Reviews tagging 'Transphobia'

The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi

475 reviews

bail33's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Best book I’ve read all year without question. Easily a classic in queer literature. No story has ever made me feel the way this one has.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

carriepond's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

From the first page and the title of The Death of Vivek Oji, we know the what—the story’s central character, Vivek Oji, has died. What this fairly short novel spends its time considering is the gut-wrenching why, which is answered for the reader through chapters that shift between characters and events before and after Vivek’s death. 

Learning what happened to Vivek was as sad as I imagined it would be, but seeing the emotional fallout as characters reckon with the ways they failed to see and love Vivek in life was more devastating. Is protecting someone the same as loving them? 

I loved this book. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

nikitagupta98's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.75

The Death of Vivek Oji by Awaeke Emezi explores themes of identity, family dynamics, grief, and societal expectations against the backdrop of contemporary Nigeria. The novel focuses on the titular character, Vivek Oji tracing his life and those close to him as they grieve over his sudden death. 

At the heart of the story, the main character grapples with their identity, navigating the complexities of gender and sexual orientation in a society with rigid expectations, while suffering bouts of disassociation. Emezi cleverly weaves these moments of disassociation with Vivek’s exploration of his identity in short chapters from his perspective. “I didn’t have the mouth to put it into words, to say what was wrong, to change the things I felt I needed to change […] If nobody sees you, are you still there?” 

The novel also explores grief and the toll Vivek’s death takes on those close to him. The multiple timelines weaving together the story of Vivek’s childhood and his sudden death create a partly disjointing narrative, but Emezi’s use of rich prose and evocative storytelling presents a story that that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. I’m hoping to pick up more of their works soon!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

reyastray's review

Go to review page

4.0

very good, very sad, added many content warnings
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

aiirglow's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • 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? It's complicated

3.75

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

turidt's review

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced
  • 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? No

4.5

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

booksandteatime's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

maggiemicklo's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

michaelion's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Ever since this book came out all I've heard is people wahwahwah about the incest when there is a MUCH LARGER, MORE IMPORTANT THEME AND PLOT POINT to the story. AND!!! Emezi says the two books that inspired this one in the acknowledgements!!! They did the work for you and people still didn't get it!!!! You people make me sick. You lack media literacy, reading comprehension, AND critical thinking skills.

Akwaeke Emezi, the person that you are. You've done it yet again. I can't wait to read all their books. They are truly amazing.

In my notes I put Vivek was her grandma reincarnated. The grandma the baby. This may have been intentional but if it's not I'm saying it as fact!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

marylee507's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

Expand filter menu Content Warnings