2021: I know I just rated a bunch of 5 stars all in a row, but only 20 pages into this book, I quite simply COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN.

This was another fascinating look at the intersection between science and faith, now from a fictional perspective. I loved the tension between what Gifty learned while growing up, and what she studied as an adult, her research and her upbringing, and the family's experiences in Ghana and in Alabama. I have to say, I enjoyed this more than [b:Homegoing|27071490|Homegoing|Yaa Gyasi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1448108591l/27071490._SY75_.jpg|47113792], so I would recommend that you start here. The books are not related; in fact, they are quite distinct, which I think only goes to show Gyasi's growth as a writer.

I remember thinking when I was young that I was going to remember all this shit from the Bible forever and then poof, somewhere along the way, it's gone. At the same time, the references in this book all brought back immediate recognition from my childhood. I found myself pausing at multiple intervals to contemplate the dichotomies that Gyasi so eloquently outlines in this novel. The relationship between Gifty and her mother is quite exceptionally described.

I was kept engaged and enthralled until the end, and I can't wait to see what Gyasi produces next.