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aile_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Transphobia, Sexual content, Grief, Mental illness, and Death
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Misogyny, Incest, Animal death, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Rape, and Police brutality
abooknomad's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The Death of Vivek Oji is a story told in flashbacks, alternating between first and third-person narration, slowly revealing the events that led to the main character’s death, Vivek. I think this narrative style fits the story and its overall message perfectly because so few people knew the true “I” of Vivek before his parting.
This book was only 250 pages long, but it packed an emotional punch. It’s a story about not only feeling other in the body you were born in (or a body that society only sees one way) and the repercussions of stifling your identity and true self, but it's also a book about life in Nigeria and the different relationships and culture shocks coming with the gathering of people hailing from different places trying to adapt to a new country and how hard it is to break traditional values. It's about a group of young people coming to terms with their identity and sexual orientation. Most of all, it's a book about grief.
This was my first book by Akwaeke Emezi and I now understand why their storytelling and style have received such praise. They say so much in so little and in such a compelling way.
I think it’s important to underline that this book discusses topics and situations that might make some readers uncomfortable and content warnings are needed.
Overall, this was a wonderful and insightful read. I can’t wait to read more from this author.
Graphic: Incest, Violence, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Transphobia
taviarz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Incest, Sexism, Transphobia, Homophobia, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, and Blood
Moderate: Physical abuse, Violence, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Sexual harassment, Islamophobia, Vomit, and Miscarriage
isleoflinds's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Biphobia, Transphobia, Domestic abuse, Bullying, Death, and Incest
mirrie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Infidelity, Misogyny, Gore, and Homophobia
penofpossibilities's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Homophobia, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Violence, Animal cruelty, Grief, Animal death, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Islamophobia, Sexual content, and Transphobia
Moderate: Eating disorder and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Miscarriage, Infertility, Rape, War, and Vomit
halceeeeeeeee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Incest, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Transphobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Grief, and Sexual content
dalmavatai's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I am SO stoked that Emezi has two novels coming out in 2022 plus a poetry collection, absolutely cannot wait to pick them up!
Graphic: Child death, Dysphoria, Grief, Homophobia, Incest, Sexual content, and Transphobia
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, and Violence
epiphylium's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
There were a lot of parts of this book that I enjoyed. I liked the way the author played around with non-linear storytelling. We know from the get go that this novel is about Vivek and that they die, and going from present day POV writing to a retelling of past tense. I think if done correctly, this can create a sense of mystery and tension that is engaging to read and helps pushes the story line. I enjoyed the author's writing style, which was although simple, it was effective. The characters I enjoyed getting to know also.
I really struggled with the incest however. I found that it was completely unnecessary (as it didn't really aid in story or character development) and it would have had the same effect if they were friends without the discomfort of having to read cousins engaging in sexual activities. The only thing I could think of is that it was potentially to build up shame in the characters experiencing it, but it wasn't really ever discussed or focused on so I'm just. We really could've done without it.
The ending can be seen as anti-climatic, but I don't think that lessened my feelings around it. I think it was cool that it left the readers/and the characters guessing,
Either way, I feel like I would tentatively recommend this book to others but only if they asked about it, and I would be very clear about the content warnings before having them pick up the book.
I would say that The Summer That Melted Everything by Tiffany McDaniel has a similar energy to this, although based in a fictional town in America and goes a bit more in depth on certain issues. It has a vastly different writing style however, written in prose, poetry, and metaphors, which whilst I personally love, I can see not everyone enjoys, so there's that!
Graphic: Incest, Misogyny, Sexism, and Transphobia
Moderate: Ableism, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Sexual content
puttingwingsonwords's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Death, Grief, Homophobia, Incest, Misogyny, Murder, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual content, and Transphobia
Moderate: Bullying, Death of parent, Xenophobia, and Suicidal thoughts