purplegrape's reviews
25 reviews

4.75 ⭐ Started: June 18, 2024. Ended: June 22, 2024.

Homegoing follows two sisters, one who married a slave trader and one who is sold into slavery, and the life stories of their descendants. Through vignettes across generations, we experience the tragedies of black men and women across history. 

I chose Homegoing to be the first new novel to get me back into reading, and I'm happy to say I made the right decision. The language is beautiful but meaningful and digestible. Despite the vast cast of characters and the brevity of our time with them, I still found myself invested in their lives and the lives of their children.

What Yaa Gyasi has accomplished is a literary feat that is nothing short of spectacular. The stories of Quey, Ness, and H resonated the most with me. If I could convince everyone to read one book, it would be this one.

2.75 ⭐ Started: June 24, 2024. Ended: July 31, 2024.

The Fellowship of the Ring follows Frodo Baggins after his cousin, Bilbo, leaves a powerful ring in his care. Danger follows him like a shadow, and he's forced to leave behind everything he knows—but not everyone. His closest friends and longtime mentor are there to see to his survival and success. Where will the ring take him next, and what new friends (and foes) lie waiting for him? 

I am not much of a high fantasy person (I think). I cannot recall if I have ever read a similar novel. You can't go wrong with Lord of the Rings being your introduction to fantasy in any case. I somehow managed to avoid learning about the characters and plot in my 20 years on Earth, so experiencing everything for the first time was a blessing. 

This book was world building info dumps, travel sequences, and character monologues held together by the power of friendship and good vibes. I realized I am not built to read books where half the time is spent reaching a destination only for there to be a new one.

That being said, I didn't *not* enjoy it. The characters truly are the heart of the novel (the ones whose names I remember at least). I adore Sam, he is the sweetest, and he deserves every happiness. I am still salty he got separated from Bill (is that considered a spoiler?)

We will see if my opinion improves after watching the movie for the first time. As of right now, I am hoping the later books involve less travel. I want there to be more plot, but maybe traveling is just the plot of adventure novels? I am not exactly an expert on the subject.

On the bright side, I now know new words to describe marshes, hills, and streams. They will totally be integrated into my vernacular. Totally.

Started and finished: Jul 10, 2024.

Started and finished: Jul 10, 2024.