Rootless by Krystle Zara Appiah Book Review

Rootless, by Krystle Zara Appi, is a captivating novel about a woman’s quest for motherhood and her journey to reconnect with herself. With its unique and vivid setting in Ghana, the novel offers an interesting perspective on the struggles of family life and marriage. The story follows Efe as she sets out to discover her true identity, but does so in a way that seems to lack focus and direction. Let’s explore if this book is worth reading or if it falls short of expectations.

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Release Day!

Synopsis

Teenagers Efe and Sam first meet in London in the 1990s.

Years later the best friends are married. Their love story couldn’t seem more perfect.

But Sam wants to start a family.

Efe wants to be free from children to focus on her dreams.

When an unplanned pregnancy forces them to confront their differences,
Efe and Sam must discover if what they really want is still each other…

A poignant, heart-breaking debut about a British-Ghanaian marriage in crisis, Rootless is a story of friendship, family, societal obligation and motherhood. But above all, it’s a story of love.

About The Author

Krystle Zara Appiah is a British-Ghanaian writer, editor and screenwriter based in London. She has a degree in literature and creative writing from the University of Kent. In 2020, she was one of forty writers selected for the London Library’s Emerging Writers Programme. Rootless is her debut novel.

My Review

The Pros of Rootless

The best thing about this book is the setting. Appi masterfully captures the sights, sounds, and culture of Ghana which makes it easy to imagine yourself walking alongside Efe as she explores her home country. This backdrop adds an interesting dimension to the story that readers can really appreciate—especially those who are familiar with Ghanaian culture.

Another pro is the characters themselves. Appi has done a great job of creating characters with depth who feel like real people with real problems. We get a good sense of who they are based on their actions throughout the narrative and can sympathize with Efe as she tries to navigate her complicated relationships with those around her.

The Cons of Rootless

My biggest issue with this book was that it felt unfocused at times. We spent too much time in flashbacks which took away from important plot points that needed more attention like developing relationships between characters or exploring themes related to motherhood and marriage. Additionally, when we finally got an understanding for why things happened, there wasn’t enough page time for us to fully appreciate these revelations and connect emotionally with them or see any sort of resolution from them.

All in all, while Rootless did offer some interesting insight into Efe’s life in Ghana and her struggles with family life and marriage, I think it could have been better if it had been more focused on important plot points rather than relying heavily on flashbacks which ultimately resulted in some missed opportunities for meaningful character development as well as emotional connections between readers and the story itself. If you’re looking for a novel set in Ghana filled with realistic characters, then this one may be worth your time; otherwise you may want to give it a pass!

Rated