Book of the Month

a pile of books on the right in front of a wall of books, to the left a steaming coffee cup © Goethe Institut

Every month, the Goethe-Institut South Africa publishes a review about an African/South African author. Written by South Africans for South Africans.

Transcendent Kingdom

© Penguin Random House South Africa The Story

Transcendent Kingdom is the story of Gifty and her family, who emigrated from Ghana to the USA, where each family member struggles with different problems.

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?

More informationen

This review is the fifth in the new 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.

If you would also like to contribute a review to this series, please contact:
Silvia Johannes silvia.johannes@goethe.de

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.

Land Matters - Book of the Month April

“The book brings the reader up to speed with land's lengthy and complicated process. Assessed interventionist measures on their efficacies that mainly amounted to nought.”

Penguin Random House South Africa | Tlou Meso
Review by Moon Mokgoro
Thirteen Cents - Book of the Month March

Books like Thirteen Cents are essential for social change.
They provide impetus for growth, change and the development of a caring and supportive society.

© New Africa Books | Goethe-Institut South Africa
The Good Nigerain - Book of the Month February

“It is all at the same time filled familiarity, warmth and danger, fear and opportunity – the myriad of contradictions that is Johannesburg, and South Africa itself.”

© Goethe Institut Johannesburg
The Second Verse - Book of the Month January

“This book is worth reading, [...] to get to know how people become what they become, and it is not always their own fault.”

Penguin Random House South Africa

Further offers

Afro Freedom Bookclub

The AFRO-Freedom Book Club is a public book club that focuses on African writers to inspire dialogue and civic engagement in the community. We strongly believe in the voice of Africans and the importance of telling our own stories. Everyone is invited to join our circle!
Silent Book Club

Silent Book club is about meeting other like-minded readers, chatting about what other people are reading and then reading together in companionable silence.

© Goethe-Institut