"Homegoing" Book Club Discussion TODAY

Zoom details and discussion questions below

Hi everyone! Just a quick reminder that we are discussing Homegoing later today. Feel free to chew over some of the discussion questions and join us for the chat this afternoon. I look forward to chatting more soon!

-Marko

Homegoing Discussion Questions

1. What did you think about the structure of the novel, with each chapter following a different descendant of the two sisters? Did it add to or detract from the story?

2. How did the different settings in the novel (Ghana, the American South, Harlem) affect the experiences of the characters? How do they affect the two lineages of the family differently? What experiences were universal?

3. How does the novel portray the legacy of slavery and colonialism, both in Africa and America? Did the novel make you think about these issues in a new way?

4. Which of the characters’ stories did you find the most compelling? The least?

5. How does the concept of "homegoing" (the belief that upon death, an enslaved person's spirit would return to Africa) play a role in the novel? How does this belief connect different characters and generations?

6. Discuss the relationships between mothers and daughters throughout the novel. How do these relationships evolve over time? Why did the author structure the novel around this maternal line?

7. How does the novel depict the experience of passing, or pretending to be white? How does this affect the characters who engage in passing?

8. Discuss the theme of identity in the novel. How do the characters grapple with questions of identity and belonging?

9. What threads tie together all the different stories? How does this help create a unified narrative?

10. How does the novel end? Do you feel that it offers hope or despair for the characters and their descendants?

Zoom Discussion Details

The Missive Book Club: "Homegoing"

Date: Thursday, March 9, 2023