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lindsaystadter's review against another edition
3.0
This book had a lot of beautiful writing that I think I would have enjoyed more if I had read them during the day with a highlighter. It wasn’t super plot-driven, so reading it at night was not as enjoyable for me. 3.5 stars rounded down just because I think I wouldn’t have enjoyed it more in a different reading setting.
h_rankin13's review against another edition
4.0
Narrative speaks of many facets, including the relationship of science and faith, mental health, addiction, first gen immigrant families, academia, race and relationships. There’s plenty of yourself to see in Gifty.
madison_moore's review against another edition
4.0
I loved reading this, but it hurt my heart so deeply. A beautiful story about a family struggling with race, mental illness, addiction, religion, and so much more. This author really knows how to reach into your soul when she writes. I am so moved.
eleanorfranzen's review against another edition
I borrowed this as an ebook as backup for our return flight from San Francisco, but ended up reading it in the days after our return. In short: wonderful. I already knew how much love this story of Ghanaian-American addiction researcher Gifty, her dead brother Nana, and their clinically depressed mother had received, but it was a whole other thing to read it for myself. Gyasi’s first novel, Homegoing, was impressive but in retrospect felt a bit worthy; Transcendent Kingdom, by contrast, is full of strange corners, moments where the love of God, the love of family, and the love of science mix and meld and crash into each other. Gifty feels like a real person: driven, defensive, and trying her best. This ought to have won at least one prize the year it came out. (It was up against Hamnet and Shuggie Bain for the two big ones. I think it’s more interesting than, and just as technically accomplished as, the former; haven’t read the latter.)
griffwalk's review against another edition
4.0
The descriptions of depression were visceral and relatable for me, which deeply drew me in. The plot is simple, but evocative.
petersona2's review against another edition
5.0
This novel is quite different from Gyasi’s first (Homegoing), but it is similarly compelling with complex and engaging characters. I liked the interplay between religion and science.
linguamachina's review against another edition
5.0
Randomly picked this book up because I liked the cover
rachelreadsandthings's review against another edition
5.0
“If I’ve thought of my mother as callous, and many times I have, then it is important to remind myself what a callus is: the hardened tissue that forms over a wound.”
I really loved this book.
A beautifully written and devastating story about a woman, Gifty, who’s lost her brother to an overdose and whose mother suffers with depression. Gifty is a neuroscientist working researching reward-seeking behavior to try to find a scientific explanation and solution to addiction and depression, while also battling with the faith she had as a child.
I think pretty much everyone has either dealt with or known/loved someone who has suffered with depression or addiction to some capacity, and I feel that this book has taken a different approach to addressing these issues than what we normally read. This wasn’t a thriller, or an intensely dark portrayal. Instead it was a heartfelt, intellectual, mental journey of someone experiencing tragedy around her and trying to determine who she is, who her loved ones are and were, and what her life will be.
Transcendent Kingdom is a book I think everyone should read and could relate to in one way or another. It’s such an important story.
I really loved this book.
A beautifully written and devastating story about a woman, Gifty, who’s lost her brother to an overdose and whose mother suffers with depression. Gifty is a neuroscientist working researching reward-seeking behavior to try to find a scientific explanation and solution to addiction and depression, while also battling with the faith she had as a child.
I think pretty much everyone has either dealt with or known/loved someone who has suffered with depression or addiction to some capacity, and I feel that this book has taken a different approach to addressing these issues than what we normally read. This wasn’t a thriller, or an intensely dark portrayal. Instead it was a heartfelt, intellectual, mental journey of someone experiencing tragedy around her and trying to determine who she is, who her loved ones are and were, and what her life will be.
Transcendent Kingdom is a book I think everyone should read and could relate to in one way or another. It’s such an important story.
danisbookshelfx's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25