Reviews tagging 'Child death'

The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi

67 reviews

studydniowka's review against another edition

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

2.0

Bardzo nijaka książka, nie rozumiem jej fenomenu.

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morganperks's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad slow-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

5.0

did not appreciate the emotions this book made me feel. I was crying by the end (when am I not tho?)

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balladofreadingqueer's review against another edition

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emotional sad fast-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

5.0

I really liked this book. From the title the readers already know that Vivek has died but it goes back through their life, especially the last few years before he dies.

The perspective of the narrator changes from Vivek, their mum, and cousin Osita. The story highlights the parents sadness and confusion at Vivek’s quiet and ‘unusal’ behaviour as they grew their hair long. It unravels the story of their gender and love for their friends and cousin. 

After their death, their mother tries to discover what happened which leads eventually to some portion of the truth.

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nicolescottwv's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

4.5


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sonyareadsbooks's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5


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sydapel's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful sad 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

4.0

Big trigger warning for incest, but I still do encourage you to read this because I think the book is worth your interaction, if that subject is something you can handle. 

Something I really admire about Emezi's work is their approach to the central relationships in their work. Never conventional (and in this case illegal), but wholly complex and layered and specific to the culture of the characters. This book is also a tragic exploration of gender identity in a society and culture that is actively hostile towards gender queer people. However, the violence takes a backseat to the sometimes fraught ways in we protect each other in the name of love.

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drlove2018's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

One of those books that makes you extra sad when you turn the last page because it is just so good. I wanted to spend more time with these people, especially the title character. 

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marisa_n's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-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

3.0


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sofipitch's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective 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

4.75

Not quite sure how I feel about this one yet but Akwaeke Emezi's writing style is SO SO beautiful. They tug on your hearystrings like a poet. I think. the incest had a lot to do with isolation, the isolation of immigrants, the isolation of queer individuals. But the reveal of how Vivek died feels weird. Anticlimatic? I can understand the author not wanting to actually harm the character. Also there was a chapter from the POV of someone who we never see again that felt out of place. But still a beautiful book and worth a read

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summerb's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.75


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