heart with this one. 4.5 stars.
There's not a lot of actual plot involved in Transcendent Kingdom, which is normally a big problem for me. However, I found the flashback memories and scraps of journal entries were compelling enough on their own to keep me engaged and attentive. At times I found myself wishing for a bit more action rather than introspection, but I think the reflective tone was more true to the spirit of the book. Despite how sad the story was, it never felt crushingly heavy, or weighed down by its reflective nature. Rather, Gifty's voice is peppered with notes of humor and lightness that make her all the more interesting and realistic to read about.
I'm so eager to read Homegoing to see what else Yaa Gyasi has to offer now. I have a particular penchant for stories featuring dysfunctional families, and Gyasi caught me right in the heart with this one. 4.5 stars.
"I grew up being taught that God gave us dominion over the animals, without ever being taught that I myself was an animal"
Religion, science, Family Dynamics. What more can I say other than FIVE STARS.
Religion, science, Family Dynamics. What more can I say other than FIVE STARS.
This book made me feel sad. It is the story of Gifty, an intelligent, driven woman whose difficult childhood has made her kind of reclusive and unknown-able. Her father left the family, her beloved brother suffers from addiction, and her mother is depressed in a major way. Through her work in neuroscience, Gifty tries to find meaning and answers to addiction and depression. Through the story, we go deep into Gifty’s thoughts and feelings about the events that shaped her. Gifty is a rare person who believes in both religion and science and it is fascinating to watch her reconcile her thought on both.
Probably loved this book because it struck so close to home. The dialogue around balancing a belief in God and belief in science has been an ongoing one for me. Beautiful writing about family and recovering from loss as well.