Book review: Yaa Gyasi, Transcendent Kingdom

I am back with book review seven. After device issues here and there. Again, a much needed break in between to just reflect a little bit. Book review seven is very personal. Although this read is fiction, I have resonated with the storyline in so many ways. With every review I analyse, I am pressed yet again to place emphasis on the importance of reading African literature. With the case of Transcendent Kingdom I was reminded why I personally advocate for African literature. 

This is because the story is about loss, grief and mental health. These are sensitive subjects, especially mental health in the African community. Transcendent Kingdom although fiction is a reminder that we all are dealing with internal wars. The disheartening aspect of this is that some get pushed to the edge and never make it alive. 

Now, I guess you figured that the story does not end with life. Sadly, we lose characters in the book. I will let you purchase the read so that your emotions can also go on a rollercoaster ride. I also wanted to mention that this is the second book authored by Yaa Gyasi I’ve read.  She is a brilliant writer and storyteller.  She is Ghanaian. There is a setting that takes place in Ghana in the book. I get to relive my visit to Ghana for free this time around. 

Back to the review, as I mentioned that although beautifully written reading about loss, grief and mental health is not easy. More specifically in the case of grief, I call it ‘’unplanned grief’’. For the purposes of this review I will refer to it as ‘’unplanned grief’’. I refer to it as ‘’unplanned grief’’ because it is a life lost due to substance abuse. 

I personally resonate with this because it was around this time last year when I lost my cousin who battled with drug addiction. He was very young and I believe had a bright future ahead of him. However, because of some of the decisions he made we lost him. Again, when I look back I also hold my family to account because we grew tired of the addict in him. This resulted in us relating to him like a criminal. 

In the case of Transcendent Kingdom, I was reminded of something I had forgotten and that is addiction is a disease. Therefore it is abnormal and harmful affecting the structure of an individual’s function. No, I am no medical expert or practitioner. However, I have been exposed to addicts in my family. 

In Transcendent Kingdom how does a ‘’now single’’ African mother, staunch Christian and immigrant navigate her son’s drug addiction? The generic answer is help or take him to rehab. However, with addiction being a disease it is not that easy. The only thing left to do is grieve. You grieve the son you thought you knew. You grieve his bright future and you grieve the present addict. You also grieve the parent you were or could have been to him. Lastly, you only hope that through acceptance there are two options only. Those options are life where the addict is saved or loss where the addict gives in. The ‘’unplanned grief’’. 

I hope this book review creates awareness of drug addiction. I hope this book review also sheds light from the family’s experience of the difficulties of living with an addict. 

Beautifully written with a heart-wrenching storyline. 

Book 7 in 2025.

Phiwe Mncwabe is storyteller, blogger and voice in Africa.

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