May: Transcendent Kingdom
Review by Katharina Kindsmüller
The Story
T![Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi © © Penguin Random House South Africa Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi](/resources/files/jpg1308/transcendent-kingdom_yaa-gyasi-formatkey-jpg-w320m.jpg)
Gifty’s brother, a competitive athlete, dies early from a heroin overdose after an injury. Their mother, who has long suffered from depression, is plunged into a deep abyss from grief for her son and not even her faith gives her any support.
Gifty, on the other hand, studies neuroscience in order to research addiction and depression and to scientifically trace her family’s fate.
The second novel by Ghanaian-American author Yaa Gyasi is a powerful and moving family story that combines themes such as racism, the conflict between religion and science, and mental health.
Central questions
How do we deal with grief and trauma? And how do we comfort those we love?About the reviewer
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Katharina Kindsmüller
Worked at the Goethe-Institut until recently.
More informationen
This review is the fifth in the Book of the Month series from the Goethe-Institut South Africa.
A new review by South Africans for South Africans will be published every month, please check regularly.
All books can be borrowed from our library.
A new review by South Africans for South Africans will be published every month, please check regularly.
All books can be borrowed from our library.
All "Book of the Month" reviews
Here you find all reviews of the series Book of the Month. All books are available in Goethe-Institute library in Johannesburg.