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sundayfever's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Homophobia, Incest, Transphobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Deadnaming, Death, Infidelity, Grief, and Sexual content
marywahlmeierbracciano's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Grief and Infidelity
Moderate: Transphobia, Religious bigotry, Infertility, Blood, Homophobia, Animal death, Death, and Sexual content
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, and Violence
tea_kettle's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Death, Grief, Child death, Incest, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Sexual content
Moderate: Dysphoria, Physical abuse, Blood, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Hate crime, Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Minor: Child abuse, Deportation, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Vomit, Infertility, and Rape
angiepoggi's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Transphobia, Alcoholism, Drug use, Incest, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Drug abuse, Xenophobia, Animal death, Grief, Mental illness, Infidelity, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
Minor: Rape
triple_m's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Absolutely loved the writing will be checking out more from this author.
But…. Why the incest? ☹️
Graphic: Incest and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Sexual assault and Rape
thisthat100's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
- Vivek Oji: When referencing a death or tragedy of a trans/queer individual, very few instances do the media execute their ideas in a way that respects the individual and the community they represent. Thankfully, this book is an exception. Nnemdi is such a complex character and I loved that when a chapter focuses on her perspective it is short yet written in a way that meaningfully shapes the direction of the narrative.
- Osita: Also a complex character in the sense that he is written in a way that suggests moral ambiguity. He and Oji's perspective are the necessary anchors to the mystery that continues to flesh out as the plot unravels itself.
Aspects that did not connect with me
I loved the final chapter where Nnemedi reflects on her death and Osita (probably my favourite part of the book). But I personally felt how the plot twist of her death did not live up to the potential of the smart writing on Emezi's part. I felt that it redeemed Osita too much as a character and would have garnered a greater impact if it was open-ended to maintain Ostia's moral ambiguity. - I suspected early on in the novel that Osita's perspective was unreliable. Rather than completely reveal the event of Nnemedi's death, I would have loved if it concealed certain details that allude whether her death was accidental or intentional yet revealed Osita's involvement (Osita having the necklace, their guilt disguised as grief).
- The harsh reality is that for many deaths involving trans/queer people, there is a lack of resolution as to the nature of their death and would remain unsolved.
- This would make the Vivek's (Nnemedi) perspective in the final chapter more provoking. They are able to find the resolution within themselves despite their death being made unresolved.
Overall, I loved Emezi's writing style in this book and how they tackle nuanced characters and themes while also painting a complex portrait of Nigeria.
Moderate: Death and Religious bigotry
Minor: Hate crime
Vivek Oji's death has been speculated as a likely hate crimemasego's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Sexual assault
shoohoob's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Sexual content, Transphobia, Incest, and Homophobia
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Blood, Infidelity, and Outing
kathyreadsalot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Graphic: Religious bigotry and Blood
Moderate: Homophobia
mandi_lea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Homophobia, Death, Grief, Transphobia, Sexual content, Blood, Dysphoria, Incest, Infidelity, and Religious bigotry