Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi

125 reviews

eliakine's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

this was a bit of a tricky read! not because it was difficult to read, the narrative voice was so clear, it made actually reading the book feel lovely and smooth. the topics discussed however were very heavy and numerous, so it's definitely not one for the faint of heart. even still, I don't regret picking it up at all, I just know that going forward I should be more careful to familiarise myself with content warnings before starting to read lol

I really enjoyed reading about Ada, and Emezi so skillfully wrote from so many different perspectives and voices this truly was a wonderful time. :)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Sexual content, Blood, Body horror, Car accident, Cursing, Drug abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Alcohol, Dysphoria, Child abuse, Homophobia, and Transphobia

Minor: Physical abuse, Violence, and Outing

zitalilla's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Dysphoria, Drug use, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Alcohol, Eating disorder, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Suicide

kmgard's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Violence, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Misogyny, Body horror, Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Outing, Emotional abuse, Dysphoria, and Drug use

emily_journals's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This is a beautifully written partial memoir that I believe will have a strong impact on anyone who reads it. Make sure to check trigger warnings for this one before you pick it up as there is a lot of triggering content, but if you are willing/able to read those triggers this is definitely worth the read. 

I found this to be a very intriguing exploration of identity, gender, and sexuality through the lens of Igbo religion and culture. This book was heartbreaking and profound and is a book that I will be rereading in the future to fully appreciate and absorb everything portrayed in this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Rape, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Outing, Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Lesbophobia, Biphobia, Stalking, Transphobia, and Homophobia

adryonsk's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual assault

livlosiewicz's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

 Pros: 

·The writing is phenomenal- so unique, poetic, and powerful. 

·The concept is fascinating and has been stretching my brain in all kinds of ways. There’s a lot to unpack in this book and it will make for a good discussion 

Cons: 

·This book is HEAVY and pretty depressing 

·While I think they do a good job with this, the concept matter is pretty confusing, so it takes a lot of effort 

 

Recommendation: I recommend to those who like challenging and dark books that really make you think. This book was fascinating and I’ll be thinking about it for a while. HOWEVER, it’s also a lot, both emotionally and like, conceptually. So make sure you’re in the right emotional place for it (content warnings: sexual abuse/rape, suicide) and also ready to think about it. Avoid if you want something light, fun, or with a main driving plot. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, Rape, and Suicide attempt

natgoe's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Gore

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders

kumquats87's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dysphoria and Gaslighting

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Animal death, Child abuse, Sexual content, Child death, Colonisation, Self harm, Body horror, Biphobia, Mental illness, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Violence, Transphobia, and Suicidal thoughts

dwejra's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

This is, without a doubt, one of the most original novels I've ever read. In this gripping autobiography Emezi blurs the lines between the events from their life and their emotional journey of dealing with trauma, and accepting their nature as ogbanje.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Dysphoria, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual content, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Child death

woweewhoa's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

An incredible book about identity and how it intersects with spirituality, trauma, and living. Akwaeke Emezi's writing is really vivid, and most of the explicit scenes, while yes they are explicit, they don't feel voyeuristic. I think this book very good, though please exercise caution as the book is very dark, though it does end on a hopeful note. A lot of heavy subject matter in present in this book, and I feel like most of it is done very well and with a caring hand. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Rape, Sexual content, Self harm, Violence, and Mental illness

Moderate: Child abuse, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Medical trauma, Drug abuse, Medical content, and Addiction

Minor: Body shaming, Lesbophobia, Biphobia, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, and Fatphobia