Helpful Score: 2
This debut novel is impressive for both its scope and the talent of its author, Yaa Gyasi. It is the story of two African half sisters, unknown to each other, whose descendants are followed through three hundred years. One branch begins with slave trafficking in Africa by both blacks and whites, while the other branch eventually ends up in America. Their powerful, inter-linked stories are told in separate chapters with characterizations and circumstances that are unflinching. It is a remarkable undertaking from a talent that will surely continue to soar.
Helpful Score: 1
This book tells the tale of 2 sisters born in Asanteland and how, through circumstance, their descendants live completely different lives on different continents. The book is written in alternating chapters, the odd for the African side of the family and the even for the American side. My favorite was the African as we have heard so many stories told from the American slave point of view. The African stories were so interesting. Because each chapter covered one person/generation the characters were not as developed as they could be but that book would be twice as long. I hope Yaa decides to write stories about the most interesting people in her stories like Yaa or H. They were my favorites. My favorite chapter was about a town in the south built up around the coal mines. The mines were worked by black and white criminals. In this town every man was equal and had to work together or die. This is where H spent a good portion of his life.
Helpful Score: 1
Well worth the read! The story was fast paced- yet thorough. The author conveyed the heart and soul of each character without over-writing and needless description. The story spans several generations with ease yet captures the struggles each character faces.