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sakisreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The content warnings are below.
My friend recommended this to me, and she has some great finds so I was excited for this one.
I read the reviews earlier on though, and someone wrote that it was challenging to invest in the stories because they would get very interesting, and then move onto the next POV very quickly, and I completely agree 🥺
The stories were gorgeous and heartbreaking but I never felt like I got to know any of the characters only because we were going too quickly.
It’s a very luxurious perspective that I have though, I am aware of this 😳
All in all, I thought this book was beautiful and I really especially enjoyed Marjorie’s story at the end 🥹 I loved Yaa Gyasi’s Transcendent Kingdom more so am glad to have tried her first novel ✨
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Torture, Police brutality, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism
ruaruarua's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Murder, and Sexual harassment
scifi_rat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Prose: 4.5★
Pace: 5 ★
Concept/Execution: 5★/5★
Characters: 4.75★
Worldbuilding: 4.75★
Ending: 4.75★
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Racism, Slavery, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Colonisation
Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Child death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, War, and Classism
Minor: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
lizclark81'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
4.25
Graphic: Drug abuse, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Torture, Abandonment, and Colonisation
beetandbaguette's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Torture, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and War
mx_sunshine'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: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Suicide and Car accident
thereadhersrecap'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
I can't believe this book was her debut novel! The writing was spectacular. She has a way of transporting you out of your body and into the characters mind. The characterization was the best and meat of the book and Gyasi nailed it.
The novel follows two ancestry lines of Ghanian children as the embark on separate but destined journeys. Two half sisters, Effia and Esi, born to different villages in the 18th century lead two very different lives. One is married off to an Englishman and lives in the castle on the shore, the other is imprisoned beneath her and sold into the slave trade where her children and grandchildren will be raised in slavery. We see each character navigate historical events such as The Civil War, The Great Migration, Jim Crow, Harlem and heroin.
The books is told through a series of chapters dedicated to on individual of the ancestry. Although each chapter looks at a new character's life, Gyasi still presents a complete and cohesive story.
Weakness is treating someone as though they belong to you. Strength is knowing that everyone belongs to themselves."
The portrait of slavery is one I will never understand, but with books like these it truly helps to paint a picture of the atrocities African's withstood. It's frustrates me that this part of American history is just a blurb in the history books. Gyasi shows the impact slavery plays on everyone spanning generations, robbing families of spouses, killing, and structuring the world at an unfair advantage.
“We believe the one who has the power. He is the one who gets to write the story. So when you study history, you must always ask yourself, Whose story am I missing? Whose voice was suppressed so that this voice could come forth? Once you have figured that out, you must find that story too. From there, you begin to get a clearer, yet still imperfect, picture.”
This book will stay with me forever.
CW: abandonment, addiction, death, classism, colonization, confinement, drug abuse, forced institutionalization, hate crime, physical abuse, police brutality, racism, religious bigotry, violence, torture, sexual assault
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
leahgustafson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
•
This story begins with two half sisters, Effia and Esi, and follows their lineage down through the six generations. I was nervous about the structure at first. Typically, if you need a family tree, map, or diagram to figure it out, it’s not my kind of book. However, I’m happy to say that this one came together so beautifully!
•
I could not believe this was Yaa Gyasi’s debut. The writing and use of language are incredible. I was impressed at the complexities of the characters and the attachment I felt for them despite only reading each perspective for a short time. Honestly, Gyasi’s ability to tie together six generations of history speaks to her talent as a writer. This story highlights the importance of our connectedness and shared history. I also loved how the theme of oral history is woven throughout.
•
This book sat on my TBR stack for years. Don’t be like me—if you’ve been waiting on this one, move it to the top of your list!
•
Checkout what I'm reading next on Instagram @LeahsLitReview!
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and War
bompi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Hate crime, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, and Murder
isaarusilor's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, and War
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Colonisation