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abitbetterbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.0
I really loved listening to this book, despite its heartbreaking content. The narration was excellent and I found the non-linear style of story telling very compelling and intriguing. I wish I could sit down with Yaa Gyasi for a chat about this book and ask so many questions about all the decisions made and why!
The vision for this novel is really quite extraordinary. It’s a tiny slice of life in the present day, but an entire world of exploration as each layer of Gifty’s life gets peeled back, examined; like a bone getting broken so it can be reset and healed properly.
Transcendent Kingdom is a masterclass in character work— we get to know Gifty, her motivations, her joys, her pains. We watch her as she moves from a shy and closed off person, unwilling to share any tender part of herself, into someone who is realizing that she can’t isolate herself forever. We understand her fears and personally, understand her questions and frustrations with the lack of concrete answers.
What spoken to me in particular was the grappling with faith and religion, and trying to reconcile the importance of that upbringing with a life & world-view that is rooted in, and dominated by, science, reason, and logic. I found many of Gifty’s questions and perspectives incredibly relatable, though I think she came to a softer conclusion about God that I have. I’m not sure if I’ve ever read a book with this kind exploration of faith before, but I have to say I felt deeply at home in it.
The vision for this novel is really quite extraordinary. It’s a tiny slice of life in the present day, but an entire world of exploration as each layer of Gifty’s life gets peeled back, examined; like a bone getting broken so it can be reset and healed properly.
Transcendent Kingdom is a masterclass in character work— we get to know Gifty, her motivations, her joys, her pains. We watch her as she moves from a shy and closed off person, unwilling to share any tender part of herself, into someone who is realizing that she can’t isolate herself forever. We understand her fears and personally, understand her questions and frustrations with the lack of concrete answers.
What spoken to me in particular was the grappling with faith and religion, and trying to reconcile the importance of that upbringing with a life & world-view that is rooted in, and dominated by, science, reason, and logic. I found many of Gifty’s questions and perspectives incredibly relatable, though I think she came to a softer conclusion about God that I have. I’m not sure if I’ve ever read a book with this kind exploration of faith before, but I have to say I felt deeply at home in it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Addiction
Moderate: Violence, Xenophobia, Abandonment, and Vomit
Minor: Suicide attempt
stellef's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racism, and Grief
ramreadsagain's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A beautiful novel with gorgeous writing, and characters and events that leap from the page.
I particularly enjoyed the content about Gifty's research as well as her thoughts and struggles with the science:religion binary. While I very much fall on the science side, the emotional depth of the novel and the way it portrays how one can exist on a 'spectrum' of belief was incredibly well done.
I do not understand how such a relatively short novel could have managed to cover so many topics in such a profound way. I'm annoyed I put off reading this for so long, and I'm now excited to read Homegoing.
I particularly enjoyed the content about Gifty's research as well as her thoughts and struggles with the science:religion binary. While I very much fall on the science side, the emotional depth of the novel and the way it portrays how one can exist on a 'spectrum' of belief was incredibly well done.
I do not understand how such a relatively short novel could have managed to cover so many topics in such a profound way. I'm annoyed I put off reading this for so long, and I'm now excited to read Homegoing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Drug abuse, and Addiction
Moderate: Abandonment, Suicide attempt, Racism, and Death
Minor: Religious bigotry
acline's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, and Mental illness
siebensommer's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
my need to diy my mother‘s mental health
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Religious bigotry, Mental illness, Drug abuse, Addiction, Abandonment, and Death
Moderate: Racism and Racial slurs
Minor: Pregnancy, Death of parent, and Medical content
katrinarose's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.0
This book was raw, beautiful, and heartbreaking in a way I didn’t expect. It’s more like a character study or fictional memoir than a plot-driven novel, with scenes jumping from present to past in all different stages of the main character Gifty’s life. It’s so well done that I feel like Gifty is a real person I could meet. The narrative is all of Gifty’s inner thoughts and we see her struggle with her brother’s addiction and death, her mother’s depression, her father’s absence, and her own religion and faith especially now as a neuroscientist. I would highly recommend it if you enjoy literary character-driven books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Racism, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Racial slurs, Mental illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Animal cruelty
amgarrido's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Drug use, Grief, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Death
lauraportalupi's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I wouldn’t have read this book if I had known about the evangelical Christianity and testing on animals themes. It simply was not enjoyable to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Addiction, Drug abuse, Abandonment, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, and Death
Moderate: Animal death, Drug use, Grief, and Racism
pkc's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? No
4.5
This was a gorgeous exploration of dueling identities. I absolutely tore through this book. I found Gifty to be the most fascinating and loveable protagonist and I rooted for her throughout. I felt emotional for her family and their various plights and I just really wanted good things for them all, but sadly good things weren’t destined throughout. Overall really loved this story. It was searingly singular but multiple all at once. By which I mean Gifty tries to make sense of the world through both a scientific lens and a religious context all at once to answer questions about her brothers addiction and ultimate death, as well as her mothers depression. Her longing for answers is so relatable and it’s a great example of grief finding its way into the cracks in the pavement wherever you walk.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Racial slurs, Grief, and Mental illness
alexisgarcia'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
4.0
amazing book. fantastic representations of grief
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Violence, Grief, Child death, and Drug use