2016, Alfred A. Knopf (USA), Viking (UK)
Beautiful book, best I've read in awhile.
While reading I was reminded of the truth of Tolstoy and the magic of Gabriel Garcia Marquez. And then I forgot about it and just thought of the story and the writer Yaa Gyasi. I also learned about the Gold Coast of Africa and yet more of the horrors and sadness of slavery.
Listen to Yaa Gyasi:
I agree, this was an amazing book, I could not put it down. I even managed to forget the fact that the book is basically a bunch of short stories! High praise indeed!
Really such depth in portraying each character, both women and men, which is a pet peeve I have with a lot of male authors, whose writing about women seems to be part cardboard character, part wish fulfillment. Though maybe men read this book and say, “a man would never think that way!” Who knows?!
My least favorite part was the end with the two contemporary characters-they seemed a bit flat.