Homegoing in "Let's Read..."

Jan 12, 2017 Simone rated it it was amazing

Where do I begin?

I heard about this book in July 2016 from a Facebook post from the BBC World Service about the controversy surrounding this book which directed me to a short radio interview clip with the author discussing this and the bidding war for the book. The controversy - the role West Africans played, alongside Europeans, in the transatlantic slave trade - didn't put me off and I decided to find out a little more about the book and to suggest it as a future read to a book club (Let's Rea Where do I begin?

I heard about this book in July 2016 from a Facebook post from the BBC World Service about the controversy surrounding this book which directed me to a short radio interview clip with the author discussing this and the bidding war for the book. The controversy - the role West Africans played, alongside Europeans, in the transatlantic slave trade - didn't put me off and I decided to find out a little more about the book and to suggest it as a future read to a book club (Let's Read...) that I jointly run with some other fabulous ladies. The response from my book club was mixed, some really wanted to read it, other were not interested as we have read quite a few books with Slavery narratives and what would this book address that others didn't. In the end we (me) decided that we would read it for our January 2017 book. I'm so glad we did.

We begin this book in 18th century Gold Coast Africa and end in Modern day America and Ghana. As the blurb says,

"Effia and Esi: two sisters with two very different destinies. One sold into slavery; one a slave trader's wife". The consequences of their fate reverberate through the generations that follow."

I really wasn't sure how a book of 315 pages was going to cover such a large expanse of time and do it any justice but my intrigue overcame that niggling doubt.

The book is divided in to two parts. I guess one could say part one is set during the Transatlantic Slavery Period and part two is set in the "post" Transatlantic Slavery Period. Therefore part one feels more descriptive and historical and part two has a more social-political commentary slant to to it, touching on the fight for Independence from colonial rulers, Jim-Crow and the Civil Rights Movements, along with other issues and movements important to the Black community and its Diaspora. This book covers a lot of ground and in my opinion does it well in it's 315 pages. I guess that's due to the style of the book. Essential it is a collection of interweaving short stories but the strong connection of following the generations of the family works well as a novel. Others have tried this - The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis springs to mind, were I feel the connection between the stories didn't hold them together as tightly as the connections in Homegoing. Each Chapter tells the story of another decedent of each sister alternating between the Effia line and the Esi line. The family tree at the beginning of the book helps to keep you on track when you have break between readings but it wasn't too difficult to keep up with. The stories are as harrowing as they are touching and thought provoking covering some one of the most diabolically evil moments in history and describing devastating moments of loss and pain but is also rich in traditions, culture and family values that I can't describe it as a negative book. The cutesy ending may be a bit much for some people but I found it okay.

The stories are brief but provide enough background to allow you to decide what could happen next with endless possibilities. Yes, sometimes I was yearning for more. But at others I was glad I could move on from the horrors described. I also think they lend themselves as starting points for the curious reader to find out more, if you are that way inclined.

This book was a major undertaking that I feel has been executed beautifully and believe it fully deserve the praise and critical acclaim it has been receiving.

Highly recommmended ...more

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Jan 09, 2017 Joy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ereader, favorites

Homegoing begins in the late 1700’s in an area of Africa that will come to be known as Ghana in modern times. We meet 2 half-sisters, Esi and Effia, whose lives take very dramatically different directions. The story continues through the generations right up to (I assume) modern day.

Homegoing is without doubt a multi-generational masterpiece. However, when I rate books I don’t base my rating purely on how "good" I think a book is (as in the writing or topic matter); I like to make my rating on a Homegoing begins in the late 1700’s in an area of Africa that will come to be known as Ghana in modern times. We meet 2 half-sisters, Esi and Effia, whose lives take very dramatically different directions. The story continues through the generations right up to (I assume) modern day.

Homegoing is without doubt a multi-generational masterpiece. However, when I rate books I don’t base my rating purely on how "good" I think a book is (as in the writing or topic matter); I like to make my rating on a few aspects but mainly on how much I actually enjoyed the book. With Homegoing I find it incredibly difficult to say that I "enjoyed" reading some of the most graphic and disturbing depictions of the treatment received by black people during the times of the slave trade I have ever read. We are talking graphic descriptions of human beings piled up 10 deep in a river of faeces and urine in a rat infested slave ship - not exactly enjoyable, but important to read about nonetheless.

There was an awful a lot of information to digest as the book spans roughly 200 years of family history and every chapter is based on a different character, its not easy reading by any means. Although each person is fascinating in their own right, for me, I did become a little confused at times trying to figure out who was related to who, but it soon became apparent and the story flowed quite naturally. Some characters were so much more vivid than others, they could have kept me interested for a lot longer than just one chapter, especially the people depicted in the earliest chapters. A book about so many people is a difficult feat, but it was pulled off well in terms of content and relevancy.

The first half of the book was much more engaging and rewarding than the later chapters, the scenes more powerful and the characters more distinct . Overall it’s an amazingly ambitious book and a real accomplishment, I commend the author Yaa Gyasi and I’m really glad I have had the opportunity read this book.
...more

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Apr 17, 2020 BB Friday rated it it was amazing

Love, Love this story of 'Homegoing' back to the roots in my conclusion. It takes you on a journey through the perspective of 3 women and their intertwined connections and journey through life and through different time lines. It covers topics like slavery describing how people reached the ivory coast for transatlantic crossing whilst different tribes fighting over conduct to be the 'big man'. A complex story but easy to follow, filled with emotions and hope. This story truly felt like you was r ...more

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Jan 01, 2020 Rhea rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is one of the most beautiful, heart wrenching books I’ve ever read. I loved every minute of it. It taught me more about my own origin story than any history book. It left me wanting to research more about my family lineage. Made me curious to pathways and turns my ancestors took to produce me. Thank you, Yaa Gypsies, for such a masterpiece.

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Feb 29, 2020 Shalisha rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

Love Love Loved this book and the way
each chapter is a story based around two lineages of one family, each chapter is a different member and generation of the family up until present day.

I have nothing but respect and adoration for our ancestors. How can we not be proud of the warriors we come from. 🖤

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