Homegoing

by Gyasi, Yaa
ISBN: 9781101947135
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Used - Hardcover - 9781101947135

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Overview

Winner of the NBCC's John Leonard First Book Prize
A New York Times 2016 Notable Book
One of Oprah's 10 Favorite Books of 2016
NPR's Debut Novel of the Year
One of Buzzfeed's Best Fiction Books Of 2016
One of Time's Top 10 Novels of 2016

"Homegoing is an inspiration." --Ta-Nehisi Coates

The unforgettable New York Times best seller begins with the story of two half-sisters, separated by forces beyond their control: one sold into slavery, the other married to a British slaver. Written with tremendous sweep and power, Homegoing traces the generations of family who follow, as their destinies lead them through two continents and three hundred years of history, each life indeliably drawn, as the legacy of slavery is fully revealed in light of the present day.

Effia and Esi are born into different villages in eighteenth-century Ghana. Effia is married off to an Englishman and lives in comfort in the palatial rooms of Cape Coast Castle. Unbeknownst to Effia, her sister, Esi, is imprisoned beneath her in the castle's dungeons, sold with thousands of others into the Gold Coast's booming slave trade, and shipped off to America, where her children and grandchildren will be raised in slavery. One thread of Homegoing follows Effia's descendants through centuries of warfare in Ghana, as the Fante and Asante nations wrestle with the slave trade and British colonization. The other thread follows Esi and her children into America. From the plantations of the South to the Civil War and the Great Migration, from the coal mines of Pratt City, Alabama, to the jazz clubs and dope houses of twentieth-century Harlem, right up through the present day, Homegoing makes history visceral, and captures, with singular and stunning immediacy, how the memory of captivity came to be inscribed in the soul of a nation.

  • Format: Hardcover
  • Author: Gyasi, Yaa
  • ISBN: 9781101947135
  • Condition: Used
  • Dimensions: 9.50 x 1.30
  • Number Of Pages: 320
  • Publication Year: 2016

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  • Historical fiction that is equal parts heartbreaking and breathtaking.

    Daniel M. - 5 years 11 months ago

    I've never been one for historical fiction. Sci-Fi and Fantasy are my go-to genres for pleasure reading but on the recommendation of a friend I gave Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi a try. How she can pack so much story into 300 pages is a feat unto itself, starting in 18th century Africa and continuing through to modern times. Each chapter takes the point of view of a different descendant of a woman called Maame beginning with her daughter Effia followed by Effia's half-sister Esi. Effia is wed to a British slaver to be his "African wife" someone to keep him company while his real family is back in Britain. Her line remains in Africa through most of the novel while her half-sister Esi, who Effia doesn't even know exists, is sold into slavery and sent to America. Each chapter draws you into one of the rich characters and just when you want to read an entire book about that person Gyasi moves on to the next and creates a new character who is just as engaging as the last. You are always left wanting more. Thankfully you are never left in the dark too long about any of the characters. Through their children's stories, you find out what became of them. There are moments when you might cry, and often you finish a chapter and sit for a moment in amazement, wondering how Gyasi can weave such an incredible tale filled with so many unique characters and voices. This book should be required reading. I want to win the lottery just so that I can buy a copy for everyone I know. Please, whatever you are doing now, stop and pick up Homegoing.

    HPB Staff Review

  • Yaa Gyasi's debut novel: a beautiful work of historical fiction

    Kristin M. - 6 years 7 months ago

    This is a beautifully written novel that reads like a selection of short stories, following several generations of a family. The family tree is separated in two during the slave trade, when one of two sisters is captured and brought to America, while the other lives as royalty in Ghana. Each chapter follows a different member of a different generation of the family. You learn more about each character and their history through the telling of other generations' stories. There are many parallels in the tales from each side of the family tree, despite being separated by an ocean. This generational family saga is woven together beautifully. Ultimately, this book demonstrates the way trauma due to colonialism, slavery, and the more recent Jim Crow era are passed on through generations, leading to abuse, addiction, alienation, and anger. Some scenes and imagery are graphic, but they do an excellent job of showing the harsh realities of the slave trade and its lasting effects. It is emotional, thought-provoking, and moving.

    HPB Staff Review