Homegoing

One of the best book I have ever read

Would you listen to Homegoing again? Why?

Yes. It was a fantastic , well thought out and well narrated novel. I felt like I was being read a history lesson on many levels containing both personal and national events. So well written and narrated. A fantastic well executed idea. Made me want to research my history further and take my children to Ghana.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Homegoing?

Without spoiling the book I thought the ending was perfect. Not expected but the only way it could have ended.

Have you listened to any of Dominic Hoffman’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No. First but thought he was brilliant and handled most accents with ease.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes. The book made me smile and cry.

Any additional comments?

I'm sure this book will become a classic and can't wait for more from the author.

17 of 18 people found this review helpful

One of the most beautiful books I've ever read

This novel is a beautifully crafted piece of artwork. A colourful tapestry, encompassing the history of seven generations of two strains of the same family. Each of the 14 chapters tells the story of one member of each generation. The characters are wonderfully rounded even though we only know them for a fairly short time. When we return to the next generation however. We do hear a little more of the previous generation, I. E. The parents of the character in question. The two different branches of the family separate but are finally reunited. I cannot say any more than this without giving it away. I did wonder about the title, and this only became evident at the very end of the book. The theme is slavery down the ages and it's after-effects throughout the generations until the present day. It is heartwarming in parts, tragic in others. A very vibrant story! This is certainly one of the most wonderful books I have ever read. I would highly recommend it.

15 of 16 people found this review helpful

Loved it

Great book. Gripping,moving to the extreme ,full of wonderful characters and beautifully told. You have to read/listen to it.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

A journey through generations

I absolutely loved the concept of this book. Take two sisters, who are born in two very different circumstances and track their lineage. This story not only takes us through time, but also across different countries. The narrator did a fantastic job of jumping from one accent to another and gave each character its distinctive voice. I kept finding myself tracking back with each chapter to the originating sister, just so I was sure what the relationships were. The story is beautifully told for each character and you get a real sense of the hardships faced by Africans and African Americans. I was totally immersed in that world and was telling everyone I knew to go and get this book, even before I was anywhere near the end.

11 of 12 people found this review helpful

African roots that ground the generation

Wow, what a beautiful book.

This was like the tree roots of the two sister growing up through the trunk and branches of the subsequent generations each telling their own individual stories.

I will give no spoilers, as it’s a truly remarkable book that needs to be heard and savoured.

This book is the beauty of audible, the narrator who can immerse me in the psyche of these African and Afro-American people. Full praise goes to Dominic Hoffman who breathes life into these extraordinary people.

Listen and enjoy.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Home going

I really loved this book,it was a wonderful insight into other peoples lives,i didnt want the story to end but it did abrupty which i found a bit dissapointing The narration by Dominic Hoffman was excellent.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

The sins of our fathers

What a book. It is layer upon layer of rich, luscious history, and bone-jarring horror. Yaa Gyasi has spun the most intricate of narratives in this book - a true storyteller.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Epic novel spanning seas and generations

A rather melancholic and at times bitterweet listen, describing the journey of one family split into two lineages as a result of colonialism and slavery. It is rather horrific listening to tales of rape and torture, but there is no way of skirting around the issue. What is more telling is the effects that eight generations of brutality has on a modern generation and how easy it is to dismiss today's problems without looking at the context.

Yaa Gyasi has really excelled in bringing the narratives together coherently. An important piece of literature worth putting as part of the school curriculum.

8 of 9 people found this review helpful

Just OK

Is there anything you would change about this book?

In my opinion the book needed a good edit. The author often uses superfluous words and phrases making the prose rather clunky and cliched.
It is almost impossible to listen to this book without a family tree, which I believe is provided in the book version.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Well, I saw it coming.

What three words best describe Dominic Hoffman’s performance?

Good but not enough variety and expression, it was difficult to figure out who was who at times.

Did Homegoing inspire you to do anything?

Yes, it inspired me to look up the history of the Gold Coast and the Ashanti Wars. For that alone I am grateful to this book.

Any additional comments?

I think this is a book better read than listened to. I often wanted to refresh my memory about characters and events and that is difficult to do with an audiobook.

7 of 8 people found this review helpful

Beautifully woven- Don't Miss It!!

Where does Homegoing rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is by far the most touching story I have read yet. I have learned something on slave trade first hand and how it affected generations of lives across continents.

What did you like best about this story?

How beautifully woven it is. Not easy writing across so many generations. All the changes one goes through with the characters.

What does Dominic Hoffman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Nothing really. I mostly like reading but for an Oyinbo he tried shah. He must be commended for reading the parts of the Fante, Ashante, Twi languages.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me sad, and other times I cried and was frustrated in equal measure.

7 of 8 people found this review helpful