That said, on its own Bitter is a great book tackling difficult topics. It is interesting to get a window into Bitter's backstory and how the city got to where it is in Pet.

So for people new to these books, I would pick this one up first or space them out. It's also uncomfortable to immediately read about a younger version of an adult abuser. If I hadn't read them back to back I may not have noticed just how different the tone and voice feel. All of which makes sense for the story being told, but it's definitely a jarring change from Pet which is darkly whimsical and almost reads like a middle grade novel at times. I read this directly after reading Pet and thus was struck by how different it felt- more mature, more concrete, more like a YA novel with relationship drama, miscommunication, and teens drinking and getting high. There is a lot to like here though I'm still sorting out how I feel about this book. This is a book about protest, mental health, art as activism, and violent versus non-violent resistance. It's also quite a different book, both thematically and stylistically. This program will include ASL interpretation.Bitter is a prequel to Pet, though you don't need to have read Pet to pick this one up. Masks are required regardless of vaccination status. Visitors 18 and older are also required to show a valid I.D. Not a Member? Join today! You can also watch this event live on YouTube.Īll visitors 5 and older must show proof of vaccination. Tickets are $25 and include a copy of Bitter. Plus, enjoy an after-hours viewing of The Slipstream: Reflection, Resistance, and Resilience in the Art of Our Times. The program is followed by a book signing. Emezi’s other novels include The New York Times bestseller The Death of Vivek Oji (2020) and Freshwater (2018), which was shortlisted for the PEN/Hemingway Award. The program begins with a reading from Bitter, followed by a conversation with Nic Stone, author of Dear Martin, about Emezi’s writing process and their wide-ranging career as an author and video artist. The companion novel to Pet-a 2019 finalist for the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature- Bitter follows a young artist torn between staying within the walls of her studio or protesting in the streets against the deep injustices that grip her hometown of Lucille. Join Akwaeke Emezi for the launch of their latest novel, Bitter, which explores the stakes of social revolution and how youth lead the way.

Akwaeke emezi bitter