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  • Homegoing

  • A Novel
  • Written by: Yaa Gyasi
  • Narrated by: Dominic Hoffman
  • Length: 13 hrs and 11 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (176 ratings)

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Homegoing

Written by: Yaa Gyasi
Narrated by: Dominic Hoffman
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Publisher's Summary

Winner of the NBCC's John Leonard First Book Prize

A New York Times 2016 Notable Book

One of Oprah’s 10 Favorite Books of 2016

NPR's Debut Novel of the Year

One of Buzzfeed's Best Fiction Books Of 2016

One of Time's Top 10 Novels of 2016

Homegoing is an inspiration.” (Ta-Nehisi Coates)

The unforgettable New York Times best seller begins with the story of two half-sisters, separated by forces beyond their control: one sold into slavery, the other married to a British slaver. Written with tremendous sweep and power, Homegoing traces the generations of family who follow, as their destinies lead them through two continents and 300 years of history, each life indeliably drawn, as the legacy of slavery is fully revealed in light of the present day.

Effia and Esi are born into different villages in 18th-century Ghana. Effia is married off to an Englishman and lives in comfort in the palatial rooms of Cape Coast Castle. Unbeknownst to Effia, her sister, Esi, is imprisoned beneath her in the castle’s dungeons, sold with thousands of others into the Gold Coast’s booming slave trade, and shipped off to America, where her children and grandchildren will be raised in slavery.

One thread of Homegoing follows Effia’s descendants through centuries of warfare in Ghana, as the Fante and Asante nations wrestle with the slave trade and British colonization. The other thread follows Esi and her children into America. From the plantations of the South to the Civil War and the Great Migration, from the coal mines of Pratt City, Alabama, to the jazz clubs and dope houses of 20th-century Harlem, right up through the present day, Homegoing makes history visceral and captures, with singular and stunning immediacy, how the memory of captivity came to be inscribed in the soul of a nation.

Includes a PDF of the Family Tree

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2016 Yaa Gyasi (P)2016 Random House Audio
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What the critics say

"Gyasi's characters are so fully realized, so elegantly carved - very often I found myself longing to hear more. Craft is essential given the task Gyasi sets for herself - drawing not just a lineage of two sisters, but two related peoples. Gyasi is deeply concerned with the sin of selling humans on Africans, not Europeans. But she does not scold. She does not excuse. And she does not romanticize. The black Americans she follows are not overly virtuous victims. Sin comes in all forms, from selling people to abandoning children. I think I needed to read a book like this to remember what is possible. I think I needed to remember what happens when you pair a gifted literary mind to an epic task. Homegoing is an inspiration." (Ta-Nehisi Coates, National Book Award-winning author of Between the World and Me)

"Homegoing is a remarkable feat - a novel at once epic and intimate, capturing the moral weight of history as it bears down on individual struggles, hopes, and fears. A tremendous debut." (Phil Klay, National Book Award-winning author of Redeployment)

What listeners say about Homegoing

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Well worth the time

The story does weave in and out but if you follow along and remember where it all begins you’ll be so amazed and how this story continues across generations. I just loved it.

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whoa

do yourself a favor and read this book, beautiful story telling that all comes together

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1 person found this helpful

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A long lasting story

The beautiful tapestry of the various storylines weaving into a long lasting story of heartache, joy, growth and becoming. I read this a year ago and the story still stays with you.

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I felt this book inside of me

One of the most captivating, heart wrenching, beautiful books I have ever read. Yaa Gyasi masterfully tells the story of generations. It was perfect. I’m in awe and so thankful to have read this.

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2 people found this helpful

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loved it

highly recommend. reader was amazing. extremely well written. will read again and recommend to friends.

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Heartbreakingly beautiful

Have you ever read a book and loved it, but you can't really explain why?

When I read the first two chapters of this book, I was questioning the hype. Then, the more I read the stories of each generation, I found my heart strings singing with the ups and downs; with the love and pain.

By the time I got to Sonny, I didn't want the stories to end.

Each generation's story (beginning from the 1700's to present day) was simultaneously tragic and charming. I think I loved Quey's and Akua's stories best.

I'd recently read Trevor Noah's Born A Crime, in which he speaks of the conflicts between the different African ethnic groups. Sonny's story also brought me back to Malcolm X's experiences in 1960's Harlem. The connection to these two works of nonfiction added to my interest. I feel like together they've painted an honest picture.

If you love historical fiction, or if you just want your heart to be opened, read\listen to this book.

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Excellent!

This novel was outstanding. Written as numerous short stories spanning generations it captured many heartfelt moments. Highly recommend!

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Really fascinating

I enjoyed this book and appreciate the lessons it delivered. I’ll probably listen again one day.

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Great story!

Loved the story, found it captivating, I wanted more.
As a Ghanaian I found the pronunciation of some of the Twi words in the Audiobook not very well done.

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Connection

Yaa Gyasi has me in awe. This is a beautiful book that carried me home through character and story. Our ancestors are calling us to read (listen) to this book.

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