Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

I bought Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi with my Christmas money. When I read a review of a book I like the sound of, I add it to the list I keep on my phone of books I want to read. I don’t always remember where I read the review, but I trust my list! When I shared a photo of my to read pile on Instagram, a couple of people recommended I read Homegoing next, so I followed their advice.

Homegoing is the story of generations of the same family from the Gold Coast and slavery to Harlem in the 21st century. It starts with two sisters – Effia and Esi, whose lives take a very different turn and affect the generations that follow. Effia marries a slave trader, while Esi is sold into slavery.

The story takes us through seven generations of the family, with each chapter dedicated to one person. The family tree at the front of the book is essential and I kept checking back on it!

The story alternately follows Effia’s family line and Esi’s. Their stories are often heartbreaking. Rival nations – the Fante and the Asante – would take each other’s children and sell them into slavery. Children are born without knowing who one, or even both, of their parents are. Adults die young. Free men aren’t treated as though they are free.

In the last few chapters, the story moves into a time which is more recognisable to most of us from old news stories, films and books – a segregated USA, with black people banned from going into white areas.

Homegoing is a moving, thought-provoking and challenging read. For me, it wasn’t the sort of book I could just sit down and devour 100 pages. If that sounds like your sort of thing, it is a very interesting insight into a shameful piece of history, and I would definitely recommend it.