A review by mrtvavrana
Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi

challenging emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 

I have read this book as a part of The StoryGraph Reads the World Challenge, as my entry for Ghana. 

 

Transcendent Kingdom is another book on my “reading out of the comfort zone” book list this year. What I expected from this book was a life story, but it ended up being so much more. 

 

This book explores grief and loss, coping with addiction, immigration, racism, mental illnesses, and difficulties of relationships—with friends, family, and religion. Despite how short this book is, I think it explored all of these topics in depth. 

 

What I did not enjoy very much was all the retrospection. At times it was pretty confusing to follow, as we jumped from the present into the past and then even further into the past. It took me a while to put the pieces together, and I am still not sure I got everything right. 

 

I´m also not sure how I feel about the very last chapter—I would have preferred an open ending, but I also feel like it brought everything together nicely. The characters were all so beautifully written, and their stories and fates were laid out without any sugar coating. 

 

Being raised Catholic (and leaving the church) and having lost family members to addiction, I was worried of the pictures I would see described in this novel. But, in all honesty, it brought me comfort. Sometimes we just need to hear and see that we are not alone, and everything will be okay. 

 

I loved to see so much of Gifty, from her early childhood all the way to adulthood. I loved how the novel explored her questions about life, science, and religion and that she ultimately found what she was looking for. I truly appreciated that Gyasi did research in neuroscience, and I enjoyed learning new facts. 

 

Transcendent Kingdom is a beautifully heartbreaking novel, and I honestly cannot wait to read more.