A review by nibs
Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi

challenging emotional informative sad medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book is so intimate. It is sad and painful but resilient. It's centred around Gifty's life as her depressed mother comes to stay with her, but surrounds this present with windows to the past. Gradually filling in the stories of her family, their life, her love for her brother and the shame of his addiction. These things all lead to who Gifty is today. Although this book is really sad at times, there is hope shining through it.
I am so glad it ended on a hopeful note.
A book that makes you sit and remember how unfair and messed up this world is, but that people muddle through it anyway. 

Also the writing itself was so well done. 
This quote from p211 was a highlight: 
 What a pity, what a waste. But the waste was my own, the waste was what I missed out on whenever I looked at him and just saw his addiction.
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