Homegoing by Gyasi

When I recommended, with caution, the book Beartown to my dear friend in Denver, she recommended Homegoing by Gyasi to me. With caution.

Homegoing is historical fiction, a sweeping many-generational view of slavery and its' everlasting historical rippling effects. It starts in Ghana more than a century ago and sweeps and sweeps forward.

It's a magnum opus. It's magnificent. It's poignant, painful, insightful, brilliant. It doesn't apologize for or try to make sense of the complexities. It just is, and lets the reader figure it out. I guess that's what I like the best---Gyasi doesn't talk down to her reader, she expects a brilliant recipient for her brilliant work.

Gyasi is very good. I think she handled so much very deftly, and I think she'll get better as she writes more. I look forward to seeing if she will try again.

You can read the summary on Amazon. But if you can handle something with meaning, try this. If you want fluff and a feel-good storyline, this is not for you.

Like last week when a friend asked me about Flowers for Algernon. I said, "It's good. Just heavy. But good. Just heavy." She said, "Oh, I can't handle that right now," and I told her to go find Ove.

So Homegoing. There is adult content, you have to decide if you want that. But just know it's good.

Just heavy.

But good.

Just heavy.

I will read it again. It belongs with Their Eyes Were Watching God and Things Fall Apart. And also with The Good Earth, though that's Chinese not African.