Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi

10 reviews

lizcastner's review

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? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Body horror, Vomit, Homophobia, Outing, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, Death of parent, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, and Mental illness

Moderate: Deadnaming, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Islamophobia, Miscarriage, Alcoholism, and Pregnancy

ramalam98's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

An absolute work of art and an important story to tell. 

I found some of the character choices hard to understand and I feel like I struggled to connect with the characters, though I largely think this is because I wasn’t in the right mood.

Would love to reread. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Death

Moderate: Homophobia, Infidelity, Deadnaming, Incest, and Transphobia

Minor: Alcohol and Infertility

morganperks's review

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?)

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Outing, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Miscarriage, Medical content, Self harm, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Suicide, Torture, Alcoholism, Ableism, Panic attacks/disorders, Confinement, Alcohol, Dysphoria, Lesbophobia, War, Death of parent, Transphobia, Incest, Mental illness, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Infertility, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Child abuse, Bullying, Toxic friendship, Infidelity, Religious bigotry, Deadnaming, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Sexism

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Blood and Drug use

nytephoenyx's review against another edition

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? No

4.0

The Death of Vivek Oji is a heartbreaking book. It was also the perfect book to read through Transgender Awareness Week and Remembrance Day. It's far too easy to dismiss the transphobia that runs rampant in the world. Vivek/Nnemdi's story - mirroring parts of Akwaeke Emezi's experience - tells of the painful stages of discovery of one's identity in a world that would deny her the truth of her identity and would kill her for it.

There's a single sticking point though. Most this book is wonderful, but there's some strong, graphic, repeated, unopposed incest. If not for that, I'd give the book five stars.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death, Incest, Alcohol, and Deadnaming

Moderate: Transphobia, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, and Homophobia

Minor: Animal death, Hate crime, and Murder

summerb's review

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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Dysphoria, Sexual content, Child death, Death, Grief, Incest, and Infidelity

Moderate: Alcohol, Infidelity, Biphobia, Body shaming, Child death, Cursing, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Transphobia

Minor: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Outing, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Cursing, Deadnaming, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Vomit

aile_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Sexual content, Grief, Mental illness, and Death

Moderate: Blood

Minor: Misogyny, Incest, Animal death, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Rape, and Police brutality

emliza's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child death, Death, Grief, and Transphobia

Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Outing, Religious bigotry, Violence, Infidelity, Infertility, and Animal death

badmom's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Homophobia, Transphobia, Death, Religious bigotry, Emotional abuse, and Grief

Minor: Biphobia, Blood, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Outing, Sexual assault, Violence, and Alcohol

robinsong's review against another edition

challenging 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

4.0

This book was wonderful and all consuming. The exploration of grief and the messiness of the characters' lives was expertly done and made them feel like real people. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Transphobia

Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Cursing, Domestic abuse, and Hate crime

Minor: Animal death, Car accident, Infertility, Miscarriage, Rape, and Sexual harassment

susannaobrien's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.5

At first I was a little lost with the changing timelines (even though normally I like this style) but by the end I appreciated the artistic device for the way it built the mystery up for the reveal. When it came, I felt physically knocked by the tragedy and unfairness of it all. The cast of characters were complex and interesting, with few being entirely likeable but all feeling real and sparking empathy. The story was a nuanced portrayal of what it means to come to terms with others' gender and sexual identities, as well as your own, in a culture that is not ready to accept them. I really appreciated the exploration of the various forms love and loyalty can take, between families, friends and loves, as well as the taboos of crossing those lines. Sentences and dialogue were also beautifully written. Overall a surprising and affecting read.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Violence, Blood, and Death

Moderate: Transphobia, Homophobia, Hate crime, and Misogyny

Minor: Addiction and Alcohol