I’ve been reading Nnedi Okorafor’s books for a while and when I saw this adult science fiction novel I knew I had to read it. While this skews a bit more towards our world, I enjoyed – for the most part – this latest release. The ending was a big ot a mixed bag, but I liked the main character. Keep reading this book review of Death of the Author for my full thoughts.
Summary
Life has thrown Zelu some curveballs over the years, but when she’s suddenly dropped from her university job and her latest novel is rejected, all in the middle of her sister’s wedding, her life is upended. Disabled, unemployed and from a nosy, high-achieving, judgmental family, she’s not sure what comes next.
In her hotel room that night, she takes the risk that will define her life – she decides to write a book VERY unlike her others. A science fiction drama about androids and AI after the extinction of humanity. And everything changes.
What follows is a tale of love and loss, fame and infamy, of extraordinary events in one world, and another. And as Zelu’s life evolves, the lines between fiction and reality begin to blur.
Because sometimes a story really does have the power to reshape the world.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Death of the Author has all the elements I love. There’s a book within a book which lends it not only a meta feel, but feels absolutely necessary. We witness the rise and the life of Zelu from the bottom to the top. Death of the Author immediately asks us what people will say about us when we’re famous. It’s a book that examines how much of a role we have in our own life. How much can we control what people, our family, our loved ones, say about us? When we become famous, an author, how much of us dies?
(Disclaimer: Some of the links below are affiliate links. For more information you can look at the Policy page. If you’re uncomfortable with that, know you can look up the book on any of the sites below to avoid the link)
Death of the Author features pieces of Zelu’s life, her own book, and interviews with her loved ones. I think my main complaint of Death of the Author is the ending. It’s not necessarily what happened, but the way in which it did. Considering the mystery throughout of what happens to Zelu, it felt a tad anit-climactic? Throughout the book, we never really know what happened to Zelu. All her loved ones has this almost reflective air to their interviews and you’re like, “oh damn what happened??” And then after finishing I thought, “really?”
Overall, the theme and the discussion of the expectations of the world and our lives I enjoyed. Even the science fiction touches, which you might be able to guess from the synopsis, I enjoyed. I also enjoyed the ways Death of the Author examines being a writer and having our work adapted. But it’s one of those books you think about after finishing, but are left wanting. Find Death of the Author on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop.org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.