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marissaheffler'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
Content wise, it was interesting to read about the experience of those in Ghana both during and after the slave trade. This is not a perspective that is usually centered or that I have had much exposure to. Pairing it with the peers in America was a really powerful way to highlight the branching impact of this system throughout the generations.
(~6 hr read, physical book)
Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Addiction and Drug use
nessreadsalot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
The short insights into each characters lives and how slavery and colonisation has affected and shaped their lives are so well written that each chapter leaves you wanting more about that person's story. I found it a little difficult to keep up with who was related to who at times because of the quick pace of the chapters and in the audiobook there was no chapter title to indicate the move to another character. I have seen others mention a family tree is printed in the physical book which would be very useful to help follow.
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Colonisation, Racism, Rape, and Slavery
jordanglass's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Addiction, Colonisation, Rape, Slavery, and Torture
desana75's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Slavery, Torture, Vomit, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction
0hannah0banana0's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Slavery, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, War, Racism, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Death, Vomit, Torture, Police brutality, Murder, Drug abuse, Colonisation, Addiction, Violence, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Genocide, and Drug use
rkwaterski99's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Slavery, Racism, Sexism, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction and Fire/Fire injury
chuck3791's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Death, Slavery, Sexual violence, Colonisation, Pregnancy, Rape, Child death, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Drug abuse, Trafficking, Addiction, and Grief
serenspace'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: War, Grief, Racial slurs, Racism, Colonisation, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Addiction, and Slavery
This book is structured in an intricate, fleeting way that relayed entire lifetimes in twenty pages or less. It took a few chapters to get used to the generational jumps and the unfinished stories that preceeded them, but what Gyasi chooses to tell us and what she chooses to leave behind is carefully selected to convey the primary themes of grief, history as a map and generational trauma. Each member of this family has a rich inner life that carries the weight of the Gold Coast all the way to present day America, each significant in their own right and as part of this intricate story. Gyasi's voice is, as always, reflective, a perfect conveyor for such a grand history. She has an immense talent for building an image of the world as a collective effort, more than any one person can bring to it.tibbarasden's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Racism, Rape, Slavery, Addiction, Child death, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Drug use
henlovesbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
After the initial confusion, I found myself completely engrossed in each of the narratives. The storytelling skillfully navigates between the darkest shadows of our history and the delicate threads of human connection. In her haunting poetic exploration of generational trauma, Gyasi breathes life into each character with an aching tenderness that deeply resonated with me.
This book was challenging, informative and captivating. I cannot recommend it enough
Graphic: War, Slavery, Addiction, Violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence