Reviews

Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi

sophialpj's review against another edition

dark 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

5.0

sheebyrose's review against another edition

5.0

Love love loved this book. The more I sit with it, the more space I give myself to explore the connections between my Christian faith and science and mental health and sex and family. It intertwines BIG topics without overwhelming you in a negative way and has an interesting illustration through Gifty’s research.

binnie's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

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

4.25

i really do not like books with religion being such a prevalent topic. Usually if it comes up too much, I am more than ready to skip the book overall. However, this book was something completely different. While I cannot relate to any of the personal topics of the characters (not being a black immigrant, with a close family Member struggling with addiction etc.) I feel like I could relate a lot with her faith/religion struggles. It felt really familiar to my process of giving up faith, the doubt, the questions, the anger and more. The author did a great job of portraying the main character at different ages - you could feel the fear of a child, the uncertainty of a young adult and the still present issues of her as a fully formed adult. It was a moving story with a lot of compassion.

jess_mango's review against another edition

5.0

4.5 stars

madeleinemm's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

thealexarachelle's review against another edition

5.0

It’s sad, but I loved it. I appreciated getting into Gifty’s head. Beautifully written.

slflorence99's review against another edition

5.0

I've said more than once that the only thing I didn't like about this book was that I actively had to hold it open while reading. That binding was TIGHT!

Binding aside, this was a beautifully written story that puts in to words the internal struggle so many work through on a daily basis. Yaa Gyasi absolutely nailed the experience growing up in an evangelical church, complete with sweet and cringy moments. The gentleness in which she handled Gifty's journey had me in tears more than once.

“When it came to God, I could not give a straight answer. I had not been able to give a straight answer since the day Nana died. God failed me then, so utterly and completely that it had shaken my capacity to believe in him. And yet. How to explain every quiver? How to explain that once sure-footed knowledge of his presence in my heart?”
― Yaa Gyasi, Transcendent Kingdom

andalucia's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.75

maijaka's review against another edition

emotional inspiring 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

4.5

Heart-wrenching, thought-provoking, intriguing. There were a few moments I wanted a bit more or perhaps got a bit lost, but overall a gentle, determined, and honest storytelling.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Grief, and Mental illness

Moderate: Racism and Animal cruelty

ellenclibrarian's review against another edition

5.0

My favorite read of 2020 thus far. If you wish to reap a life lesson from your fiction, read this book.