About this item
Highlights
- An internationally award-winning writer makes her triumphant American debut in this emotionally powerful story--a potent blend of Queenie and The Vanishing Half--about a woman's journey to uncover a foundational family secret from the childhood she does not remember.
- Author(s): Maame Blue
- 272 Pages
- Fiction + Literature Genres, Women
Description
About the Book
An emotionally wrenching novel, set in today's London and 90s Ghana, exploring generational trauma and what it means to be Black British, surviving between the gaps of knowledge around familial migrant journeys.Book Synopsis
An internationally award-winning writer makes her triumphant American debut in this emotionally powerful story--a potent blend of Queenie and The Vanishing Half--about a woman's journey to uncover a foundational family secret from the childhood she does not remember.
On the cusp of thirty, Ghanaian Londoner Whitney Appiah was born with a special gift. The massage therapist can physically sense where her clients' trauma lies and heal them. But Whitney has no idea that she too, is suffering. Tragic events from her youth have left a terrible, unseen mark. When a dangerous encounter with the man she's dating triggers a wave of fragmented recollections, Whitney embarks on a journey to reclaim her memories and the truth that is buried deep in her early years growing up in Kumasi, Ghana during the 1990s.
Spanning three decades, told through the viewpoints of Whitney, sisters Gloria and Aretha, and their house help Maame Serwaa, The Rest of You explores what happens when we try to move forward through the lacuna of our past.
A strikingly original novel inspired by the Twi proverb of Sankofa: looking back in order to move forward, The Rest of You is a story of generational healing, what it means to be Black British, and surviving familial migrant journeys. Tackling darkly serious themes yet full of hope and optimism, and told with an eye towards the future, Maame Blue's extraordinary tale is an unforgettable celebration of womanhood, friendship, and family.
Review Quotes
"Blue's evocative prose and keen insights make for a compelling read, inviting reflection on the nature of trauma and the quest for identity. This powerful story affirms Blue's place as a significant voice in contemporary literature." -- Booklist (starred review)
"The Rest of You is a moving exploration of friendship, family, grief, loss, boundary violations and healing that highlights the unexpected ways in which past actions echo in the present time. Whitney, Gloria, Aretha, and Maame Serwa's stories will keep you turning the pages, eager for more. Maame Blue is a brilliant and discerning wordsmith and The Rest of You is a must read."
-- Omolola Ijeoma Ogunyemi, author of Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions
"A novel that doesn't shy away from the modern issues of being Black and female. At times heartbreaking, this portrait of a family coming to terms with a tragic past is vivid and tender." -- Louise Hare, author of This Lovely City
"Maame's skill at crafting characters that take bits of your heart with them as you read the final pages is a true gift. Following the characters through the intertwining of multiple timelines brought forth the force that yearning and longing actually possess. A wonderful book!" -- Kelechi Okafor, author of Edge of Here and Strong Like Me