"I will come back somewhere ya see, in the river of time, I am already alive."

I think this story hit different for me because I had an awesome opportunity to listen to Akwaeke and Rivers Solomon discuss this book and what it meant to Akwaeke in a zoom interview. Listening to Akwaeke discussed familial bonds and the role of incest within very large families was transformative. Also their mother's relationship and their relationship with Naja Wives.

This story broke my heart and cut me into two halves. In more ways, I felt like this is a story of the death of Vivek and the birth of Nnemdi. In the interview with Rivers Solomon, Akwaeke discussed naming ceremonies in their culture, in Nigeria. More importantly of names and the genders connected to them. Akwaeke wanted to explore "what happens when you are given a name of gender that is different than the one that has been "assigned to you." This book most definitely explored those themes and bent them in the most imaginative and beautiful ways. This is a story that is timeless and I will always hold it near and dear to my heart.

Osita's grief and stubbornness was beautiiiiiiifullllly written!

Now I ask you, "what happens when your fear is more powerful than the threat?"