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A review by bahareads
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
Normally I do not vibe with generational sagas but HOMEGOING OH BOY!! Yaa Gyasi did the damn thing. I enjoyed Homegoing so much. Her writing makes each point of view so distinct and memorable, not all are loveable but all of them are memorable.
The history work was *Chef's Kiss.* The research done to create such a novel was fantastic. It showcases the lines of origin so well, which is something that we talk about in class with books regarding slavery. Enslaved people can have their African persons wiped like a clean slate off the slave ship but with Homegoing readers can see the connection back to the ancestors perfectly, even if the characters themselves do not know.
I enjoy how we got both men's and women's POVs throughout the book. Each point of view gives us just enough about the character before moving on to the next one. I also enjoyed the abruptness of each switch. Homegoing could almost be classified as a group of short stories but I think if it was a group of short stories it would not hit the readers quite the same.
The stories are heavy. There were times I could only make it through one POV before I had to take a break. I cried off and on throughout the book, depending on the storyline.
The fact that Homegoing is a debut novel, makes me want to pick up Gyasi's other work. There's a lot more to say but I cannot find the words. Go read the book!
The history work was *Chef's Kiss.* The research done to create such a novel was fantastic. It showcases the lines of origin so well, which is something that we talk about in class with books regarding slavery. Enslaved people can have their African persons wiped like a clean slate off the slave ship but with Homegoing readers can see the connection back to the ancestors perfectly, even if the characters themselves do not know.
I enjoy how we got both men's and women's POVs throughout the book. Each point of view gives us just enough about the character before moving on to the next one. I also enjoyed the abruptness of each switch. Homegoing could almost be classified as a group of short stories but I think if it was a group of short stories it would not hit the readers quite the same.
The stories are heavy. There were times I could only make it through one POV before I had to take a break. I cried off and on throughout the book, depending on the storyline.
The fact that Homegoing is a debut novel, makes me want to pick up Gyasi's other work. There's a lot more to say but I cannot find the words. Go read the book!