'The Death of Vivek Oji' by Akwaeke Emezi is a heartbreaking and powerful novel that explores themes of identity, acceptance, and the tragedy of being different in Nigerian society. The story revolves around the mysterious death of Vivek Oji, a young genderfluid individual, and is narrated from the perspectives of his friends, family, and Vivek himself. Through flashbacks and multiple viewpoints, the novel delves into Vivek's struggles with societal norms, family expectations, and the complexities of his relationships, ultimately leading to a tragic end that leaves a lasting impact on those who knew him.
The narrative is beautifully written, with a blend of heart-wrenching storytelling and vivid character portrayals that unravel the layers of love, pain, and acceptance surrounding Vivek. Emezi's non-linear structure adds suspense to the plot, drawing readers into the emotional journey of Vivek's life and the aftermath of his death. The novel tackles important topics such as gender identity, cultural expectations, and the quest for self-discovery, creating a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of the human experience.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Triggers include themes of violence, homophobia, mental health issues, family conflict, and a scene involving an exorcism.
Has Romance?
While romance exists in the form of Vivek's relationships, it is woven into the larger context of identity and societal acceptance.
From The Publisher:
SHORTLISTED FOR THE DYLAN THOMAS PRIZE
'Astonishing.' Stylist
'Electrifying.' O: The Oprah Magazine
'Brilliant and heartbreaking.' Marie Claire
'Propulsive and resonant.' Esquire
They burned down the market on the day Vivek Oji died.
One afternoon, a mother opens her front door to find the length of her son's body stretched out on the veranda, swaddled in akwete material, his head on her welcome mat. The Death of Vivek Oji transports us to the day of Vivek's birth, the day his grandmother Ahunna died. It is the story of an over protective mother and a distant father, and the heart-wrenching tale of one family's struggle to understand their child, just as Vivek learns to recognize himself.
Teeming with unforgettable characters whose lives have been shaped by Vivek's gentle and enigmatic spirit, it shares with us a Nigerian childhood that challenges expectations. This novel, and its celebration of the innocence and optimism of youth, will touch all those who embrace it.
What readers are saying:
'The book is so beautifully written and I've never read anything like it ever before.'
'This is a gorgeously written story of identity, sexuality, love, grief, friendship, and the need to live the life you want, even in a country where doing so might be deadly . . . This was emotional, beautiful, and so poignant, and their storytelling took my breath away.'
'This book is both so joyful and so devastating.'
'The way Emezi made me care so deeply about these characters was just incredible, so that when the whole truth of Vivek's death was revealed I felt so personally affected by it. This book is about so many things all at once . . . The writing is so simple yet beautifully emotive. And I cried.'
'FIVE HUGE STARS . . . The Death of Vivek Oji is a poignant and tantalizing novel that wraps you up in its web of characters and feeds on you with carnivorous force, all while softening your heart and mind to a world outside of the normal social constraints we have been conditioned to.'
(Goodreads reader reviews)
Ratings (21)
Incredible (1) | |
Loved It (13) | |
Liked It (4) | |
It Was OK (2) | |
Did Not Like (1) |
Reader Stats (55):
Read It (21) | |
Want To Read (28) | |
Not Interested (6) |
2 comment(s)
Beautiful writing
***4.0***
How did Vivek Oji die? Emezi weaves in several points of view throughout the novel, introducing you to Vivek's parents, friends and family.
“How much of my mother's life I missed because I was a child”
Set in Nigeria, Vivek is born to Indian Mother Kavitha and Igbo father Charles. On the day of local riots Vivek's body is found in front of his parent’s doorstep, bloodied, his clothes removed, but wrapped in bright cloth. Then it is the story of grief and Vivek's past. People just thought he was not quite right in the mind or even possessed by demons. Vivek grows his hair long, which in this conservative culture, men don’t wear their hair long. People are unsure about Vivek. And Osita, Vivek's cousin, first finds him strange but grows to love him beyond life.
“They sat like that, another picture, as the evening pulled across the veranda and sky.”
Who was Vivek and why did he end up dead when people around him loved so fiercely.
His struggles to become what he is and wanted to be accepted what he is, all that emotions was unraveled slowly and wonderfully in the book. Emezi is a wonderful writer without doubt.
Thanks to Netgalley for the book in exchange of unbiased and honest reviews!
Happy Reading!!
What can you read after
The Death of Vivek Oji?
About the Author:
Akwaeke Emezi is an Igbo and Tamil writer and video artist based in liminal spaces. They are a recipient of the National Book Foundation's '5 Under 35' award for 2018, selected by Carmen Maria Machado. Born in Umuahia and raised in Aba, Nigeria, Emezi holds two degrees, including an MPA from New York University. In 2017, Emezi was awarded a Global Arts Fund grant and a Sozopol Fellowship for Creative Nonfiction. They won the 2017 Commonwealth Short Story Prize for Africa, and their writing has been published by Dazed Magazine, The Cut, Buzzfeed, Granta Online, Vogue.com, and Commonwealth Writers, among others. Freshwater, which was longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in fiction by the American Library Association, is their debut novel.
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