Description
"A tender, potent, and compulsively readable novel of a Nigerian-Indian family and the deeply held secret that tests their traditions and bonds"--
Genres
Collections
Publication
Faber & Faber Ltd. (2020), 248 pages
Pages
248
Media reviews
"... achingly beautiful probe into the challenges of living fully as a nonbinary human being, is an illuminating read."
User reviews
LibraryThing member Beamis12
I wasn't immediately drawn into the novel, didn't feel like I really liked the character of Vivek. The writing was terrific though and I did like the setting of Nigeria. I kept reading and soon was immersed in a complicated storyline, Vivek was a complicated character. Nigerian culture left little
A struggle for young people whose repressed culture, family honor, leaves little room for those whose sexual identities were not the norm. I can see what the author meant her message to mean, but this was another case for sometimes less is more. There were a few characters who had bit parts in the novel, and I couldn't discern why they were even mentioned. Overkill on the many different ways sexual identity can be expressed.
The last third of the book was my favorite. We find out how and why. We also see the strength of a mother's love.
A read with Angela and Esil and once again we were in sync. Quite a bit of discussion was drawn from this one.
ARC from Edelweiss.
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room for those who were different. What happens though, to those who no longer want to pretend to be something they are not? That is the story, a story we know from the beginning has a tragic end.A struggle for young people whose repressed culture, family honor, leaves little room for those whose sexual identities were not the norm. I can see what the author meant her message to mean, but this was another case for sometimes less is more. There were a few characters who had bit parts in the novel, and I couldn't discern why they were even mentioned. Overkill on the many different ways sexual identity can be expressed.
The last third of the book was my favorite. We find out how and why. We also see the strength of a mother's love.
A read with Angela and Esil and once again we were in sync. Quite a bit of discussion was drawn from this one.
ARC from Edelweiss.
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LibraryThing member miss.mesmerized
When they hear some noise outside, Kavita opens the door and finds her son Vivek dead on the porch. There was some commotion at the local market and Vivek had wanted to go there where he obviously was killed. But who would ever want to do something to her beloved son? Yes, he had always been
Just like in her novel “Freshwater”, “The Death of Vivek Oji” centres around a young protagonist who differs, whose mind works in a very singular way, yet, Vivek’s is less extraordinary than Ada’s. Nevertheless, the main conflict is placed between the individual and society: a person who does not comply with general expectations and cannot really reveal his emotions and most certainly cannot live the way he would prefer since this simply does not work in the place he lives.
“We can’t keep insisting he was who we thought he was, when he wanted to be someone else and he died being that person, Chicka. We failed, don’t you see?”
The story is told in flashbacks to describe the long road that lead to Vivek’s death. Alternately, Vivek and Osita narrate from their point of view what they experienced and how they felt. Both are trapped somehow since there are things they cannot talk about to anybody except for each other, at the same time, it is difficult for Osita to support Vivek’s otherness. The struggles they go through are very well established and easy to relate to. From a western perspective, it is incredible what is done to Vivek, especially the exorcism performed on him, but there are still places where binary thinking is the rule.
There is some mystery to solve, yet, it is much more about young people who are trying to figure out who they are and how they can live in a place where fixed rules and high expectations do not go well together with who they are. Even though it is, in the end, a rather sad story in many ways, I’d consider it a great and noteworthy read.
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different, a bit strange which also made it hard for his cousin and childhood best friend Osita who witnessed strange occurrences such as Vivek’s mind wandering away and making him believe being a different person. And that’s just what he was, secretly, without his parents’ knowledge. But Osita, too, has some secrets he keeps from his and Vivek’s family, some just because they do not fit in their village’s idea of a young man’s life, others because they would be impossible to endure for anybody.Just like in her novel “Freshwater”, “The Death of Vivek Oji” centres around a young protagonist who differs, whose mind works in a very singular way, yet, Vivek’s is less extraordinary than Ada’s. Nevertheless, the main conflict is placed between the individual and society: a person who does not comply with general expectations and cannot really reveal his emotions and most certainly cannot live the way he would prefer since this simply does not work in the place he lives.
“We can’t keep insisting he was who we thought he was, when he wanted to be someone else and he died being that person, Chicka. We failed, don’t you see?”
