creaseinthespinebooks's review against another edition
5.0
Sometimes I finish a book and think I absolutely loved that book and move on to another without giving that original book another thought until I do a wrap up the end of the month where I choose my favourites from the month. This one however, has me feeling that the next book I read wont even compare.
Homegoing tells the story of two half sisters, Effia and Esi. Born to different villages, who grow up in different circumstances, and have *very* different lives. The book tells the story of many of their descendants covering over 300 years. It goes into great detail of slavery in the 18th century, how slaves were captured, and sold, and brought to America, used in mines, moving from Ghana to the South (Alabama in this case) and to New York. There is so much tragedy on both sides of these families.
Homegoing is not an easy read. Often times, it's brutal in its depictions of what happened to these characters/people. I found myself thinking at times, did that really happen? and it is quite sad to think but yes, it did. I feel guilty that I enjoyed this book knowing this actually happened. To write a book so vivid on descriptions of Ghana and slavery and this epic saga over many years......I have no words.
It would take alot for a book to take out The Four Winds as #1 but Homegoing has done this. This is so far my best of 2021 so far.
Homegoing tells the story of two half sisters, Effia and Esi. Born to different villages, who grow up in different circumstances, and have *very* different lives. The book tells the story of many of their descendants covering over 300 years. It goes into great detail of slavery in the 18th century, how slaves were captured, and sold, and brought to America, used in mines, moving from Ghana to the South (Alabama in this case) and to New York. There is so much tragedy on both sides of these families.
Homegoing is not an easy read. Often times, it's brutal in its depictions of what happened to these characters/people. I found myself thinking at times, did that really happen? and it is quite sad to think but yes, it did. I feel guilty that I enjoyed this book knowing this actually happened. To write a book so vivid on descriptions of Ghana and slavery and this epic saga over many years......I have no words.
It would take alot for a book to take out The Four Winds as #1 but Homegoing has done this. This is so far my best of 2021 so far.
chyreads29's review against another edition
4.0
To read books about the lasting legacy of slavery as a Black person is to take on double trauma. And for all the reasons that these stories are traumatizing, they are also necessary. History books will never fully tell us how truly evil and heinous slavery was, but we feel the aftershocks of it every single day and in every single aspect of life. That is what Gyasi captures here. It starts with two sisters, separated by fire. One is sold into bondage, and the other marries a white man and lives in the infamous Gold Coast castle above the dungeon where her sister is kept (obviously unbeknownst to her). The rest of the book follows the diverging lineage of each sister through vignettes. Each vignette focuses on a member of a new generation and explores the different ways the history of colonialism, war, and white supremacy shapes their lives. I found the stories of Esi's (the sister sold into slavery) line most heartbreaking as Gyasi places the immeasurable loss of community, culture, and self that Black Americans grapple with in full view.
To quote Roxane Gay, "the most interesting part of this novel, the structure, also becomes the most frustrating part of the novel." As you move further through the vignettes, stories feel unfinished and characters feel unknown. But in the same breath, I think this structure communicates what happens when we are forcibly removed from our roots. Either way, this is a story that will stay with me for a long time.
To quote Roxane Gay, "the most interesting part of this novel, the structure, also becomes the most frustrating part of the novel." As you move further through the vignettes, stories feel unfinished and characters feel unknown. But in the same breath, I think this structure communicates what happens when we are forcibly removed from our roots. Either way, this is a story that will stay with me for a long time.
hannahbright's review against another edition
4.0
A generational saga of one family; so interesting to see the ramifications of the side that stayed in Africa vs. the side that came to America but how they ultimately unite at the end
It was a bit confusing at times because every chapter was told by a new character but other than that, loved
It was a bit confusing at times because every chapter was told by a new character but other than that, loved
monahajjar7's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved this book. I typically struggle with multigenerational stories but this couldn’t have been written better. Gyasi’s use of imagery is amazing and it draws you in. Each character’s story and world is carefully built and you can’t help but love them all. The connections both within and between the two lineages are strong and remain with you through the entirety of the story. Highly recommend it!!
lhhrmn's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars, rounded up because this book is absolutely devastating and yet a should-read for everyone. I have heard about this book for years, but never got around to it until my book club chose it this month!
I had a few qualms with the book --- one of which feels sort of nit picky bc I don't have an alternate suggestion --- but because some of the characters aren't introduced in their parents' chapter and the chapters alternate between family branches, I often had to flip back to the end of the 2nd to last read chapter to remember who's child this was and what their story might connect to. That being said, it sort of felt like a flaw *because* each chapter was so detailed and well-written that I was engrossed in individual stories and couldn't remember another chapter back!
Minor qualm #2: Abena's chapter (end of part 1) didn't quite match up to the others for me and I felt a little lost following her story.
Qualm #3: I reaaaaally thought the book was going to end with the stones behind brought back together. Gyasi nearly did it in the last chapter, was SO close.. that it felt extra disappointing to end without the that, even as a hint.
I really enjoyed this book, as much as one can enjoy a book with so much heartache, but
I had a few qualms with the book --- one of which feels sort of nit picky bc I don't have an alternate suggestion --- but because some of the characters aren't introduced in their parents' chapter and the chapters alternate between family branches, I often had to flip back to the end of the 2nd to last read chapter to remember who's child this was and what their story might connect to. That being said, it sort of felt like a flaw *because* each chapter was so detailed and well-written that I was engrossed in individual stories and couldn't remember another chapter back!
Minor qualm #2: Abena's chapter (end of part 1) didn't quite match up to the others for me and I felt a little lost following her story.
Qualm #3: I reaaaaally thought the book was going to end with the stones behind brought back together. Gyasi nearly did it in the last chapter, was SO close.. that it felt extra disappointing to end without the that, even as a hint.
I really enjoyed this book, as much as one can enjoy a book with so much heartache, but
jamiezaccaria's review against another edition
5.0
Amazingly written story that shows the true talent of the author to build characters and use time and location to string them together.
sennaje's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
4.5
cami19's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0