Books on Tap: "The Death of Vivek Oji"

Books on Tap, Phoenixville Public Library’s book discussion group for adults in their 20s and 30s, will meet Tuesday, August 27 at 7:00 PM at Sedona Taphouse, 131 Bridge Street, Phoenixville. The group will discuss Akwaeke Emezi’s award-winning, bestselling novel, The Death of Vivek Oji.

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 readable, 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 reader.

Copies of the book may be reserved at https://chesp.na.iiivega.com. eBook and eAudiobook copies may be reserved at https://chester.overdrive.com. This event is free and open to the public. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. For more information, email Faith Donaher at [email protected].