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katie_ponderingthepages's review against another edition
- 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
Gifty was brought up an Evangelical Christian in Alabama with her Ghanian family, her father left them and returned to Ghana, her brother dies of an overdose and her mother enters a crippling depression. At 11 years old she is sent to Ghana while her mother recovers. Now a PhD student studying neuroscience, specifically addiction, she is trying to understand why her brother was taken and why her mother is trapped in depression again. She explores her faith as well as her neuroscience knowledge whilst recalling her past, trying to find the answer within God and/or science will make everything better.
The writing in this is so clever, it’s layered, it’s informative and offers insight and understanding to a number of issues. I felt as the reader that I was following Gifty’s trail of thought as she recalled events from the past and weighed up why God and her pastor hadn’t helped and why science had failed to provide answers.
Gifty’s need to fix her family is so despairingly strong, that it overtakes her life. She can’t open up to friends or form relationships and as you read her journey, trying to piece everything together for everyone else, you become more and more aware that Gifty herself is broken and struggling. When I read the following ‘“No I’m not ok”, I said, and I wondered when the last time I’d said that was. Had I ever said it, even to God?’ I burst into tears for this incredibly kind and vulnerable character.
I have no criticism whatsoever. This book is phenomenal.
Thank you to @netgalley and @penguinukbooks for the pleasure of reading this before it’s 4th March publication date
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Mental illness
Moderate: Medical content, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Racism
Minor: Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Physical abuse
francestea's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Death
whattaylorreads's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Mental illness
Moderate: Racism, Racial slurs, and Suicidal thoughts
kdowli01's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Death
acarter's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Racial slurs, and Suicidal thoughts
morganholmes49's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
kayleyhyde's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Drug use and Addiction
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Drug abuse
julieastarr's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Addiction and Drug abuse
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
poursandpages's review against another edition
- 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
Yaa Gyasi has unparalleled writing abilities. The words flow effortlessly off the page, & you really find yourself rooting for Gifty (the main character). It reminded me of Saving Ruby King, in that this is a Black story through & through. But instead of the south side of Chicago, you get Southern + religious Alabama.
The story is beautiful, but also tragically heartbreaking. There are a lot of content warnings here: racism, drug addiction & overdose, death of a loved one, depression, suicidal ideations, animal testing, & strong religious themes. If you can, read this one. I can’t wait to read Homegoing now.
Moderate: Racism, Drug abuse, Animal cruelty, Death, and Suicidal thoughts
wholesomeandqueer's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Medical content, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts