Reviews

Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi

music_and_books_lover's review against another edition

emotional sad fast-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

5.0

lavrendy's review against another edition

4.0

It’s rare for me to read content that so perfectly captures my feelings about leaving a religion that I had once been so devoted to. I usually avoid thinking about previous spiritual experiences since I’ve lost faith in the organization, but Gyasi’s words were validating in both my nostalgia for and frustration with the church.

It’s hard to move on from something that has always been such an important part of your identity, so any exploration of similar post-religious experiences is super reassuring. The family dynamic also really drove home the reality of growing up religious and seeing the effects it has on family relationships forever.

If anyone has more books that explore these topics please send them my way!!!

143colleen's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful 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? Yes

4.25

hiitsmecassie's review

4.0

gyasi is a beautiful writer

ekgreene's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad medium-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

4.0

The way the story unfolded was very artful. The structure of the book revealed why the main character acts the way she acts in the present in a gripping way. Such a sad story but also extremely realistic. 

_louisaliest_'s review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

imhidinginabook's review against another edition

dark 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

5.0

mountainreader's review against another edition

dark 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

4.5

chachi_bby's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

laura_corsi's review

3.0

I didn’t love it…with all of the hype I was expecting to love it. It was a wonderful peek into the life of a Ghanaian woman, raised in Alabama, who lost her brother and only sibling to heroine addiction. Gifty is on a quest to understand why it is she is alone in the world and becomes a neuroscientist to aid in her quest to understand. However, part of her just cannot let go of her childhood faith. How can science and faith coexist? How can Ghana and America coexist within one person or one family? Why was she the one person in her family to survive?

I think I just didn’t connect as deeply as I was expecting to. Gifty always felt distant and would not let the reader fully inside. But then, why would she trust us that far?