Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

131 reviews

fluffy1st's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, and Misogyny

Moderate: Death, Police brutality, Medical trauma, War, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Drug use, and Death of parent

marissasa's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This book is heartbreaking, harrowing, devastating, and deeply moving. The story stems from one woman name Maame who gave birth to two daughters in different villages, each half-sister unknowing of the other's existence. Each chapter alternates between the next generation of both branches of the family, and tells different but parallel stories of the lives each child lives. It's a story of the lasting effects of colonization, war, and slavery on Ghanian people both in the homeland and in United States. As the book spans 8 generations, it ties major historical events to the appropriate character's narratives for that time period. There are so many difficult and upsetting situations that family members on both sides face, and they become deeply flawed but complex characters because of their experiences and the experiences of their parents that have been passed down both verbally and metaphysically. Generational trauma is a central theme throughout the book and I could feel my heart ache each time a character went through something or had a fear that could be tied back to experiences in their parent's or ancestor's chapter just a few pages before. The ending brings everything full circle with the recurring symbols of water, fire, and the black stone passed down from Maame herself, and it left me with a bittersweet feeling knowing both the indescribable pain and incredible resilience of each ancestor that lead to the two latest generations being able to come together and feel connected to the land where it all started.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Drug use, Gore, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Grief, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Blood, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Excrement, Physical abuse, Racism, Vomit, War, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Classism, Hate crime, Infidelity, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Self harm, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Abandonment, Addiction, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Violence, and Kidnapping

themoodyambr's review against another edition

emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

FINALLY picked this up after years of avoiding it and this was sad. If you read The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois it reminded me of that with the generation storytelling. Makes me want to go ask my Grandmother about my ancestors because I do not know my family history. I will be reading Yaa Gyasi’s other book as well. Love the writing style. This book was also heartbreaking. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery and Physical abuse

jenmcreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense 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? No

5.0

This is a remarkable book that manages to closely visit each POV character despite only spending one chapter with each. This book does an incredible job at sweeping through history while still feeling intimate. I loved this, and the audiobook is excellently narrated. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Animal death, Trafficking, Misogyny, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Infidelity, Drug use, Slavery, Violence, Torture, Blood, Racism, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Rape, Physical abuse, Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Gun violence, and Grief

crimelessvictim's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Medical trauma, Rape, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Slavery, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Murder, Infidelity, Drug use, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Infertility, Grief, Genocide, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, Deportation, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Death, Colonisation, and Confinement

kkocik's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Torture, Alcoholism, Body horror, Kidnapping, Police brutality, Grief, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Slavery, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Death, Violence, Trafficking, Abandonment, Self harm, and Sexual assault

valwwy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

i had been stuck on the first couple chapters for months, but finally decided to pick it back up again because of the reviews i heard… and once i understood the structure of the book and its scope, i absolutely tore through the rest of it in 2 days. absolutely captivating stories told simply but beautifully and unreservedly, and the final chapter gave me chills… an absolute must-read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Content Warnings

Minor: Excrement, Racism, Sexual assault, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Death, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

njm1993's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative sad slow-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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Slavery, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Racism

kallan's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery

Moderate: Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Rape, Sexual content, Racism, and Death

Minor: War

heyitsashleigh's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Trafficking, Violence, Drug abuse, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Murder, Police brutality, Racism, Sexual content, Suicide, Slavery, Death of parent, Child death, Addiction, Child abuse, Colonisation, Rape, and Sexual violence