Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

474 reviews

sandro_reads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• 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? No

4.5

Homegoing is an ambitious generational saga that begins with two sisters, Effia and Esi, unknown to one another in Africa in the 1700s. Each chapter then follows a subsequent descendant covering such topics as colonialism in Africa, the slave trade, and racism in the Jim Crow south to 1980s Harlem. 

Yaa Gyasi has a matter-of-fact writing style and the format can lend itself to read more like a collection of short stories. But, the power of Homegoing lies in the totality of the book over some of its individual chapters. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery

shmerikataylor's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, and War

Moderate: Rape

linhsreadinghour's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Beautiful beautiful historical fiction novel that follows the descendants of two sisters and how the decisions of each family member impacted the next. The writing was gorgeous and hooked me right in. Despite following each character for one chapter each time, Yaa Gyasi doesn’t fail to explore the intricacies and conflicts of their own lives, whilst weaving in the historical context and significance of the time period. Stunning book and so illuminating as a non-black person. Will become a classic in the future no doubt, a must read for everyone.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Drug use, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Vomit, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and War

serenspace's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and War

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.

asha_m's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad fast-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Trafficking, and War

tibbarasden's review against another edition

dark informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

The format of this book was brilliant. I love how the history of the slave trade and racism is told through the two different generational lines across the two continents. I thought the author did really well with creating unique personalities and storylines for each character. The family tree at the beginning really helped me, though I do wish dates had been included as it was a little difficult for me to keep the time frame in mind. It does deal with some heavy topics (besides slavery), so I would recommend checking the trigger warnings.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Racism, Rape, Slavery, and Fire/Fire injury

danisbookshelfx's review against another edition

emotional sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

I’ve never read a book structured like this before. I enjoyed following the different characters through the generations. I was torn between anticipation of what was going to happen to the next generation and sadness that I didn’t get to see more of the previous generation! 

Really moving story. Make sure you read trigger warnings!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Rape, and Slavery

Moderate: Sexual violence and Violence

Minor: Drug abuse and Suicide

beetree's review against another edition

challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

The fact that this was published when the author was 26…I’m gobsmacked. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Rape, and Slavery

Moderate: Child death, Mental illness, and Fire/Fire injury

rheysweg's review against another edition

dark informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Trafficking

Moderate: Police brutality and Colonisation

mxjacknelson's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Racism, Rape, and Slavery