Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi

242 reviews

chaos_fairy's review against another edition

challenging dark 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? It's complicated

4.0

The story explores the apparently incongruous viewpoints of science and religion, both central to the development of main character, Gifty. Born to Ghanaian immigrants in Alabama, Gifty is raised in an Evangelical tradition by her mother, and as an adult, works in researching neuroscience out of Stanford University. From a family of four, to a family of two. Where the missing family members have gone is revealed in time, but from the outset it is clear that Gifty has had her share of childhood trauma. 

Gifty uses religion and science in very similar ways, though at different stages of her life. Both, for her, are refuges from a world in which she feels powerless; both, she turns to for answers to some of the most difficult questions. 

It takes time for Transcendent Kingdom to move from an interesting array of snippets from Gifty’s past and present to the engaging and thought-provoking heart, but once you get there, there’s so much to unpack. Much like Gifty herself. 

The story includes starkly honest representations of substance abuse, addiction, depression, abandonment and grief, and how the human - mind, soul, brain - strives to process and overcome these hardships. At times overtly religious or loaded with scientific jargon, it is never alienating. It is simply the world as Gifty strives to understand it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Racial slurs, Child death, Addiction, Racism, Abandonment, Death, Suicide attempt, Animal cruelty, Grief, and Mental illness

agnesg's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Addiction, Death, Drug use, Grief, Racism, Mental illness, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt

Minor: Alcohol, Death of parent, Excrement, and Injury/Injury detail

barbarella85's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Animal cruelty

Moderate: Drug abuse, Addiction, Mental illness, and Grief

elenai7's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

incredible book I think the first book I have ever read that has  cultural references I can actually relate to and understand. Transcendent Kingdom has made me realise and want to start reading more books that can do this for me. I really enjoyed the religious parts of this book which i didn’t have an understanding of before reading, but that i now appreciate more. I found pretty much every character likable despite their flaws. The way this book was written was perfect, Yaa Gyasi has a real talent for writing. I know that i am going to be thinking about this book for a very long time!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Mental illness, Racism, Death, Drug abuse, Grief, and Drug use

ailendb's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad slow-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? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Death, Suicide attempt, Grief, Addiction, and Drug abuse

nicola4e's review against another edition

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Death

miamcmillan's review against another edition

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

i’m really glad i read this. it made me think about some topics i hadn’t considered properly before and i think it’s a really stupendous take on the intersection of science and religion. gyasi writes with such a human care and a quiet power which underlined every single word. from the exploration of gifty’s relationship with her mother to her portrait of nana and all his beauty, the whole novel was incredibly moving. i particularly loved how even though at points i disliked every single character, gyasi’s writing brings back round the idea of transcendence and i ended up loving each one of them even as i cried for their losses and wanted to distance myself from their mistakes. it was absolutely immersive. i genuinely think the last few paragraphs are one of the most beautiful i have read in a while: 
“i’m no longer interested in other worlds or spiritual planes. i’ve seen enough in a mouse to understand transcendence, holiness, redemption. in people, i’ve seen even more. 
from the back pew, christ’s face is the portrait of ecstasy. i stare at it, and it changes, goes from angry to pained to joyful. some days, i sit there for hours, some days mere minutes, but i never bow my head. i never pray, never wait to hear god’s voice, i just look. i sit in blessed silence, and i remember. i try to make order, make sense, make meaning of the jumble of it all. always, i light two candles before i go.”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Racial slurs, Suicide attempt, Death, Addiction, Drug abuse, Grief, and Mental illness

nicoleisalwaysreading's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative 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? Yes

5.0

I needed this one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Grief, Religious bigotry, Mental illness, Death, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Sexual content

idtirnan0g's review against another edition

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Grief

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Religious bigotry, and Racism

abioneil's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Child death, Mental illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Addiction

Moderate: Death and Racism

Minor: Racial slurs, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment