Homegoing 5⭐️/5

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

5⭐️/5

“Who’s story do we believe, then?”

“….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 book captivated me. Reading the synopsis, I wasn’t sure how one manages to tell eight generations worth of story, eight generations worth of suffering, suppression, legacy, history, and heart. Yaa Gyasi does that and more. Her writing is lyrical, dazzling, and compelling. I felt like I was reading a greek epic and a devastatingly beautiful poem.

She weaves together a series of remarkable stories that begin with two half sisters in 18th century Ghana and their parallel descendants, with each chapter tightly plotted and reaching remarkable climaxes. From the Gold Coast to slave ships to the plantations of the American south to Harlem jazz clubs, each new setting brought new characters, tensions, and illuminating truths.

Gyasi investigates through narrative how the memory of captivity is forever ingrained, even hundreds of years later. This is an excellent book to read alongside other people. It’s so rich in allegory, metaphor, imagery, and history that it feels wrong to keep it to yourself. I could absolutely see this being adapted for high school and college curriculum. Please read this book!