The story is told in flashbacks to describe the long road that lead to Vivek’s death. Alternately, Vivek and Osita narrate from their point of view what they experienced and how they felt. Both are trapped somehow since there are things they cannot talk about to anybody except for each other, at the same time, it is difficult for Osita to support Vivek’s otherness. The struggles they go through are very well established and easy to relate to. From a western perspective, it is incredible what is done to Vivek, especially the exorcism performed on him, but there are still places where binary thinking is the rule.
There is some mystery to solve, yet, it is much more about young people who are trying to figure out who they are and how they can live in a place where fixed rules and high expectations do not go well together with who they are. Even though it is, in the end, a rather sad story in many ways, I’d consider it a great and noteworthy read.
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LibraryThing member brangwinn
One of the most powerful novels I’ve read about sexual identification is The Death of Vivek Oji. Slowly unfolding, it is the story of a bi-racial boy in Nigeria with a Nigerian father and a South Asian mother. Told in the voices of himself, his mother, his cousin, and friends, it focuses most on
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Vivek’s life and his relationships with family and friends. There has been much well-deserved praise heaped on this book, and I can only add to that praise. When I finished the book, I sat there hoping I, too, wasn’t complicit in refusing to accept the identity that a friend had chosen for themselves. Putting this story in a Nigerian setting brought home the world-wide challenge of learning to let our kids be our kids, the importance of our not wanting to ignore what they are trying to tell us, and to be accepting of whom they are. The ending was so powerful, so simple and yet so emotional. This will be one of my top books of 2020. Show Less
LibraryThing member JRlibrary
One of those books that will haunt you long after you read the final page. So sad and yet so beautiful at the same time.
LibraryThing member Beth.Clarke
From the title, it's no surprise that this novel is about the death of a character. It is one of the most mournful tales I've read. The novel is not written in a linear structure, but that only adds to the suspense of what actually happened and events that contributed to the death of Vivek. Osita
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is Vivek's cousin. His story is quite compelling and his relationship with Vivek is the crux of the novel. They have a series up and downs. I felt his pain as Vivek's death unfolds. Stunning, heartbreaking story. Show Less
LibraryThing member leslico
So beautiful and sad
LibraryThing member DzejnCrvena
Not for the faint of heart.
My entry for 2020 PopSugar Reading Challenge: a book by a trans or non-binary author.
My entry for 2020 PopSugar Reading Challenge: a book by a trans or non-binary author.
LibraryThing member booklove2
I don't really think it's my place to say what makes a good trans book or not. I'm sure this book can be oodles more impactful to someone else that is similar to Vivek. I will say it's a bit frustrating to have the story based on "no one knew Vivek" and then give Vivek only a few pages throughout
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the book to state their case. Why then even include those few pages? The story centers on two cousins, their parents, and a lovely group of Nigerwives and their children in Nigeria. I'm not getting a spellcheck alert on "Nigerwives" so I'm pleased as punch that this is a real thing and was included in this book - a group of wives/friends that are usually all from different countries, married to men from Nigeria. Without them, this book would have had to focus even more on gender and sexuality. And I believe this is the point of the book, but I would have liked to know Vivek more than I did, before that dramatic death on the first page. No one knew Vivek, but neither did the reader. If this book speaks to any reader out there, I'm glad it was published for you. Show Less
LibraryThing member snash
A story of the tragedy of being gay in a repressive society, the secrets and pain of hiding and the difficulties of family coping with what they don't understand when they discover the truth.
LibraryThing member reader1009
audio fiction/tragedy (nonbinary/genderfluid/trans person is mourned by those that loved them in Nigeria)
well-told story with complex characters and perfect narration.
well-told story with complex characters and perfect narration.
LibraryThing member rmarcin
Heartbreaking story of a young man, Vivek, who is exploring his sexuality. Vivek dies, and his mother tries to search for the truth of what happened to her beloved son. The novel gives the back story of Vivek's parents, his aunt, uncle, and cousin, and several of their friends. It gives hints of
While we know that Vivek dies because of the title, it is the how he died which is so heartbreaking.
Beautifully written, with grief evident throughout.
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Vivek and his feelings and his love.While we know that Vivek dies because of the title, it is the how he died which is so heartbreaking.
Beautifully written, with grief evident throughout.
