'Homegoing' by Yaa Gyasi is a sweeping historical novel that traces the fate of two half-sisters, Effia and Esi, and their descendants across three hundred years. Set against the backdrop of Ghana's tumultuous history and the brutal reality of American slavery, their lives diverge in starkly different paths. As the narrative shifts through generations, we witness the profound impacts of racism, colonialism, and identity. Gyasi's lyrical prose beautifully interweaves personal and collective histories, inviting readers to confront the legacies of the past. This poignant exploration leaves an indelible mark, urging us to question our own connections to history and each other.
By Yaa Gyasi
Published: 2017
"We are not just a collection of stories, but stories that intertwine; each life a thread in the tapestry of our shared history."
A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK • Ghana, eighteenth century: two half sisters are born into different villages, each unaware of the other. One will marry an Englishman and lead a life of comfort in the palatial rooms of the Cape Coast Castle. The other will be captured in a raid on her village, imprisoned in the very same castle, and sold into slavery. One of Oprah’s Best Books of the Year and a PEN/Hemingway award winner, Homegoing follows the parallel paths of these sisters and their descendants through eight generations: from the Gold Coast to the plantations of Mississippi, from the American Civil War to Jazz Age Harlem. Yaa Gyasi’s extraordinary novel illuminates slavery’s troubled legacy both for those who were taken and those who stayed—and shows how the memory of captivity has been inscribed on the soul of our nation.
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“We are not just a collection of stories, but stories that intertwine; each life a thread in the tapestry of our shared history.”
Homegoing
By Yaa Gyasi
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Yaa Gyasi is an award-winning Ghanaian-American author best known for her debut novel "Homegoing," published in 2016, which explores the legacy of slavery through the lives of two half-sisters and their descendants in Ghana and the United States. Gyasi's writing is characterized by its lyrical prose, intricate storytelling, and deep historical insight, often addressing themes of identity, belonging, and the impact of history on personal lives. Her second novel, "Transcendent Kingdom," published in 2020, delves into the complexities of immigrant life, family, and addiction, further showcasing her talent for weaving profound narratives that resonate with readers.
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