Reviews with content warning for Homophobia - You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty

Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'

You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi

109 reviews

livlamentloathe's review against another edition

3.25

I would like to start this review by pointing out that most of the angry one-star reviewers are over the top. This is not a simple story with black-and-white characters. Although there are blurred lines, there is no cheating. I think context is important to this story—there is a lot going on underneath the obvious. And it’s easy as heck to judge from behind a computer a world away. There are real feelings displayed by the story. And I think the characters were equally real.

I can’t tell if the lingo is just out of date or if the dialogue felt uneasy. There was a lot of slang that didn’t feel natural, BUT I’m very white and I know how white people will steal from black culture and burn it into the ground. So I cannot speak on it much, but it’s possible the lingo IS true to the characters, and I’ve just been burnt out on its use by other white people.

I think I wanted a bit more of a natural flow to the relationship between Feyi and Alim. They barely knew one another! I think the before: them joking or discussing things, etc. could’ve made it feel smoother.

As it was, their relationship did seem unfair to pursue over his children. I was kind of with them. Although they were entirely unfair to Feyi. Nasir, especially, really frustrated me. He acted like a fuckboy when she didn’t deserve that. Also I’m annoyed with how the kids had handled (and continued to handle) their father’s sexuality.

All that aside, I think this was a lovely book about the tide of grief and loss. How it never goes away; just recedes temporarily.

Content Warnings

nukie19's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

Content Warnings

jodierose14's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional reflective sad tense 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? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

llams's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? No

5.0

this is the most beautiful book i've read yet! i'm not great with the words but this was so moving and beautiful and full of love alongside the pain and ache

Content Warnings

bt_wannabe's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

I’m such a fan of Emezi’s work, and this book was no exception. I loved being on Feyi’s journey of finding not only love, but herself.

Content Warnings

lil_wavy_'s review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Y’ALL THIS IS THE MOST MESSIEST BOOK I’VE EVER READ & THAT SAYS A LOT 💀. I LOVE A GOOD MESSY BOOK BUT THIS ONE TAKES THE CAKE. I UNDERSTAND THAT LOVE IS LOVE BUT I WOULDN’T WANT TO WISH THIS TYPE OF MESSY LOVE ON MY OWN ENEMIES 🤦🏾‍♀️. THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL WELL WRITTEN BOOK ABOUT FINDING LOVE AFTER DEATH. I’LL ADMIT, I DO NOT LIKE FEYI (ONE OF THE MAIN CHARACTERS) SHE CONTRADICTED HERSELF AFTER SHE GOT CAUGHT FOR HER OWN WRONG DOINGS. IT DIDN’T EVEN SEEM LIKE SHE WAS SORRY ABOUT ANYTHING THAT SHE DID. NASIR HAS EVERY RIGHT TO FEEL ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT HAS TRANSPIRED WITH HIM & FEYI.

TW: D*ATH, HOMOPHOBIA

RATE: 7/10

Content Warnings