christophers_colorful_corazon's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-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? Yes
5.0
I'd like to think myself as a very critical reader, but I literally have no notes. This was perfection!
sierra_bear98's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
kimisaboss123's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
babygotpaperback's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
maceyhoff3's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
emilyalbertelli's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
clairebartholomew549's review
5.0
This was such a deeply affecting book. I highlighted literally so many parts of it that I found thought-provoking, and I’m sad I rented it from the library - I know I’ll return to this story again and again. Gyasi tells the story of two branches of an African family, one that remains in Africa for most of the generations, and one that is forcefully brought to America through the slave trade early in their lineage. Slavery is one of those things that you viscerally know is horrible, but reading intimate perspectives really demonstrates how it manifests and leaves you shaken. Gyasi does a masterful job of explaining how the slave trade worked, and how the British stoked the rivalry between the Asante and the Fante (and I assume between other tribes as well) for their own gain, inspiring wars so that the two peoples captured slaves and sold them to the British. A major theme of the book is complicity, and how in protecting yourself, your family, and your village, you can doom other people and families to awful fates. Sometimes you know of those fates and do it anyway, and sometimes, you don’t know where your actions will lead. Either way, when the families can trace their lineages so far back, they are deeply aware of the damage and evil that has been wrought along the way, and it informs how they carry themselves going forward. A few things I found utterly remarkable about this book: how every character is distinct yet connected both obviously through their direct lineage and emotionally through their shared trauma and questions about life, and how Gyasi’s narration is so strong for each character that you immediately immerse in that character’s world, even though you’re only with each character for about 20 pages; how clearly Gyasi explains how the slave trade continued even after the war had ended, how Black people were still subjected to unfair jail sentences (H’s story was particularly heartbreaking and will stay with me) and parts of town (Willie’s story was also deeply affecting) and many egregious instances; how the ending expertly brought together all the disparate threads of a family; how clear-eyes the novel was about Africa and its heritage. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about Africa and its history, and anyone who just wants an affecting story about a family through time.
williamsalyssa1's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ahsokasbookshelf's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
4.0
kiranpatel00's review
4.0
Wow. A transformative piece that takes us from the 1600s to present day and follows the families of a woman who married into the British colonial system during the slave trade and another woman who was traded as a slave. Eye opening and shows the power history holds as it is carried with us no matter how far away we are from a particular historical event. Not giving it 5/5 because it was a little hard to follow because of the narration style.