Reviews tagging 'Schizophrenia/Psychosis '

Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi

52 reviews

ehagen11's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective 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? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Mental illness, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

laynemandros's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Addiction, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts

jkbrx's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense 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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Death, Drug use, Medical content, Mental illness, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Addiction, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Suicidal thoughts

growplantsreadbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

This is one of the best books I've ever read. I'm embarrassed, this author has been on my radar for so long and I just had to put their entire catalog on hold. What a fresh & forgiving depiction of mental illness and the sometimes hard path to self acceptance & spirituality. 
PLEASE read the content warnings to brace yourself for a difficult read.  

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Panic attacks/disorders, Eating disorder, and Mental illness

Everything is handled gently and never felt exploitative. Still, take care of yourself.

martinza's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, and Rape

Moderate: Dysphoria and Eating disorder

prismatical's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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

2.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Grief, Drug use, Dysphoria, Forced institutionalization, and Child abuse

lycheejelly's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Alcohol, Car accident, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Cursing, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Blood, Suicide attempt, Eating disorder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Misogyny, Dysphoria, Vomit, Biphobia, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, and Homophobia

Minor: Outing, Transphobia, Pedophilia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Religious bigotry

aellwy's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, and Sexual assault

macknificent's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Grief, Mental illness, and Body horror

Moderate: Sexual violence, Abandonment, Sexual assault, Rape, Transphobia, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Sexual content

Minor: Pedophilia, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Medical content, and Incest

spinesinaline's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

Freshwater has been described as partially non-fiction because both author and character experience multiplicity (multiple personalities) and consider themselves as an ogbanje, a term from Igbo religion meaning a hostile spirit in a human body. It felt like such a creative way to illustrate this reality but knowing that this is the author’s own way of identifying helped it feel grounded as well.

This is an intense book. There are many traumatic events within, including graphic sexual assault, so do take care when reading this one. I found it a powerful story and interesting following the review above as the main character here feels a bit monstrous at times as she seeks to destroy or cope with her other selves. Very glad I finally started reading Emezi this year. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Blood, Physical abuse, Self harm, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Medical content