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The Death of Vivek Oji

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The Death of Vivek Oji

By: Akwaeke Emezi
Narrated by: Iwuji Chukwudi, Yetide Badaki
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About this listen

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.

©2020 Akwaeke Emezi (P)2020 Faber Audio Coming of Age Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction
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Absolutely sublime story of love and friendship and the need to be true to oneself, a must read!

Brilliant

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Starting with one of the most compelling opening sentences, The Death of Vivek Oji weaves together themes of identity, familial ties, authenticity in the face of danger, love in all its forms and belonging to create a wholly compelling narrative. Even though I predicted the reveals, I was still on the edge of my seat waiting to see how the characters would react to them; a testament to Emezi's excellent crafting of characters who feel painfully real. This is a story that confronts the reality of being queer in spaces where that can endanger us, and of the bravery it takes to sometimes just exist.

great story enhanced by multiple narrators

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A beautiful story of self-discovery, grief, family loss and love. The narration was fantastic and the story is one that should definitely be heard in the world’s current climate.

A beautiful story

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Although there were a few parts early on where I got a little bored I'm glad I persevered to the end. I found it incredibly sad towards the end, but I like to be moved by what I read.

Incredibly moving

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A favourite listen this year. Lyrical story of love, loss, misunderstanding and intolerance. The narration is superb and the writing is beautiful.

Stunning audio book

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This book is gorgeous in how it explores the lives of these often polarised characters. I loved the focus on relationships, the jumping around of the timeline, and the cultural setting. This book really surprised me, sometimes in joy and hope but often in a bittersweetness and heartache. I don't often read books I know will make me sad but for this one the tears are worth it.

Full of life

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.