Reviews

No One Dies Yet by Kobby Ben Ben

vivakresh's review

adventurous dark lighthearted reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

As a novel, it fails on some level—lacks a coherent tone, characters are motivated to do violence without clear reasons, plot twists come out of nowhere—yet its ambitions to comment on the phenomenon of Black American queer culture in a modern African context remains compelling and relevant and unique. I found the violence really unsettling. 

shewoe's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

3.25

vaguelymodern's review

dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

nefariousbee's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I think I don't get it. I thought I'd get it eventually, but I didn't, and it got more and more complicated to understand what's happening. I'd like to get it. I suspect I'd love it if I got it. but alas

storeytale's review

3.5

Sometimes difficult to follow, but full of interesting commentary on navigating the diaspora.

rainbowarpaint's review

challenging dark mysterious 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? Yes

3.25

meredith_w's review

challenging dark informative mysterious reflective slow-paced

3.5

I think I liked this?  I definitely loved parts of this novel.  Reading 'No One Dies Yet' was a constant loop of feeling lost, then understanding, then feeling lost again...  I was fascinated by the politics and commentary re: native Ghanaians and the Ghanaian diaspora.  I was delighted by the references to popular books and the IG Bookstagram community.  Coincidentally, while reading 'No One Dies Yet', I was rereading 'Homegoing' for a bookclub, which is one of the best book serendipity moments I've ever experienced. 

gmcgowan10's review

dark emotional mysterious tense 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

4.5

This book is an incredible debut, if I only had one word to describe it, it would be haunting. 

As a white American reader it was really informative to be immersed in what was shared of Ghana’s cultural dynamics: a spiritual side of the cukture, relations between ethnic groups, relations between Africans/Ghanaians and the diaspora, or at least Black Americans. 

If you enjoy non-linear storytelling that sets you up to play detective, beautifully written prose, and potentially an opportunity to learn about another’s culture, I’d HIGHLY recommend this book. Can’t wait to see what Ben Ben does next! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Murder

Minor: Child death

jinmichae's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious 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? Yes

4.25

allrileydup's review

Just couldn’t quite get into it. Might try again before I return it.