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dndrea's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-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
5.0
tellsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Broke me. Broke me all the way down.
Akwaeke Emezi hit me over the head with Freshwater, which was a book that stayed with me, long after reading it. However, this one. I couldn't believe that she could top Freshwater and she did.
It's crazy how much you can hurt for fictional characters. Everyone's carrying everyone's secrets, plus their own and it's incredibly hard. The Death of Vivek Oji is an illustration of the unfortunate and unimaginably painful realities that so many cultures/communities deny and try to stamp out in people. Communities where being who you are could lead to incredible hardship and death. This book brought me back to so many non-Americanized Black communities who struggle with bringing inclusion to table for their people, communities who grapple with misogyny, internalized racism/sexism, backwards patriarchal thinking and their elders in a struggle to reduce the harm that is caused to those who simply seek to live in their truth and not harm anyone.
Emezi is a masterclass level writer. The emotion of Vivek's mother was almost too hard to read through, it was so palpable and jumped off every single page. The despair in those closest to him. The love he possessed as he engaged in living his life, before it was unnecessarily cut short.
It's a beautifully heartbreaking read.
Akwaeke Emezi hit me over the head with Freshwater, which was a book that stayed with me, long after reading it. However, this one. I couldn't believe that she could top Freshwater and she did.
It's crazy how much you can hurt for fictional characters. Everyone's carrying everyone's secrets, plus their own and it's incredibly hard. The Death of Vivek Oji is an illustration of the unfortunate and unimaginably painful realities that so many cultures/communities deny and try to stamp out in people. Communities where being who you are could lead to incredible hardship and death. This book brought me back to so many non-Americanized Black communities who struggle with bringing inclusion to table for their people, communities who grapple with misogyny, internalized racism/sexism, backwards patriarchal thinking and their elders in a struggle to reduce the harm that is caused to those who simply seek to live in their truth and not harm anyone.
Emezi is a masterclass level writer. The emotion of Vivek's mother was almost too hard to read through, it was so palpable and jumped off every single page. The despair in those closest to him. The love he possessed as he engaged in living his life, before it was unnecessarily cut short.
It's a beautifully heartbreaking read.
heidilreads's review against another edition
5.0
1. Indians went to Nigeria???
2. The many struggles in this book are heartbreaking.
2. The many struggles in this book are heartbreaking.
shailydc's review against another edition
4.0
I don't think I've ever read a book like this one before. The storyline is so unique and for a shorter book, you learn a lot about the main characters. Really wish I had read it with a book club because there's so much I want to discuss with others. Also, very important to note that I love the cover.
lbburgess's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-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
5.0
allypricee's review against another edition
fast-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
5.0
gave this a 4 initially but can’t stop thinking about it so it’s a 5 for me. cried on the airplane reading it
moscatoluvr16's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
5.0
Akwaeke Emezi the author that you are. This was a beautifully heartbreaking exploration of internalized and externalized homophobia, grief, community, and what it means to love. Amazing story.
annaslitpages's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.0
thehawk72's review against another edition
4.0
I may have to sit with this one for a while. I did really like the writing and the overall direction that the story went, but there's a lot about this book that also makes me uncomfortable. Do I know if Emezi intended to make their audience uncomfortable? No, and I can't assume that. I also don't think that terrible/evil characters are necessarily proof that a book is bad, but more that it is complex. I don't know. My heart wants me to give it an absolutely stunning rating, but my brain is not fully sitting right with this.