Reviews tagging 'Transphobia'

Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi

72 reviews

raneyak's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

It got a little confusing at times, but overall this book is a lyrical exploration of trauma and recovery. The main character has traits of some sort of dissociation disorder, but rather than portraying her experience through a psychological lens the book tells her story in terms of her cultural and spiritual beliefs.  

The story is told in a non-linear fashion, jumping back and forth in the timeline while different characters (personalities/identities within the main character) tell stories from their perspectives. This choice worked excellently for the story being told, with story pieces being told not in order of time but instead in order of personal significance. 

This book was quite explicit, though, and while the language was lyrical it still talked about self harm and suicidal ideation. Be very careful reading it if you have a history of mental health issues. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Blood, Grief, and Dysphoria

Minor: Homophobia, Medical content, Outing, and Alcohol

lizziaha's review against another edition

3.75

This book is no plot, just vibes. And the vibes are good—I love Emezi’s writing style—but I was a bit confused at times. I couldn’t wrap my head around all of it. I didn’t know whether to read it literally or as a metaphor. I would highly recommend reading the author’s note at the end, though. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Homophobia, Infidelity, Transphobia, Grief, Outing, and Alcohol

Minor: Religious bigotry

perfectcupoftea's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Rape, Transphobia, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

angelbabe_cj's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Transphobia, Violence, and Toxic friendship

thewoodlandbookshelf's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Medical content, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

bookwormbi's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

This book is beautifully written and its story is fabulously told. I remain such a huge fan of Akwaeke Emezi’s absolutely stunning work.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Self harm

Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, and Transphobia

directorpurry's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Transphobia, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Alcohol

Minor: Infidelity

vale_reading's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Transphobia, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Eating disorder and Religious bigotry

greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Grief, and Suicide attempt

henriettaenam's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Blood, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Abandonment