Book 3: You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi

Before I started reading this book, I'd seen a short review about it that said it's a bit overhyped and that it's not as good as the author's previous work, so when I started reading, I wasn't expecting too much, just wanted to have a feel of what some people loved and others didn't and probably get prompted by this to read the author's other works.

The first few chapters were disappointing for me, there was just too much talk around sex, hotness in the belly and all the sensual tension between Feyi and all the guys she was getting involved with, from the review I read, I knew where the story was heading, it just felt boring that this was how the plot will evolve into what will be its climax.

I was disappointed, the book wasn't holding me, and I wasn't captivated, now one of the ways I can tell a book is interesting for me is my unwillingness to drop it and do something else, but it was pretty easy with this book, I was tempted to stop, I had to ask myself why should I continue, was it because I wanted to keep reading the mildly erotic narratives? Or because I was genuinely curious. I realized that I wanted to see how it ended and also get to write a review about it.

It's a popular book, a lot of people have read it and a lot more would like to read it soon, it's good content, I was alarmed at that thought, will I keep reading books I don't find interesting just to write a post about them, I decided against it, I was going to give the book one more chance for my curiosity and if nothing changes, I'll drop it.

It did get better, the story is about Feyi, 28, who lost her husband just before their first anniversary. Five years later, she's yet to recover and her attempt to get out guided by her friend is to get laid, it happens with Markus quickly, it is casual, and they break up, but Markus' friend Nasir is interested in her.

He's serious, interested in her beyond her body and is willing to take things slow, they decide to start as friends, but he's doing too much and she feels guilty, he gets her to exhibit at the National Museum, he flies her to his father's house in the Islands where the exhibition will take place.

Feyi, meets Nasir's Dad, the celebrity chef Alim Blake, he's hot (I still don't know what this means) she thinks and there's a wanting growing inside. As she prepares for her exhibition and some shared moments with Alim, they become friends, comrades in grief and companions in loneliness. Feyi thinks she's the only one developing feelings for Alim but in some wild turn of events, she discovers Alim feels the same way, they get involved, but there's a lot of risk, they want to make it work, they don't want Nasir hurt.

But Nasir finds out unpleasantly, he's furious, and Lorraine his sister is too. Feyi is full of doubt and fear, but she's able to overcome that, they make it work on their terms and it's a beautiful sight.

I will say the book did way better than I'd expected, the story was enchanting at some point. Loved it, it mirrored grief, pain, survival and love and this all is what life is made of. We lose, we cry but we rise out of the ashes and take the best out of life for we deserve it too.

I think Akwaeke did try to make a statement about sexuality in the book too.

I’ll sincerely give it a 3.