ravenclawomanistcyborgwitch's review against another edition
4.0
Homecoming was a ambitious, wonderful story. The story is a panoramic view of slavery and its effects over 300 years. It is a very complicated, layered history played out through a family tree descended from Ghana. It centered on two half sisters and the divergent path of their lives. The authors prose was direct, plain but descriptive. The character development in most of the chapters were excellent. Some were more developed than others. A lot of reviews said that they liked the first half more than the second. I guess I am in the minority that REALLY liked the second part which focused more on American characters and the societal problems that they faced. Favorite chapters were based on the characters of H, Yaw, Quey, and Majorie. The majority of the book was sad, and heartbreaking to read, but there was some points of victory and happiness that I liked. I also liked that the author weaved pieces of her own life in the story as well. Overall, a solid, beautiful story. 4 stars
chirson's review against another edition
4.0
Never have I regretted the non-existence of half-stars more, because this was the exemplary 3.5-star book for me. Better than "liked it" but not quite "really liked it". Its ambition and scope deserve praise, and the overall effect of showing multiple generations and their experience of different forms of oppression was, for the most part, successful, but at the same time I didn't find its form to quite work for me. The conceit (giving a chapter to each character, shown through a fragmentary tale that not infrequently got no ending or only got an ending in another chapter) was more convincing in some chapters than others (I found the omissions to be where the novel was at its best - much as I like to know the ending, the open ones, where we do not learn what happened to the character because their own child lacks that knowledge, felt particularly powerful, moving and well thought-out), whereas at times it seemed to me as though the book was a little too literal, explaining the metaphors, so to speak, instead of allowing them to stand on their own.
For a story that showcases suffering and value and difficulty of survival, it is very gripping and readable, finding just enough glimpses of hope and humanity not to overwhelm the reader. Still, I think it should have affected me more than it did, and it might have with a little fewer characters and plotlines.
For a story that showcases suffering and value and difficulty of survival, it is very gripping and readable, finding just enough glimpses of hope and humanity not to overwhelm the reader. Still, I think it should have affected me more than it did, and it might have with a little fewer characters and plotlines.
mar7y's review against another edition
5.0
"We believe the one who has power. He is the one who gets to write the story. So when you study history, you must always ask yourself, Whose story am I missing? Whose voice was suppressed so that this story could come forth?
This is the best book I've read this year and it will definitely be a part of my bookshelf wherever I go. So glad I got a physical copy. Highly recommend!
This is the best book I've read this year and it will definitely be a part of my bookshelf wherever I go. So glad I got a physical copy. Highly recommend!
leah_ruth's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
mrymreads's review against another edition
5.0
glorious!! heartbreaking!! informative !!! so well written and absolutely could not put it down!!
senexosaweffers's review against another edition
4.0
This is a book that needs to be read slowly so you can really absorb all of it. It will teach you things you should have learned in school but didn’t.
hannahjohnson's review against another edition
5.0
Wow
This was amazing. Story telling was amazing. I learned so much. I did not want it to end.
I do recommend looking at the family tree occasionally. In the middle, I would forget who was connected to who sometimes.
This was amazing. Story telling was amazing. I learned so much. I did not want it to end.
I do recommend looking at the family tree occasionally. In the middle, I would forget who was connected to who sometimes.
read_cc_read's review against another edition
5.0
This book was SO GOOD. Extremely eye opening and intense- this novel exposes the grim realities of the slave trade and treatment of African Americans in America during and post slavery. The timeline of the book jumps around as it followed descendants of the main characters - the family tree in the beginning helps the reader follow the bloodlines and characters. Highly recommend every American reads this novel.
readingwithhippos's review against another edition
4.0
Homegoing is a daring and ambitious debut. Make note of Gyasi's name, because with this novel she has laid the groundwork for an illustrious writing career.
She begins her story with two half-sisters, Effia and Esi, who never meet. Each subsequent chapter follows someone from the next generation in the family line. The half-sisters are born in Ghana, but their lineages diverge immediately, with one sister remaining in Ghana, married to a white slave trader, and the other captured and sent on a slave ship to North America.
Because each chapter deals with a new character in a new generation, the books feels more like a series of linked short stories or vignettes than a long, sweeping novel—a choice which keeps the novel to a manageable length and prevents it from bogging down with detail. It's a lot to process, but it's not so demanding that it would monopolize your whole summer.
A few other good books that tell stories of families through several generations:
[b:The Children's Crusade|22609396|The Children's Crusade|Ann Packer|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1422297109s/22609396.jpg|42099386] by Ann Packer
[b:Green Island|25763894|Green Island|Shawna Yang Ryan|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1445790070s/25763894.jpg|45426209] by Shawna Yang Ryan
[b:The Turner House|22749750|The Turner House|Angela Flournoy|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1408469614s/22749750.jpg|42295144] by Angela Flournoy
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
She begins her story with two half-sisters, Effia and Esi, who never meet. Each subsequent chapter follows someone from the next generation in the family line. The half-sisters are born in Ghana, but their lineages diverge immediately, with one sister remaining in Ghana, married to a white slave trader, and the other captured and sent on a slave ship to North America.
Because each chapter deals with a new character in a new generation, the books feels more like a series of linked short stories or vignettes than a long, sweeping novel—a choice which keeps the novel to a manageable length and prevents it from bogging down with detail. It's a lot to process, but it's not so demanding that it would monopolize your whole summer.
A few other good books that tell stories of families through several generations:
[b:The Children's Crusade|22609396|The Children's Crusade|Ann Packer|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1422297109s/22609396.jpg|42099386] by Ann Packer
[b:Green Island|25763894|Green Island|Shawna Yang Ryan|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1445790070s/25763894.jpg|45426209] by Shawna Yang Ryan
[b:The Turner House|22749750|The Turner House|Angela Flournoy|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1408469614s/22749750.jpg|42295144] by Angela Flournoy
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
twentystitches's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Where do I even start?
This book is PHENOMENAL. truly an incredible FEAT of storytelling. It was DEVASTATING, BEAUTIFUL, HEARTWRENCHING, EMOTIONAL. My god. I was crying when I finished. The CHARACTERS yaa gyasi created...each of them so unique and complex yet so beautiful...and the tiny intrinsic ways in which their stories were linked...the way she created the history of an ENTIRE family, which chronicled not only their journeys, but also the history of slavery, of Africa, and of America. The story was RICH, the depth in their pasts, the stories they passed down through generations, their family traditions, the language they spoke, their home country. This is one of the most beautiful books I've ever read.
This book is PHENOMENAL. truly an incredible FEAT of storytelling. It was DEVASTATING, BEAUTIFUL, HEARTWRENCHING, EMOTIONAL. My god. I was crying when I finished. The CHARACTERS yaa gyasi created...each of them so unique and complex yet so beautiful...and the tiny intrinsic ways in which their stories were linked...the way she created the history of an ENTIRE family, which chronicled not only their journeys, but also the history of slavery, of Africa, and of America. The story was RICH, the depth in their pasts, the stories they passed down through generations, their family traditions, the language they spoke, their home country. This is one of the most beautiful books I've ever read.