A review by nightfell
The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi

emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

3.0

I know the ending was probably intended to be shocking but it ended up being anticlimactic for me. I wish we had gotten to see more of what was going on for Vivek, even though I know the book was intentionally written through outside perspectives, I wanted to hear more about his journey finding himself, even through the perspectives of the girls, I would have had more of a connection to his struggles and thus his families' struggles. 


But I feel like the author didn't and framed his gender identity as a reveal at the end, which I personally didn't like, but I understand why it was written in that way. 

Also, why was there incest. What was the reason? "My cousin. My brother. The love of my sinful life" or something like that, like whyyy did they not only write incest but kept on reminding us that they are related, and like brothers?? It kind of ruined the book for me, I couldn't look past it.
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