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aww_ada's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
gusfring's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Car accident, and Suicide attempt
courtneyfalling's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Blood, Car accident, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Eating disorder and Lesbophobia
miamon's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Moderate: Child abuse, Drug use, and Rape
anovelbeauty's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
There’s a /lot/ to this novel. So much in fact, I almost feel I can’t write a decent review for it. I learned a lot through this novel, specifically about the Nigerian concept of ognanje. I know many aspects of this novel are also inspired by Emezi’s own experiences with their gender. Freshwater is extremely well written. It is beautiful and harsh, it unflinchingly explores a lot of deep and hurtful topics and let’s you draw your own conclusions about any one character’s morality (or lack thereof) and choices.
Now, I do want to say, right up front, that this novel scared me. It didn’t really start until the emergence of Asughara or “The Beast Self.” Maybe I should just say that Asyghara scares me? But her perspective is so prevalent in the novel and is such a dark influence within Ada’s life experience in the book, it is often manipulative, harmful, and abusive, punctuated by a rare few moments where she actually does protect Ada, but that doesn’t outweigh the bad. But essentially a spirit having that much negative impact and control over Ada freaked me out in the same way that demon possession plots are just a thing I cannot do in movies and books. It just is too real and freaks me out (I realize this is a me problem, but I still wanted to mention it).
That aside, the plot of the book was very well developed as it walked you through Ada’s life and with the perspectives of the Brothersisters and Asughara throughout. I do wish that we got St. Vincent’s POV as I felt that would have perhaps provided a better balance to Asughara’s chapters. The few times we get Ada and the “We” perspectives are always fascinating.
This book explores a lot of Nigerian spirituality, both traditional and Christianised. The way that Yshwa (Jesus) is portrayed in the novel is interesting and definitely touching at points. He is woven throughout the novel as Ada works through her faith and her experiences clashing and rebuilding throughout her life.
This is also a novel of genderfluidity. As the brothersisters inhabit Ada and exert their influence on her, she becomes more ogbanje than human, more they than she over the course of the story.
From a mental health perspective there is /a lot/ to unpack. While the book is very specific to point out that the different ogbanje fronting for Ada are not different personalities (so this is /not/ DID or as it used to be known Multiple Personality Disorder), there is also a portion of the novel that talks about a “fracturing” of Ada’s memories after trauma and how the fractures are kept separate to help her cope. This second description is similar to one of the newer theories of DID, but it is explored only a little bit in the book, so there is not quite as much to go on and is definitely separate from the ogbanje. Also, most other things that would be mental illnesses or mental health concerns for Ada are almost always caused by the ogbanje (mostly Asughara), so it’s an interesting intertwining because Ada’s experiences are caused by such a complex inner world but have standard outward symptoms of various problems.
Overall, this is an extremely well-written and thought provoking book. I’m still thinking about it. I read/watched about six reveiws before writing mine, specially trying to find some own-voices reviews to fill in some of my knowledge gaps and get some other views on the story. I really enjoyed the review by Uche Ezeudu on YouTube as she gave a Nigerian perspective on the story.
While it is definitely bleak at times, particularly in the middle of the story, the ending makes it closer to empowering. If you want a book will make you think and take you in with beautiful, sharp writing, you should read this wonderful debut novel from Emezi.
Graphic: Rape, Self harm, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, and Car accident
Minor: Death
booksarebrainfood's review against another edition
- 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
I love how they intertwined religion, the ego, trauma and gender to show all the different facets of the self and how they can grow and evolve and be at war with each other. I loved the presentation of people who don’t quite belong to our world who are always called on somewhere, and incorporating that into autofiction was so interesting and unique. Loved it!
The only reason I have 4 stars is that it became quite repetitive towards the end and lost the momentum it was building so well before, but nevertheless it’s unsettling and genius in its own way.
Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Confinement, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Car accident
ceallaighsbooks's review against another edition
- 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
“…because this was my life, you understand? No matter how mad it sounded, the things that were happening in my head were real and had been happening for a very long time. After all the doctors and the diagnoses and the hospitals, this thing of being an ogbanje, a child of Ala—that was the only path that brought me any peace.”
“They sent a psychiatrist to come and evaluate her, but he didn’t like our attitude and I could tell that he wanted to lock us up. That sobered me up faster than anything else would have. There was no way I was ever letting someone commit us…”
“It was very hard letting go of being human. I felt as if I had been taken away from the world I knew, like there was now thick glass between me and the people I loved. If I told them the truth, they would think I was mad.”
- everything else by Akwaeke Emezi especially their newest book Dear Senthuran
- The Icarus Girl, by Helen Oyeyemi
- White is for Witching, by Helen Oyeyemi
- The Bird’s Nest, by Shirley Jackson—TBR
- The Haunting of Hill House, by Shirley Jackson
- also The Bone People, by Keri Hulme! It seems like a subtle connection but I think it’s actually really there in like a big way…
Favorite Quotes...
Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Car accident, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Transphobia
laurareads87's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Car accident, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Biphobia, Homophobia, and Transphobia
n_asyikin_'s review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Emezi also has a knack of weaving powerful elements into the background of the story, e.g. how the religions of the old were eclipsed by the new, often erasing its influence in the current society. They also highlighted how culture is imbued in many aspects of our living. Coming from a background in psychology, it is easy to infer that Ada might have
The topics explored here are heavy. I certainly advised caution & care for readers who might be vulnerable when exploring such issues (i.e. abuses, gender identity & dysphoria).
But if you can read it, I thought Emezi gave such issues with as much care & nuances as they could; that the story felt beyond the realm we live in - in other words, it's spiritual & other-worldly. Yet, Ada and her ogbanje (or alters, or perhaps, maybe they are her Gods) anchored you to the ground of reality, in a way that felt weightless but also, substantial. Honestly, I thought I was exposed to a timeless source of wisdom through this book.
I heard a lot of praises about Emezi & this was my first read of their works. And I am beyond moved. Cannot wait to read more from them!
Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Car accident
erinsbookshelves's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, and Car accident