Take a photo of a barcode or cover
lucystolethesky's review against another edition
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Transphobia, and Grief
Moderate: Incest, Infertility, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
allelsefailed's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
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
3.5
Compelling story of several characters exploring various paths to identity, autonomy, and power and what that means in a tight traditional/conservative community. All growing out around the abruptly death of the central character.
Some beautiful prose, elegantly examines many concepts tied together. I must say though I found it incredibly distracting and unnecessary for Vivek and Osita to be cousins. Just... no. And why??
Some beautiful prose, elegantly examines many concepts tied together. I must say though I found it incredibly distracting and unnecessary for Vivek and Osita to be cousins. Just... no. And why??
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Incest, and Transphobia
Moderate: Sexism
richy_qu33r_readzz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.5
Akwaeke (A-quake-ay they/them) is a beautiful writer with so many turns of phrase that made me pause and chew on, that made me feel seen. They have a brilliant way of describing a situation and linking it to a more general philosophy or way of being “My mother, who felt like a hammer instead of a person” will haunt me for a while as many other passages are still churning inside me. I learned a lot about immigrant life in Nigeria, saw more Igbo reincarnation, and witnessed how life changes a person and how a person changed pushes people away with religion, with secrets, with holding on too tight.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Incest, Sexism, Transphobia, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Bullying, Violence, and Vomit
Favourite quotes:kjanet's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
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
4.25
This book was beautifully written. It was so sad.
Vivek at the end began to live as their true self. I wonder though, at the end, if they were willing to die for it. Why else take the risk of being in a dress and going to get puff puff when a riot is clearly starting? I can only take it as them preparing to be accepted or rejected from society as their true self, regardless of the consequences. The love story threw me all the way the fuck off though. I wonder, could it not have been told the same without them being cousins????
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexism, and Transphobia
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault
historianvik's review against another edition
inspiring
sad
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? It's complicated
4.75
A complex and beautiful book where trigger warnings should be checked. It was my 2nd time reading and I enjoyed the audiobook as much as the first time. This time the cast of charcaters didn't seem so large and it felt easier to remember and digest the secondary plot lines. ending with nmendi and her pov was amazing
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Incest, Sexism, Sexual content, Transphobia, and Grief
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
heathenbun's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Incest, Sexual content, and Transphobia
Moderate: Sexism
angiepoggi's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.75
The Death of Vivek Oji not only depicts mourning in a beautyful manner, but also brings us, the readers, into that mourning as well.
Vivek's death is not only about the act of not ever being able to breath anymore, it's about the death of who his family thought he was, and, as well as his birth that was accompanied by grief, about her rebirth.
It's such a carefully woven story that never let's go of the nuances of every decision and thought of It's characters, who, if you told me were real, I would've believed without sparing a doubt.
Even thought there were some relationships that I have conflicted feelings about and believe could've been brought here in a different way, I'll still cary this story for life and think about it.
Vivek's death is not only about the act of not ever being able to breath anymore, it's about the death of who his family thought he was, and, as well as his birth that was accompanied by grief, about her rebirth.
It's such a carefully woven story that never let's go of the nuances of every decision and thought of It's characters, who, if you told me were real, I would've believed without sparing a doubt.
Even thought there were some relationships that I have conflicted feelings about and believe could've been brought here in a different way, I'll still cary this story for life and think about it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Grief, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Rape
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews because I don’t like leaving them. I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all. Everyone’s reading experiences are subjective, so I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me on Instagram: @bookish.millennial or tiktok: @bookishmillennial
Well, that was devastating! This story is told by multiple narrators as we get more and more parts of Vivek's story, leading up to his death. The timeline alternates between before and after his death, until we finally receive clarity of how he died at the very end. Everyone he left behind is navigating the aftermath, and this book poses so many poignant questions about sexuality, gender expression, family dynamics, cultural attitudes, and internalized hatred. Vivek's mother Kavita and his cousin Osita are two characters who are especially not coping well after Vivek's death, and a massive part of it is their inability to accept Vivek for who they really were.
This book was heartbreaking, and Akwaeke continues to evoke visceral emotions from us, and I'm not mad at them for doing it. (I mean, a little because this book hurt, but like, also, wow, what a genius!) Anyway, take care while reading <3
Well, that was devastating! This story is told by multiple narrators as we get more and more parts of Vivek's story, leading up to his death. The timeline alternates between before and after his death, until we finally receive clarity of how he died at the very end. Everyone he left behind is navigating the aftermath, and this book poses so many poignant questions about sexuality, gender expression, family dynamics, cultural attitudes, and internalized hatred. Vivek's mother Kavita and his cousin Osita are two characters who are especially not coping well after Vivek's death, and a massive part of it is their inability to accept Vivek for who they really were.
This book was heartbreaking, and Akwaeke continues to evoke visceral emotions from us, and I'm not mad at them for doing it. (I mean, a little because this book hurt, but like, also, wow, what a genius!) Anyway, take care while reading <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Homophobia, Incest, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, and Outing
the_abundant_word's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Was this book a celebration or condemnation? Honestly I’m really not sure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Incest, Misogyny, and Transphobia
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Sexism, Sexual content, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Infertility and Islamophobia
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
emotional
sad
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
3.25
im v happy that i enjoy the death of vivek oji much more than emezi's previous work. this novel brims with emotion while the writing also deeply touches me at times, and a sense of doom and sadness permeates the whole book even thru - or perhaps esp during - the brief happy moments bc of the inevitable, unfortunate conclusion so obvs touted in the title.
there are def things in the story that i (bombastically) side-eye, however, bc they dont have to do all that to make a point. while the structure adds more mystery to already-known conclusion, it can also be confusing w/ the various timelines and povs. the pacing's quite uneven in the novel's first half as well, being too detailed at points and focusing too much on confusion around vivek's behavior, when more time couldve been given to the friend group's time tgt in juju's house or another safe space, just to make us feel even more for vivek's loss whose happy times are rarely shown in detail.
in sum, tho, this is a story filled w/ emotions and one that shows the struggles of queer ppl that still persist despite popular belief to the contrary and progress elsewhere. it's some sad stuff but it's def the reality for many.
there are def things in the story that i (bombastically) side-eye, however, bc they dont have to do all that to make a point. while the structure adds more mystery to already-known conclusion, it can also be confusing w/ the various timelines and povs. the pacing's quite uneven in the novel's first half as well, being too detailed at points and focusing too much on confusion around vivek's behavior, when more time couldve been given to the friend group's time tgt in juju's house or another safe space, just to make us feel even more for vivek's loss whose happy times are rarely shown in detail.
in sum, tho, this is a story filled w/ emotions and one that shows the struggles of queer ppl that still persist despite popular belief to the contrary and progress elsewhere. it's some sad stuff but it's def the reality for many.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexism, Transphobia, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Blood, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Infertility