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The Death of Vivek Oji cover art

The Death of Vivek Oji

Written by: Akwaeke Emezi
Narrated by: Yetide Badaki, Chukwudi Iwuji
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Publisher's Summary

A Good Morning America Buzz Pick

Instant New York Times Best Seller

"Electrifying." (O: The Oprah Magazine) 

Named a Best Book of 2020 by The New York TimesThe Washington Post, NPR, USA Today, Vanity Fair, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, Shondaland, Teen Vogue, Vulture, Lit Hub, Bustle, Electric Literature, and BookPage 

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 listenable and 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 listener.

©2020 Akwaeke Emezi (P)2020 Penguin Audio

What the critics say

“[A] dazzling, devastating story ... A puzzle wrapped in beautiful language, raising questions of identity and loyalty that are as unanswerable as they are important.” (The New York Times Book Review)

"Electrifying” (O: The Oprah Magazine)

"Brilliant ... This is a book full of line-level beauty; a book of multiple perspectives, each rendered organically and fully; a book of mystery and community and love.... A special read that will not soon be forgotten.” (Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, author of Friday Black)

What listeners say about The Death of Vivek Oji

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memorable

This was so beautifully written. I was haunted for a while after reading. highly recommended.

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  • Overall
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When You Know True Happiness It's Priceless

Great book, when you know you are different, but you don't think you can truly be yourself in front of your family and the world that you live in, that can be a heavy burden to carry. #AlwaysBeTrueToYourself

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Captivating

This story took me right back to growing up in Nigeria. The performance was right-on and spellbinding. I could not stop until I got to the very end of the book, when the mystery of how Vivek died was revealed. I was uncomfortable with the sex scenes, though. I think that they were unnecessarily graphic and didn't add to the richness of this plot. The characters are believable and could as well have been people living in the community that I grew up in. Well-written and performed!

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