A review by reading_rainbow_with_chris
Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi

emotional hopeful reflective medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

 
“Transcendent Kingdom” by Yaa Gyasi
A young scientist named Gifty spends her days finishing her degree working with mice in the lab. However, when her mother comes to stay with her in the throes of depression, she is reminded of her complicated family history that led her to her studies in the first place. This novel is, to make the point on the nose, transcendent. Written as if it were a memoir, Gyasi writes with a beautiful command of language which is both concise and vivid, a juxtaposition which works from the voice of a scientist. In addition to the complicated experience of Ghanian immigrants in America, I also found her intersecting binary themes of religion-science and addiction-restraint to be a fascinating quadrangle which added complexity to Gifty’s history without overwhelming her unique point of view. Some elements tugged very deeply at me specific to my own experiences with loved ones and mental health. I did find Gyasi’s first novel “Homegoing” more groundbreaking in terms of form and breadth, but “Transcendent Kingdom” is a classic piece of literary fiction written to perfection and I would highly recommend it for any devoted readers of novels. I thoroughly enjoyed this work and is thus far easily one of my favorite books I’ve read this year. 

 
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