You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty
By Akwaeke Emezi | Release Date: May 24, 2022
Searing, gorgeous prose couples with fierce ethical dilemma.
Five years after the traumatic death of her husband, young artist Feyi Adekola is still putting herself back together.Encouraged by her best friend Joy, Feyi seeks a meaningless physical connection with a man at a party. That moment of ecstasy and release catapults Feyi into a desperate search for meaning, echoed by Emezi's evocative mantra that Feyi is alive and she can deny herself joy no longer. Feyi believes herself to be on the precipice of a romantic love and an unveiling of her heart with a second man, Nasir. Nasir is patient and kind and everything a man should be--Joy encourages her to go for it. Indeed, Joy and Feyi's relationship is one of the true delights of the novel, bolstered as much by their shared background (both women are queer and the daughters of African immigrants) as by Emezi's touching dialogue that rings with authenticity and voice. This contemporary romance takes a turn for an ethical exploration when Feyi meets Nasir's father, Alim, and feels an instant soul-aching connection between the two of them. Feyi's rich inner voice coils and coils around itself with guilt. Nasir has just taken her on the vacation of a lifetime to his vividly described Caribbean island home, complete with a showcasing of her art at the local installation. What sort of woman, the narrative begs, falls for the father of the man who has given her so much? Emezi does not shy from this burning question, and tackles it with all the vitality of their main character, and the animal hunger of someone who has lived in darkness for too long.
Searing, gorgeous prose couples with fierce ethical dilemma.
This is a great review. This book sounds really interesting. I might pick it up in the future.
ReplyDeleteLoved this review--the title has intrigued me for awhile. Might read for the gorgeous prose but might skip because of potential for infidelity. At least I'm now informed.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a wonderful and engaging review. I have had this book sitting on my shelves for a few months now and your review has encouraged me to pick it up sometime soon. You have done an excellent job describing the basic premise of the book while also highlighting Emezi's writing style.
ReplyDeleteHi Grace! This is such a wonderful review of a book I've had my eye on for a while! I read Emezi's YA novels "Pet" and "Bitter" a few years ago and thought they were amazing. Emezi's writing is so unique and immersive.
ReplyDeleteHi Grace! I agree that this is a very good review. I like your opening statement, and it draws me in to read this book. I like a book with "gorgeous prose."
ReplyDeleteExcellent Kirkus review - your opening and closing line are great!
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