A review by alt05
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

challenging emotional inspiring mysterious reflective tense slow-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? No

5.0

Yaa Gyasi has easily become one of my favorite authors with this debut novel. I was gifted this book several years ago, and for some reason could never bring myself to pick it up. I think it's because this book is about the impact of the transatlantic slave trade, and I knew it would be an emotional read for me. And, I was right. The way Gyasi breaks this story down is so unique, it requires much from the reader. This book is about 2 African girls in the early 1700s who are fathered by the same man, though only one knows her real father. The other is raised by her mother who escaped with her to be rid of the abuse she endured. It follows these 2 young women's lineage as one is married to a white, slave trader living on the gold coast, and the other is captured and sold into slavery. As the reader follows their families into the 20th century, they are intimately exposed to the toll that slavery had on both those taken and those left behind. The histories of each branch are slowly forgotten as the family moves further and further away from the women who birthed them all. Gyasi masterfully weaves together history, spirituality, and family across this multigenerational, historical novel. Her writing is emotional and moving, but also lyrical in its form. It took me several days after reading this to be able to put into words all I was feeling. This book makes you think about how much Black people have lost both materially and unseeing. 
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