My reader-friends, if there is one new book to read this year it's Yaa Gyasi's HOMEGOING. This sweeping novel begins with the stories of two half-sisters in 18th-Century Ghana and follows their descendants--one generation at a time, chapter by chapter--to the present day. Gyasi's writing is detailed and emotional but flows and feels effortless--the mark of exceptional prose. 
 Some of the chapters are difficult to get through and will leave a lump in your throat. Here's the thing though: this book is important. It will open your eyes to truths that can be seen only by taking a long view. It will make you feel empathy for your fellow man, whether or not he looks like you or she sounds like you. It will resonate in your heart and mind long after you close its cover, and isn't that the best kind of book? I implore you to pick up this instant-classic.