Book Review: You Made a Fool Of Death With Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi

 

Written by Safa Alhassan 

If you know me, then you know Akwaeke Emezi is my girrrrlllll. I love her almost to a fault, and honestly, I feel like she can’t even be wrong in my eyes. She’s a very controversial writer, and have you seen her? I’m laughing right now because I introduced her to my sister, thinking they might vibe since they both love art. But my sister was like, “Who is that mama? She scares me.” I laughed so hard my belly ached. That’s part of why I love her. I mean she’s weird, and that’s perfectly fine. Who wants to fit in anyway? She’s different, and so is her writing.

You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty is the book that made me fall in love with her. After reading it, we became inseparable, and I went on to read everything else she’s written. This book was The Book Tribe’s pick, and it sparked a lot of debates among the ladies. Some of them weren’t comfortable with how raw her words were. As I said, she’s controversial, and it didn’t sit well with everyone. Some felt like she had no shame, especially when touching on topics considered taboo in our part of the world. So, we had to agree to disagree.

For me though, her freedom of expression is what makes her stand out. I swear this book is unlike anything I’ve ever read before. It’s authentic. She laid her emotions bare for us all to see. It felt like she reached into her chest, pulled out her heart, and handed it to us. Poetic and intensely emotional.

After reading the book, I shared a scene about an art exhibition with my students, and they were captivated. I also told my artist sister about it and tried to connect the feelings in the scene to artistic expression, it completely blew my mind. The scene was about how the protagonist Feyi Adekola used an entire space to exhibit art tied to the accident where she lost her husband. There were splashes of blood and thousands of fake rings dangling from ropes on the ceiling, with her original ring, still splashed with her husband’s blood, hidden among them. Only she could see it. Don’t mind my lousy attempt at explaining it, but please read the book and experience it for yourself.

I also loved how Feyi met her billionaire celebrity chef boyfriend through her original friend who actually liked her a great deal after meeting her at a rooftop party and really wanted a chance with her. The accident where she lost her lover has been five years ago and Feyi is still trying to move past it and with the influence of her best friend Joy she decided to give love another chance. Her relationship with Joy is something else that sparked a lot of debates in my book club. Anyway, read the book to find out. So, she went with her new boyfriend on an expensive trip to the luxurious island home owned by his billionaire father, and that's when she realised something deeper. Something true and familiar. But is it his wealth and his social status that impressed her or was she truly in love with his older father? They've both lost someone dear, they've both being in dark places, they are both struggling to stay alive and at the point where they met, they were trying to put back pieces of their lives together. Their love was like a time bomb. It's more or less a forbidden love. Ah! The controversy in this book is something else, my dear readers. If you haven’t read it, you’re missing out on some seriously good literature. It’s a story about loss, grief, healing, and loving again. Truly a memorable read for me.

Again, I'll say that Akwaeke Emezi can do no wrong in my eyes. She’s simply amazing. Is there anything she can’t do? She’s authentic, and that’s what makes her so special. I sometimes feel like she’s carrying a deep wound. I wouldn’t mind meeting her someday and listening to her story. But one thing I know for sure is that she’s deep. Very, very deep. She doesn’t think on the surface, and her depth constantly amazes me. It’s fascinating that someone could think the way she does. She’s beyond an amazing writer.

Her latest book, Little Rot, was also The Book Tribe’s pick in 2024, and that one opened another can of worms. I’ve written a review about it, so feel free to check it out. Everything she writes is exceptional.

You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty is one of my all-time favorite books. I even felt low-key jealous that I had to share it with my book club. But in the end, the discussions that followed were worth it. Many of the things in the book aren’t what we see in everyday life. It’s more Western than African, and to understand her, you need a certain level of perception. If you can look beyond her words and open your heart, every letter and choice of words will break your heart. It almost felt like a cry for help. It’s very intense and left me reflecting for quite some time.

This book is deep, and if you’re a deep thinker, open-minded, non-judgmental, and compassionate about other people’s feelings, then this book is for you. Only then will you truly understand and hear Akwaeke Emezi’s voice. If not, it’ll just be another book to you, but trust me, it’s far from ordinary. This book is exceptional.