A review by chichio
The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi

5.0

If Vivek had been alive, he would never have conceded her point, but when you’ve stood on ground and known your child’s bones are rotting beneath you, rage and ego fade like dust in a strong wind.

There’s something so skilful about an author that can wield retrospective storytelling and keep you interested from page one all the way to the very last page. Emezi layers all these voices, all these perspectives (the late titular character included), to paint a harrowing yet beautiful story about all the life that led up to Vivek’s death. Emezi’s command of narrative is just untouchable.