Homegoing is one of those novels that I’ve borrowed from the library various times, only to return it, time and time again, unread. It’s been recommended to me by several people, but it wasn’t until my blogger friend Literary Dates posted about this powerful book that I actually cracked it open and began reading.
This novel by Yaa Gyasi is everything people promised it would be. It’s gripping, it’s emotional. It’s raw, it’s honest. It’s visceral, it’s heartbreaking. Homegoing forces you to confront the nauseating truth about colonization and slavery, and the parts both black and white people played in each. It’s all incredibly fascinating and eye-opening.
It’s going to come as no surprise that Homegoing is also incredibly depressing. As fantastic as the novel is, and as important as its story is, it’s just not something I could power through to until the end. While it’s a relatively short book, it uses very small print; reading one page is like reading two. Add in the heavy content matter, and Homegoing just became too, well…heavy.
For about two hundred pages or so, I was really into the story. After awhile, I noticed I was forcing myself back to it. One night, I just didn’t want to sit down with the story anymore, and I gave myself permission to stop reading.
I made it to the 1890s timeline before setting Homegoing aside. I’m curious to know how everything ends and what happens to the characters… but not quite curious enough, apparently.
Now, you’re probably wondering — should you read Homegoing?
I say: yes, give it a shot. It’s a sweeping, magnificently crafted family saga; I love the way it chronicles the generations of descendants from two sisters from the 1700s into the present day. Gyasi particularly paints a vivid picture of Africa that’s both beautiful and harsh, mesmerizing and repugnant. You’ll love and be terrified of it in equal measure.
But, if you’re looking for a more uplifting read? Give this one a miss.
