After many people insisting Homegoing was a must read, I am so happy I finally picked up this book. It was heart-wrenchingly sad, but thought-provoking and offered a unique perspective on a difficult part of history.

We follow the lineage of Effia and Esi, half-sisters born in different villages of Ghana in the 1700s who never knew one another. One sister ends up married to a colonist and living comfortably in a castle on the Gold Coast, while the other is imprisoned in the dungeons under that same castle and sold into the slave trade. The story runs in parallel following the sisters’ descendants – one line following the history of Ghana, the other following the history of America. Each woman’s descendants are faced with historical forces that shape the life they lead.

While not your typical light, feel good read, I found myself completely consumed. The writing flows effortlessly, and I found myself thinking and feeling my way through the pages and, more importantly, the hardships of the various descendants. I enjoyed how the narrative connected vast periods of time as history unfolded right before my eyes. If you enjoy Edward Rutherford’s novels, then this one is definitely for you. I cannot say enough good things; this is a book that every avid reader should pick up at some point!

Verdict: Read it! (4.5/5 stars)
Length: 320 pages
When: You’re in the mood for a powerful and moving read that makes you think.
Quote: “Weakness is treating someone as though they belong to you. Strength is knowing that everyone belongs to themselves.”
Also read: New York by Edward Rutherfurd (or any of his books on different cities) to Hillbilly Elegy by JD Vance.

Buy Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi