Matt
I find Transcendent Kingdom to be a really difficult novel to talk about succinctly. I feel like saying a few sentences about it doesn’t quite do it justice. It’s one of those books that is far better read than discussed. Part of this is due to its length. At just 246 pages, this is a pretty short book that feels even shorter thanks to the many short chapters that make up said 246 pages. It’s a book that someone could very easily get through in a day. But another reason why I have a hard time discussing this book is the sheer magnitude contained within its 246 pages. Gyasi tackles some very heavy topics here: immigration, racism, addiction, loss of religion, paternal abandonment, death and a few others. It is a true testament to Gyasi’s skill as a writer that I never felt overwhelmed by all of the subjects she was writing about. She somehow manages to be just subtle enough with her writing that you feel the devastation her protagonist feels without it feeling like torture porn. Every moment and emotion in this book feels so real that I can’t help but appreciate the craft. Growing up I would hear about certain books being only described as novels, as if the term novel had more weight and gravitas. I feel as if Transcendent Kingdom is a true novel in that sense. It’s just so devastatingly effective at doing everything it wants to do.
I find Transcendent Kingdom to be a really difficult novel to talk about succinctly. I feel like saying a few sentences about it doesn’t quite do it justice. It’s one of those books that is far better read than discussed. Part of this is due to its length. At just 246 pages, this is a pretty short book that feels even shorter thanks to the many short chapters that make up said 246 pages. It’s a book that someone could very easily get through in a day. But another reason why I have a hard time discussing this book is the sheer magnitude contained within its 246 pages. Gyasi tackles some very heavy topics here: immigration, racism, addiction, loss of religion, paternal abandonment, death and a few others. It is a true testament to Gyasi’s skill as a writer that I never felt overwhelmed by all of the subjects she was writing about. She somehow manages to be just subtle enough with her writing that you feel the devastation her protagonist feels without it feeling like torture porn. Every moment and emotion in this book feels so real that I can’t help but appreciate the craft. Growing up I would hear about certain books being only described as novels, as if the term novel had more weight and gravitas. I feel as if Transcendent Kingdom is a true novel in that sense. It’s just so devastatingly effective at doing everything it wants to do.