“We humans are reckless with our bodies, reckless with our lives, for no other reason than that we want to know what would happen, what it might feel like to brush up against death, to run right up to the edge of our lives, which is, in some ways, to live fully.”
I had the pleasure of meeting Yaa Gyasi in person (remember that?!) during her book tour of the UK for the release of ‘Homegoing’ and I think ever since then, I’ve always held her in a high regard.
So the release of ‘Transcendent Kingdom’ had me worrying about whether this book was going to be just as good as Homegoing (which is a bookstagram fave).
Transcendent Kingdom is VERY different from Homegoing but once again, Yaa Gyasi’s description of events, feelings, trauma and everything in between is just phenomenonal. The way this woman writes…it’s like she perfectly articulates my thoughts and feelings. It’s so addictive when I read writing like that because I just get so lost in her world.
TK explores a lot of hard-hitting topics and I would say there are a lot of trigger warnings in the book-related to addiction, depression, death/suicide and drug abuse. Gyasi also asks a tonne of BIG questions about religion and humanity that had me sat in the bath questioning things for myself too.
Although it’s VERY different to Homegoing, I’m glad it was. I don’t just want her to write about the same things and the same stories and in a way I’m glad that TK was so different because its allowed her to flex her MANY talents when it comes to creativity and writing, proving once again why she has a special place in my heart.
I would highly suggest reading this if you fancy a good cry and if you’ve ever questioned the relationship between religion and science!
“I think we’re made out of stardust and God made the stars.”
Transcendent Kingdom
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday
Published: 2020
No. of Pages: 264
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Women’s Fiction
Trigger Warnings: Suicide, drug abuse, depression, neglect, drug addiction, overdose, death
Links: Goodreads, Amazon, Blackwells
Stuck In The Book 
I finished this yesterday and can only echo do much of what you’ve said here. Especially the quote you opened with which was one of my favourites from the book.
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I’m so glad you agree! It was such a special book because of quotes such as the one you’re referring to which made me question so many things about humanity and humans as a whole!
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Yes, definitely. So much to question and consider and think about.
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