The Death of Vivek Oji is an enthralling novel. Akwaeke Emezi's lyrical prose is by turns evocative, sensual, and heart-wrenching. With empathy and understanding Emezi writes about characters who are grappling with grief and otherness, as well as with their gender identity and sexuality.

The first line of The Death of Vivek Oji informs us of Vivek Oji's death. When Chika and Kavita discover the body of their only child outside of their home, their lives are shattered. While Chika retreats inside himself, Kavita is desperate to find out what happened to Vivek. She urges Vivek's friends to speak out, but they seem unwilling to discuss Vivek with her. While the narrative mostly focuses on Osita—who is Vivek's cousin—and Kavita's perspectives, we are also given glimpses into the lives and minds of Vivek's friends.
While The Death of Vivek Oji follows a formula that isn't entirely original (a novel that revolves around the death of story's central character is dead) Emezi's use of a non-linear narrative and the skilful way in which they inhabit different perspectives (switching between first and third povs) makes this novel stand out.

Nigeria is the backdrop to Vivek's story and Emezi vividly renders its traditions, its idiosyncrasies, its contemporary culture (90s). Emezi's narratives is centred on those who feel, or are made to feel, different. Kavita belongs to the Nigerwives, foreign women married to Nigerian men. As this group of women help each other to navigate their married lives, their children come to form a deep bond.
Emezi recounts Vivek's childhood through Osita's perspective. When one of Vivek's blackouts causes Osita to feel greatly embarrassed, the two become estranged. Over the next few years Osita hears of Vivek only through his parent.
Vivek becomes increasingly disinterred with the rest of the world, hides at home, stops going to university, and Kavita, understandably, is worried. She tries to understand her child but seems unable to accept who Vivek is.
Thankfully, Vivek finds solace in the daughters of the Nigerwives. Osita too re-enters Vivek's life, and the two become closer than ever.

While I found both the sections set in the past and in the present to be deeply affecting, I particularly loved to read of Vivek's relationship with the Nigerwives' daughters. Reading about Osita and Kavita's lives after Vivek's death was truly heart-wrenching as Emezi truly captures the depths of their grief.
I did find myself wishing to read more from Vivek's perspective. It seemed that Vivek's story was being told by people who did not have a clear image of Vivek. There was also a section focused on a character of no importance to Vivek's story (like, seriously, what was the point in him? it felt really out of place). The mystery surrounding Vivek's death was unnecessarily prolonged.
But these are minor grievances. I loved the way Emezi articulated the feelings, thoughts, and impressions of their characters with grace and clarity. Emezi's novel is a real stunner, and if you enjoy books that explore complex familial relationship, such as Mira T. Lee's Everything Here Is Beautiful, chances are you will love The Death of Vivek Oji.

The Death of Vivek Oji tells a compelling story of identity, belonging and grief. As a cultural portrait of Nigeria, in all its complexity, contrasts and frictions, it is particularly good.

In that respect, this novel covers a surprising amount of ground, darting from city to small town to rural village, taking in a range of cultural and religious traditions, small details of daily life and larger ones of conflict and intolerance. The titular Vivek’s mother is Indian, and her social circle consists almost entirely of foreign women—from Thailand, the Philippines, the UK, the USA etc—who have married Nigerian men. The women’s children are thus thrown together and (eventually) forge a diverse group of friends, bonded by their outsiderdom.

In the foreground are personal issues of gender identity and sexuality. Here, the novel’s structure undercuts some of its emotional power. The story of Vivek’s death, and tragically short life, is told from the perspective of those left behind—family, friends, lovers—but this limits how much we hear directly from Vivek, who is by far the most vibrant and interesting character. Emezi also contorts the narrative to make the manner of Vivek’s death a mystery until the very end, which I felt was unnecessary and distracting—a suspense-building contrivance where none was needed.

Emezi’s 2018 debut, Freshwater was as bracing and vital as its name. By comparison, The Death of Vivek Oji almost seems like the work of a different author. More conventional and accessible, it doesn’t quite manage to live up to its predecessor. One book does not a ‘trademark style’ make, but this follow-up lacks the flair and inventiveness that won Emezi so many ardent fans, and even the prose seems less polished. On the other hand, readers who found Freshwater confounding or overwrought may actually prefer this novel’s directness.

“Some people can’t see softness without wanting to hurt it.”

Set in Nigeria, The Death of Vivek Oji focuses on a family mourning for their son. Vivek is found dead on his mother’s doorstep under mysterious circumstances, naked but wrapped in cloth. From there the story is told mostly through the perspectives of his loved ones as they remember his life, come to terms with their grief and try to unravel the events that led up to his death. Vivek’s and his cousin Osita form a close bond during childhood until one day Vivek’s unexplained blackouts lead to situation that Osita struggles to forgive. We already know how Vivek’s story ends, but we get to see his life and what he meant to the people around him.

There is a lot of story packed into these 250 pages but I don’t want to spoil too much of the story for anyone. After being blown away by Freshwater earlier in the month, I knew I had discovered a talented storyteller and needed to get my hands on more of their writing.

Once again Akwaeke Emezi has written a beautiful and immersive tale with characters that feel both vivid and real. As with Freshwater, this is a short novel that packs an emotional punch. Emezi presents topics of identity, belonging, sexuality and gender identity in a powerful way. Equal parts poetic, philosophical, and suspenseful, The Death of Vivek Oji is a beautiful story with an ending that left me reeling.

In short: I loved it! A poignant story of found family and acceptance that I will be recommending to everyone.

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

The Death of Vivek Oji is life changing.

It was one of my most anticipated books of 2020 so when I got accepted for an arc I was so over the moon I pretty much just sat down, opened my kindle, and read all day. Let's just say: I was not disappointed.

The Death of Vivek Oji is about the devastating death of titular Vivek Oji, but also, about his life. Emezi's writing and brilliant characterisation paints the life and death of the young genderfluid person growing up in Nigeria, the social otherness, but also (and perhaps more so) the kindness of a chosen family found in young LGBT people coming together and finding spaces to exist. It's about a biological family who realise after his death, they barely knew Vivek at all - and the despair of never getting to see who he would become.

Emezi's prose is unrelenting, at times harsh, and wholly beautiful. From the heartbreaking first page, the way they have depicted both Vivek and the cast of characters surrounding him in such a vivid light effected me so deeply. The beginnings of first love, the devastating grief of losing a child, the trauma of living in a world that does not understand you. There was not a single theme in this book that didn't hit me like a punch to the gut, and I was sobbing as I reached the end.

The Death of Vivek Oji is also a necessary demand for social change - one so poignant and heartfelt and impossible not to empathise with (surely even for those who are not trans readers).
If you think you'd be able to handle the subject matter in this book, please read it. It's rare that I say a book is important, but I truly feel Emezi has written something that rightfully demands your attention.