It is a librarians eternal task to answer the question, “What should I read next?” The librarians here at Y.P.L. are attempting to answer that question with our Staff Picks series. Each entry will include a different recommendation from a staff member.
Today’s Staff Pick is brought to you by Laurie Hogue, our Assistant Director!
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
I’m recommending this book because…
Homegoing is a debut novel by Yaa Gyasi that left me wanting more. This novel is a multi-generational tale that takes the reader through the harrowing existence of two half-sisters who were born in Ghana in the 18th century through eight generations, leading to present day.
The introductory characters are Effia and Esi, whose paths do not cross and they are completely unaware of one another. as they live in different villages. The lives of the sisters end up very different, setting a trajectory for the many generations to come.
“What I know now, my son: Evil begets evil. It grows. It transmutes, so that sometimes you cannot see that the evil in the world began as the evil in your own home. I’m sorry you have suffered. I’m sorry for the way your suffering casts a shadow over your life, over the woman you have yet to marry, the children you have yet to have.” – Yaa Gyasi, Homegoing
The reader is not at all sheltered from the horrors endured, this is a story full of heartache and unimaginable circumstance, strength and endurance; it is beautifully written and has rich and developed characters despite the manageable size. Although I felt completely emotionally spent when it was through, this story and the characters have stuck with me, and probably always will.
Interested in reading Homegoing?
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