Welcome to Litsy!

"They burned down the market on the day Vivek Oji died."

#firstlinefridays
@ShyBookOwl

As a lifelong reader, I don't think I have ever read a book that's so evocative. I'm a wreck.

Young love. Protection of one's secret. Acceptance, (makes you wonder, is it really "better to be late than never?") Corrupt religious practices (beating the sin out). Grief. Deep, bone-crushng grief. Unconditional love of the parents.

Every child in the LGBTQ+ community should be able to be themselves. To form their own identity. To be accepted.

I‘m not sure if I would have picked this book up if I knew what it was about. It‘s a very controversial topic that is on the forefront lately. I do not hate, but I definitely have different thoughts than the author on this topic. I don‘t think that makes either me or the author wrong. That being said, this book was very good. I was engrossed in the story until the very end. It may have even opened my eyes a bit on this topic.

Vivek Oji is born the day his grandmother dies. His life is touched by this bittersweet beginning. On the day of his death, his body is left in front of his parents' home. The story unfolds through flashbacks and present day as his mother comes undone in the wake of his death. She knows his friends are keeping a secret. 4.5⭐️

I read this one in a couple of hours, I just couldn't put it down!
Vivek's story is the heart-wrenching story of so many others in his situation.

"I often wonder if I died in the best possible way - in the arms of the one who loved me the most, wearing a skin that was true."

"His grief was chasing him from room to room, begging him to spend some time alone with it."

What should you do if you can‘t be angry with god?A great question from the book that well describes the feelings I had when I finished it: anger, sadness, excitement, understanding and love for the characters. What an amazing read, I found thanks to @SanjanaGhosh

You know those books that gut you, make you gasp, leave you wanting to hold the characters close, and just…ughhh? This is one of those for me. A bittersweet read that felt all too real.

A writer really coming into their own! Emezi tells us the story of the life and death of Vivek Oji. Beautifully told and rich language you can sink your teeth into; I loved this. This should be on your TBR if you like literary fiction.

I‘ve read Freshwater and You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty and this was way better, more fully developed, than the other two. I‘ll definitely be reading anything else they write!

#LGBTQBookBingo

Oh no my book! 😸😱

#catsoflitsy #littenkitten

Finally getting started on this one! #botm

46th book of 2023!

This wasn't a pick for me because I don't love literary fiction because it's usually dismal, depressing, and has horrible things happen for no reason. Of course, with that understanding of both this genre and Emezi's work, I went into this with appropriately low expectations of joy. It seems like an intriguing book and takes a hard look at struggles, especially for women. #LGBTQ #LiteraryFiction

I have mixed feelings on this book. Overall the plot and writing was top tier, but I thought there was an excessive amount of intimate scenes. It sort of ruined the moment, but as the book was coming to an end, the main focus of the book was Vivek, as they unraveled the truth, which in my opinion, was the best-written part of the book.

I praise Emezi for writing such a beautiful book with complex characters they captured perfectly. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

Love and guilt sometimes taste the same.

“Who are we to decide what is impossible or not?”

Some people can‘t see softness without wanting to hurt it.

Alone is a feeling you can get used to, and it‘s hard to believe in a better alternative.

Birth comes with blood.

Context: He‘s talking about a book called “The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born”

Children never really change, she thought, no matter how much they grow up.

Fresh starts were good; that separateness was where you could feel yourself, where you could learn who you were apart from everyone else.

What an interesting way to start the book…

(It‘s technically not a spoiler as it‘s just the first line, right? 🙃)

I was just browsing through the library, until I saw this book. Obviously, one look at the title and the book was in my hands. Reading the synopsis only made it better. Next thing I know, I‘m borrowing this book which leads me here, finally starting it.

I hope that this book lives up to all that was said about it on Litsy, and I am very excited to start it!!

👍

Absolutely devastating story that will give you lots to think about and discuss.

I liked this one, but didn‘t love it as a lot of other seems to do.

Vivek Oji died the day the market burned down (not a spoiler, this is the first sentence). Then we get is life up to his death. We also follow his mum, cousin and friends after his death, in their grief and his mum‘s quest for answers.

#FirstLineFridays

This is quite a first sentence

I was blown away by this book. I don‘t wanna give too much away, but this novel was not at all what I was expecting. The writing was beautiful & the story powerful.

Next 😊

#2022Book79
Akwaeke Emezi is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers. If I thought I could teach this book without getting fired, I would do so immediately. The themes of grief, love, acceptance, and guilt are so masterfully woven throughout this story and I will definitely be rereading it several times.

#pridebookrec
Q is for Queer
Queer author Akwaeke Emezi is a powerhouse of a writer. The books they published are all incredibly different, and always impeccably written.
Vivek Oji is my favorite of their novels so far.

We know that Vivek will die but not when or how until the very end. The story is weaved beautifully between present and past slowly discovering the true Vivek and his identity.

Really loved this story and felt like I was there with Vivek and his friends. Felt the sorrow of his family and friends. Felt the love he had. Felt a part of the Nigerwives community and glimpses of Igbo culture.

Another day, another book. The writing is really warm and beautiful but I‘m bracing myself for a full on crying session before the end.

A story where love transcends all and family isn't always the one we're born into.

5 out of 5!

Compelling but so sad. My favourite thing about this book was the descriptions of the love and friendship the characters feel for each other.

@riversong153 thank you so so much for such a beautiful #BlitsySwap package! I‘ve wanted to read the tagged book so badly for awhile now. The necklace is beautiful and I love Maya Angelou! The pencils and stickers are so fun. Everything is lovely, thanks again! 🤗 And special thanks to @Chelleo for hosting one of my favorite swaps!

January Stats

Books finished: 21
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: Death of Vivek Oji and Firefly Carnival
⭐: Survive the Night

Owned books read: 14
New books brought into my house: 3
Books donated out: 22
Current physical tbr: 689 (slowly making a dent)

A story about living the person you are and want to be regardless the consequences.

This was breathtakingly sad. Even knowing from the jump that the narrative surrounds a death does not prepare you for the heart-wrenching denouement. I would have loved to have spent more time in Vivek‘s head but he will most certainly stay in mine for a long time to come.

Holy crow, I haven't cried so hard in a while. Nothing about this story surprised me - I had a feeling from the first page where it would go. And yet. I was gutted by the ending. The ending that again didn't surprise me except for the depth of feelings that I experienced from the last few pages. And now, my eyes are red, and my nose is sniffy, and Henry (6) is telling me that "you shouldn't read sad books, mommy."
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I don‘t yet have the words to honour this book. I doubt I will for a long time.

All my words are caught in my chest and throat and only Akwaeke could write us into existence this way....

I am a crying open wound after this book. My God what beauty....what light...what gut wrenching truth my God....my God...