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rochellem'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, and Slavery
Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Excrement, and Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia, Police brutality, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
eloiseisreading's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Homophobia, Infertility, and Adult/minor relationship
thrillofthepage'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
This generational novel spans 300 years and tells the story of two half-sisters whose lives are vastly different. Homegoing begins in 1775 in Ghana when two half-sisters are born in different villages. Effia is married off to a white man to maintain her villages status in the slave trade. Esi becomes a spoil of tribal war and is enslaved and bound for America. Effia lives in the very stone castle where Esi is kept in the dungeons below.
Each alternating chapter introduces the descendants of Effia and Esi. We learn about each generations struggles, hardships, and challenges. You would think that a book spanning centuries would be 500+ pages, but Homegoing is a little over 300 pages. Each chapter is only about 20 pages long, which initially worried me. I thought that there is no way Gyasi could adequately develop or describe the life of a character. Well, I was so wrong! Her writing is impeccable and I was drawn into each chapter immediately and felt the emotions experienced by each individual. I really appreciated the alternating chapters because it expertly displayed the dichotomy between the two family trees.
Knowing that this was Gyasi’s debut novel made reading Homegoing even more astounding. Her ability to craft each character independently while weaving together the two family trees is amazing. Each generation is compelling in its own right and seeing the circumstances each faced because of who they descended from was captivating.
I listened to the audiobook and I have to say I think that was the right way to go for my first read of this book. Dominic Hoffman did an incredible job bringing each story to life. His inflection and emotion provided another layer to the story and took it to a new level. I plan on purchasing a physical copy of Homegoing to to reread and annotate.
TW: sexism, rape, racism, slavery, violence
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Slavery
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Excrement, Grief, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Trafficking