Article contributed by Laura Glassman
The Death of Vivek Oji is a beautifully told story of a unique and unusual young person and their community in Nigeria. We learn at the outset of the novel that Vivek has died, and the book tells the story of their life, continually foreshadowing the future.
Akwaeke Emezi has crafted a book that both moves quickly in its storyline, and is written with precision and beauty. There are no wasted words in this slim volume.
Perhaps the novel’s greatest strength is in its character development. This is a novel for readers who love character driven books. We learn bit by bit of more details of Vivek’s life and Emezi paints a picture of a character who is at once a bit mysterious and easy to love. They are deeply misunderstood by some in their life and appreciated and understood by others, though ultimately this is a tender depiction of their life.
The Death of Vivek Oji is in large part about being different. Specifically, it is about being different in Nigeria where Vivek lives. Vivek is different in a few ways, and this is a part of what keeps us guessing about their fate. We learn early on of their blackouts which are concerning in terms of their neurological and mental health. However, part of the brilliance of Emezi’s work is in the subtlety of the writing: it is not absolutely clear early on what is causing the blackouts and whether that stems from a medical problem or a psychological problem. We are given hints as to aspects of Vivek’s life that may adversely impact their psyche, but we must guess as to whether those things impact them and how.
The novel brings up questions about differences in sexuality and gender and how those may be viewed in Nigeria. We learn that Vivek is different. Vivek has long hair and doesn’t quite fit in. We learn about a later relationship that offers clues as to their sexuality. What we learn about Vivek begs the question: how is someone who is clearly different from the norm viewed in Nigeria? Vivek’s family finds them odd, but the story paints a very tender picture of them.
As well, Emezi paints a picture of how being different may impact Vivek’s well-being and mental health. This raises questions of how mental health issues may be regarded or treated in different parts of the world. Is it considered acceptable to talk about mental health in Nigeria? Is a mental health issue recognised or understood?
Though Vivek’s family is described as seeing him as different or not understanding them fully, they are at the same time depicted in an incredibly loving way. There is an interplay between the fact that they find Vivek to be a bit of a mystery and an unusual child, and the fact that they care for Vivek deeply, particularly after they find that they have lost them.
This is not a predictable book, though we know so of the outcome of the story at the start of it. It is not easy to guess the nature of ending of the book in spite of what we learn earlier.
This is a truly wonderful book for readers who enjoy beautifully written, character driven books and who want to learn about the life of someone different than the norm in Nigeria. The Death of Vivek Oji paints the picture of the all-too short life of someone struggling to be who they are, and it does so beautifully. This is a memorable and unique book.
The Death of Vivek Oji is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
What does it mean for a family to lose a child they never really knew?
One afternoon, in a town in southeastern Nigeria, a mother opens her front door to discover her son’s body, wrapped in colorful fabric, at her feet. What follows is the tumultuous, heart-wrenching story of one family’s struggle to understand a child whose spirit is both gentle and mysterious. Raised by a distant father and an understanding but overprotective mother, Vivek suffers disorienting blackouts, moments of disconnection between self and surroundings. As adolescence gives way to adulthood, Vivek finds solace in friendships with the warm, boisterous daughters of the Nigerwives, foreign-born women married to Nigerian men. But Vivek’s closest bond is with Osita, the worldly, high-spirited cousin whose teasing confidence masks a guarded private life. As their relationship deepens—and Osita struggles to understand Vivek’s escalating crisis—the mystery gives way to a heart-stopping act of violence in a moment of exhilarating freedom.
Propulsively readable, teeming with unforgettable characters, The Death of Vivek Oji is a novel of family and friendship that challenges expectations—a dramatic story of loss and transcendence that will move every reader
