Homegoing

This book kept me turning the pages long before I understood what it was trying to tell me. I don’t think now, even after finishing it, that I truly know. It was when I was reading Marjorie’s and Marcus’ chapters that I realised how much they had lost because of decisions out of their control and the colour of their skin. Their knowledge of who they are lost because they were not the winners of history. But it was also about their redemption, in finding themselves in their ancestry. Every chapter, Asante, Fante, British or American - this book provided a tour of a life and history of something I never knew and can appreciate but not truly feel. My heart broke for Effia, who never knew of the sister directly below her and felt isolation. I was angry for Esi who never got the opportunity to take the last bit of her family with her. I felt the shame Quey had for his untold desires that limited him. I was proud of Ness’ strength to keep going knowing that she would never see her son again in the hopes he would have a better life. Hope sprung anew when James ran away and shed his familial guilt to be with who he really wanted. Kojo made me desperate to find answers where there aren’t any and the hopelessness of losing someone you love when they were meant to be protected. I was angry for Abena that she felt she had no choice but to be an option for someone until she was finally ready to break away. H holds a special place in my heart, to realise his problem wasn’t with the one but with the whole and to find peace in doing what was right even if there are undeserved consequences. Akua bewildered and angered me in a way I struggle to find with words, something about her resonating with the load that women have to carry that is universally known, but also something freeing in a horrifying way that I definitely can’t formulate into a coherent thought. I felt Willie’s determination to make something where it appears there is nothing and finding solace in community. The acceptance as Yaw finally came to terms with who he is and was and could be. The frustration watching Sonny battle with his own identity and falling prey to addiction. I felt restless with Marjorie as she struggled to connect with her history and the isolation she felt for being who she was and that still not being enough for those around her. And finally, for Marcus, who was so overwhelmed with his history that he couldn’t connect to it at all until the water liberated him. This is a book I will need to read again and again, something new to be found each time. I am overwhelmed by the book and feel a bit improper talking about it, knowing it is not my history but being grateful for an insight I otherwise never would have had.

This book really dragged for me not going to lie. The first part was very descriptive and at times hard to read so I disengaged quite often. But part 2? Chileeee was so good! Everything made sense, everything added up and it was really nice to see that the first half of the book wasn’t in vain. Yaa Gyasi beautifully weaves the past traumas, stories, traditions and lives of the ancestors and those who came before into the present day and life of the children and grandchildren in part 2 and I really enjoyed that.

Interesting novel regading how individual and societal actions can reverberate through several gnereations - in this case slavery and setting someone on fire.

Growing up my step-father always used to tell me to remember that history is written by the victors. In Homegoing the author describes it this way:
“We believe the one who has the 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 voice could come forth? Once you have figured that out, you must find that story, too. From there, you begin to get a clearer, yet still imperfect, picture.”
This novel follows two half sisters and their descendants over the course of eight generations. This would be a great book club pick because there’s so much to discuss.

This book was amazing! From start to finish I was completely submerged and addicted and after every nights read I was left wanting more. I won’t add any spoilers but the only reason I didn’t give it a 10 was because the ending could have been so much more. The whole story , every single line was amazingly written but I felt the end was a little rushed and kinda predictable. Overall I would for sure recommend and actually am hoping someone makes this into a movie it would instantly become a classic!