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mschmidt's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Sexual content, Transphobia, Blood, Grief, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Islamophobia, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
blackcatkai's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
this is such a heartbreaking & difficult story about grief as well as sexual & gender identity. Emezi's writing is outstanding.
Graphic: Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Moderate: Ableism, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
morganperks'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
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Dysphoria, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Drug use and Blood
drlove2018's review against another edition
- 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? No
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Transphobia, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Blood
savvylit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Nobody else writes the way Akwaeke Emezi does. In each of their books, their empathetic portrayal of the joys and pain of life feels like an unveiling of universal truths. The Death of Vivek Oji is no exception to this pattern in their work. Vivek, Osita, and their loved ones are all fully-fleshed, fully-flawed characters. True to life, their suffering often comes from ignorance and repressed feelings.
Graphic: Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Incest, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia and Fire/Fire injury
paigeisinabook'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? It's complicated
4.0
I wanted Freshwater to be my first read from this author, but this audiobook became available and I jumped at the chance to read it.
It is difficult to put into words what this book is about as it is almost something you have to figure out and decide on your own.
The Death of Vivek Oji is about Vivek, yes, but it is also about the family and friends that surround Vivek. This is to fully understand the life they lose as well as the death that they experience. Reminding me in ways of Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel García Márquez but also at the same time being its own thing. This is going to be a book that is taught in a few years for sure.
I'm going to be honest here: I didn't understand Vivek. But, it wasn't for me to understand. Vivek was Vivek. Though I will say, it seemed like the story was going one way and then was rushed into another at the end. I didn't love that. Then again, maybe that was where it was always going and I just missed it. Maybe more can be gained for a re-read (that will definitely happen after I read more of Emezi's works. Which is going to happen ASAP).
Give this book a try. Seriously.
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Transphobia
Minor: Emotional abuse
whatannikareads's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
But the things I didn’t really enjoy I couldn’t ignore, like the *big* intentional main controversial relationship; I have seen the reasoning for its inclusion but doesn’t mean it sat well with me ever. And also it felt like there were a lot of characters at times that could’ve been reduced; they weren’t as developed as they could have and sometimes I had trouble keeping up with who was who. The ending felt a bit anticlimactic to me and how it unfolds, but I’d be lying if Emezi’s writing didn’t have me in a chokehold.
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Sexism, Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail
karina_dreamsinwords's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
This powerful and heartbreaking story of an identity beginning to unfold after death was gritty and hard to read. I cried during a few moments, especially in the final chapter, which upon finishing seemed to envelop me in a deep sense of calm.
There is no doubt that Akwaeke Emezi can write a damn book. However, I felt that there were a few choices in the writing and storyline to be unnecessary. That being said, I was able to look further into the message behind the book itself and still walked away with a deep appreciation of this beautiful story.
*****Lots of trigger warnings so please proceed with care when picking this up--
transphobia, domestic violence, animal sacrifice, infidelity, death of a loved one, incest, religious trauma, emotional abuse.
Graphic: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, and Transphobia
egg_cup'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
Vivek I love you; Akwaeke Emezi it is ON SIGHT.
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Sexual assault, and Gaslighting
halceeeeeeeee'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: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Transphobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Grief