Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

246 reviews

hollyrebecca's review

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A work of contemporary, literary, generational fiction, following two branches of a bloodline through 7 generations. An exploration of the impacts on Ghanaians whom experienced many facets of slavery and racism in their journey from Ghana to America and home once more. 

Impactful and informative with compelling characters and a unique method of storytelling. A beautiful piece that I’d recommend to anyone.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

htedesco's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

mirandalikesbooks's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

My favorite part of this book is that every character is the main character. I was invested in every one. I don't understand how Gyasi was able to construct the life motivations of each character so perfectly with only giving each character like 20 pages. Seeing some of the characters age throught the generations is such a gift. Because so many wonderful characters had their life cut short as a product of white violence. 

It is awe inspiring and heart breaking how many generations were and still are affected by slavery. How slavery has direct ties to the oppression and cyclical struggles of black people in America and in Africa. White oppression has killed generations of black joy. 

This story demonstrates the struggle of being a woman so brilliantly too. How many generations of woman went undefined until a man defined her. 

I learned so much through the course of this book. The birth of our modern prison industrial complex being born of the enslavement of African and Black men is something that makes perfect sense. But it was laid out so clearly here.  Some of the violence was so vividly painted that I keep retracing those scenes in my mind. Some of the heartbreak too.

Absolute must read. We have been privileged to not know these stories for long enough. And we are privileged now to see these stories through the perspective of each of these characters. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

hmw102's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.75


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

turnoverthepage's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

5.0

It is incredible how many lives and years Gyasi managed to explore in only 300 pages. Such an incredible author. 

Not only did she explore generation after generation across two families but she managed to make each new narrator a fully fleshed out character in such a short space of time. 

The book is challenging and obviously I can't say it is a pleasant read but the way the story is woven is incredible and it's a book I'm very glad to have read and have on my shelf. Will definitely be picking up Transcendent Kingdom. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

laurenmaria422's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • 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

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

sangsmiles's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging 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? It's complicated

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

kissmelicia's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

mollz12's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

Haunting and raw. One of my favorite books of 2022. I will always read what this author releases. 
This book follows two sisters that found two different dates. One as a slave on a boat, the other sold and rich. They continue to follow their heirs as the time passes. So beautiful and yet so dark and emotional. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

madelinedalton's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

4.5


Expand filter menu Content Warnings