I don’t like saying that a book is a must read but I do think it’s an important and timely novel. Has Yaa Gyasi written her first masterpiece? As hyperbolic as it seems, there’s no denying that this is a grand novel in every sense. There’s a lot to pick apart, tons of metaphors and an addictive plot. The prose is simple (not simplistic) and lucid. Saying that, the book does not feel overcomplicated, daunting or overstuffed. Homegoing had a multi-layered plot but in Transcendent Kingdom, Yaa Gyasi takes those layers into the stratosphere. culture while not losing their own and Gifty trying her best to accept that her roots are in Africa, despite growing up in her parents’ adopted country.Īs I said, it’s a lot to take in: parenthood, science vs faith, addiction, culture clashes, mental health, relationships, sexuality and motherhood. If you want more there’s also her parents attempts to adopt U.S. Transcendent Kingdom is a searing story of love, loss and redemption, and the myriad ways we try to rebuild our lives from the rubble of our collective pasts. To add to this there are chapters dedicated to the roots of Nana’s addiction and her parents’ relationship.

Gifty also narrates her constant battle with spirituality, the problems with her depressive mother and her attempts to be in a loving relationship. The narrative also jumps back in time to Gifty’s childhood when her family were just getting used to life in The States after moving there from Ghana. The main protagonist Gifty is studying the effects of addiction using mice as her test subjects, the reason being that her brother, Nana died of an overdose.

The question is why do I think this book is so great? For starters Yaa Gyasi adds a lot of layers to the narrative. I thought it would be by the third novel but I was proved wrong: Transcendent Kingdom is the novel that will have critics salivating, readers going crazy and a ton of prize nominations, currently it’s been shortlisted for The Women’s Prize for Fiction but I’m expecting more.

Sign up for the weekly Bookreporter.When I read Yaa Gyasi’s debut, Homegoing, I felt that this was an author who would write a book that will stun a lot of people. This Time Next Year We’ll Be Laughing by Jacqueline Winspear Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden Here’s to discovering something new to read!įor more suggestions, watch Carol’s first discussion with Suzanne and Danny: They share books from eight genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery & Thrillers, Fantasy, Horror, Women’s Fiction, Romance, and Memoir - so you’ll want to stay tuned until the end. Suzanne Skyvara, the Vice President of Marketing & Editorial for Goodreads and Danny Feekes, who is their Managing Editor, return for a fall book discussion with Carol where they share titles that are resonating with Goodreads readers! Like their talk in June, there’s a lot here to discover, with discussions about each new suggestion.

Transcendent kingdom goodreads