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zipporahreads's review
dark
emotional
fast-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? N/A
5.0
it was refreshing to read a queer nigerian coming of age story. though i thought the the connection between vivek and his cousin osita to be a little odd at first when they introduced *that* element, it grew on me, a little. the suspense regarding how vivek died was quite strong and kept me on my toes. the writing was phenomenal: i often found myself re-reading sentences because of the beautiful imagery. this is the type of book that could have been a lot longer, but i loved that the author kept it short and sweet. such a lovely read!
desireeslibrary's review
4.0
4.5 stars
"Some people can't see softness without wanting to hurt it."
As the title implies, this novel centers around the death of Vivek Oji. It is told from multiple perspectives: that of Vivek's cousin, Vivek from beyond the grave, and an untethered third-person narrator that typically focuses on the perspective of Vivek's mother. It follows the story of Vivek's death and reveals who Vivek was and answers about why and how Vivek died.
I've been struggling with how to review this. I've seen it described as a backwards mystery where you start with Vivek's death and then walk back through what happened. But, I don't think that gives the right expectations nor do I think it's an accurate description. It's not really a mystery at all; it's a commentary on identity, sexuality, and the stigma surround gender non-conformity in Nigeria. The representation in this novel is absolutely chef's kiss. I think this is a first for me, but I would have liked more length to this story. I would have liked to see some of the characters developed more.
This is by no means an easy read. It is raw, gutting, and painfully beautiful. The way that Emezi writes in this non-linear fashion and explores the posthumous tension that exists between the people Vivek left behind and the truth of who he was is breathtaking! Overall though I did really enjoy this. It was a painful and heartwarming read and I will definitely be reading more from Emezi.
“Did it feel like terror? More like horror, actually. Terrible sounded like it had a bit of acceptance in it, like an unthinkable thing had happened but you'd found space in your brain to acknowledge it, perhaps even begin to accept it. Then again, horrible sounded the same way. The words had departed from their origins. They were diluted, denatured.”
"Some people can't see softness without wanting to hurt it."
As the title implies, this novel centers around the death of Vivek Oji. It is told from multiple perspectives: that of Vivek's cousin, Vivek from beyond the grave, and an untethered third-person narrator that typically focuses on the perspective of Vivek's mother. It follows the story of Vivek's death and reveals who Vivek was and answers about why and how Vivek died.
I've been struggling with how to review this. I've seen it described as a backwards mystery where you start with Vivek's death and then walk back through what happened. But, I don't think that gives the right expectations nor do I think it's an accurate description. It's not really a mystery at all; it's a commentary on identity, sexuality, and the stigma surround gender non-conformity in Nigeria. The representation in this novel is absolutely chef's kiss. I think this is a first for me, but I would have liked more length to this story. I would have liked to see some of the characters developed more.
This is by no means an easy read. It is raw, gutting, and painfully beautiful. The way that Emezi writes in this non-linear fashion and explores the posthumous tension that exists between the people Vivek left behind and the truth of who he was is breathtaking! Overall though I did really enjoy this. It was a painful and heartwarming read and I will definitely be reading more from Emezi.
“Did it feel like terror? More like horror, actually. Terrible sounded like it had a bit of acceptance in it, like an unthinkable thing had happened but you'd found space in your brain to acknowledge it, perhaps even begin to accept it. Then again, horrible sounded the same way. The words had departed from their origins. They were diluted, denatured.”
corymackenziegray's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
slowa_w_filizance's review against another edition
5.0
4,5/5
Cała książka mi się podobała, ale to ostatnie rozdziały sprawiły, że nie mogłam przestać płakać. Prędko się nie pozbieram
Cała książka mi się podobała, ale to ostatnie rozdziały sprawiły, że nie mogłam przestać płakać. Prędko się nie pozbieram
hottamolly's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
I can’t always explain why a book is a five star read to me, but something about Emezi’s writing style and this devastating and beautiful story really pulled me in. I loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Transphobia
theglossreview's review
4.0
A masterfully woven web of stories that is full of rawness and brilliance.
meggyas_63's review
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
merclarke14's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0