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LibraryThing member Castlelass
From the beginning, we know that a young person, Vivek Oji, has died. It then unfolds to tell the story of Vivek’s life, narrated by a number of voices of the people who interacted with Vivek – parents, aunt, uncle, cousin, friends, relationship partners, even strangers who view Vivek from a
It is set in Nigeria, a place that, like many other places around the world, is not particularly accepting of those who do not fit an “expected” identity. It is about a relationship that violates socially accepted boundaries. I found it heartbreaking that Vivek could not trust some of the people who were supposed to provide protection. At Vivek’s request, a close circle of friends agrees to keep secret some key aspects of their personality. These secrets, which propel the storyline, are eventually revealed.
It is a little more explicit and brutal than I typically can handle, but also inspires great empathy. I was initially wondering why Vivek’s voice is included, and eventually figured out that there is a spiritual reason. Just when I thought it had ended, there were two additional chapters that contain a surprise. I liked this even more than Freshwater.
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distance. It is a powerful story of identity. It is set in Nigeria, a place that, like many other places around the world, is not particularly accepting of those who do not fit an “expected” identity. It is about a relationship that violates socially accepted boundaries. I found it heartbreaking that Vivek could not trust some of the people who were supposed to provide protection. At Vivek’s request, a close circle of friends agrees to keep secret some key aspects of their personality. These secrets, which propel the storyline, are eventually revealed.
It is a little more explicit and brutal than I typically can handle, but also inspires great empathy. I was initially wondering why Vivek’s voice is included, and eventually figured out that there is a spiritual reason. Just when I thought it had ended, there were two additional chapters that contain a surprise. I liked this even more than Freshwater.
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LibraryThing member Anniik
Very good book. I literally read it in one sitting. Beautifully written, this book is a heartbreaking look at grief and the secrets people keep even from those they love. It is also an examination of self and identity and of the dangers society poses to those who dare to embrace that and be who
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they truly are. Show Less
LibraryThing member Kristelh
Reason read: Bookclub (WC) for August 2023.
A story set in Nigeria that features young people during the 80s and 90s who grapple with sexual identity, parent-child relationships, and death written by a nonbinary, transgender author.
It has received a fair amount of attention and has been long and
A story set in Nigeria that features young people during the 80s and 90s who grapple with sexual identity, parent-child relationships, and death written by a nonbinary, transgender author.
It has received a fair amount of attention and has been long and
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short listed. It was a finalist for the Dublin Literary Award. The plot is nonlinear and you really receive the climax in the first sentence. The characters are a bunch of young adults, children of Nigerian fathers and Nigerwives (non-Nigerian women) who find support from each other. I enjoyed the book in general, there is sexual and gender issues but that is one of the themes of the book. Rating 2.7 stars of C- Show Less
LibraryThing member Danielle.Desrochers
4.5 stars rounded up
I loved this!
It read a bit jumpy and at times it was difficult to remember which character we were reading from, but the way this was told was amazing! Vivek was my favorite character, I really felt for him, and couldn't wait to find out what happened to him.
I loved this!
It read a bit jumpy and at times it was difficult to remember which character we were reading from, but the way this was told was amazing! Vivek was my favorite character, I really felt for him, and couldn't wait to find out what happened to him.
Awards
Dublin Literary Award (Shortlist — 2022)
Audie Award (Finalist — 2021)
LA Times Book Prize (Finalist — Fiction — 2020)
Publishing Triangle Awards (Finalist — Leslie Feinberg Award for Trans and Gender-Variant Literature — 2021)
Aspen Words Literary Prize (Longlist — 2021)
Orwell Prize (Shortlist — 2021)
Dylan Thomas Prize (Shortlist — 2021)
BookTube Prize (Finalist — Fiction — 2021)
PEN/Jean Stein Book Award (Finalist — 2021)
Nommo Award (Winner — 2021)
NPR: Books We Love (2020)
Boston Globe Best Book (Fiction — 2020)
The New York Times Notable Books of the Year (Fiction — 2020)
ALA Over the Rainbow Book List (Longlist — Fiction and Poetry — 2021)
Lariat Adult Fiction Reading List (Selection — 2021)
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best: Adults (Selection — 2020)
Original language
English
Original publication date
2020-08