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micksland's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
CW: Sexual assault, suicide, eating disorders, domestic violence, alcoholism and drug abuse, etc. Very graphic - but worth it for most readers.
___
This is a lyrical debut novel from an author whose work I thoroughly enjoy. Emezi tells the semi-autobiographical story of The Ada, a young girl born in Nigeria with multiple ogbanje inside her. The author explains ogbanje in this way:
"An ogbanje is an Igbo spirit that’s born into a human body, a kind of malevolent trickster, whose goal is to torment the human mother by dying unexpectedly only to return in the next child and do it all over again. They come and go. They are never really here — if you are a thing that was born to die, you are a dead thing even while you live."
In this story, something goes wrong with the process. The ogbanje do not die as they are meant to do; they remain mostly dormant inside The Ada throughout her childhood. When The Ada moves to the USA for college, a traumatic event awakens the spirits sleeping inside her, fracturing her mind into multiple personalities. Most predominant of these personalities is Asughara, the id, a spirit who is sexually aggressive, self-harming, self-destructive, and intent on sending The Ada back to the "other side". Also present is Saint Vincent, a male spirit who wishes for The Ada to change her body to accommodate their shared identity. Finally, there is Yeshua, a visiting spirit who explores the relationship between Christianity and Igbo religion and cosmology.
The language is absolutely gorgeous and poetic, despite the violence and sadness of the subject matter. Emezi has some of the most gorgeous prose of any author I've read recently, and the contrast between the poetry of their words and the blood behind them is stunning. It's a difficult and traumatic, but thoroughly worthwhile, read.
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Mental illness, and Rape
Moderate: Drug abuse and Alcohol
orlagal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Pedophilia, Medical trauma, Racism, Misogyny, Murder, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Vomit, Grief, Homophobia, Stalking, Body horror, Colonisation, Drug use, Mental illness, Biphobia, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Blood, Child abuse, Medical content, Self harm, Toxic friendship, Child death, Classism, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Adult/minor relationship, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship
pm_me_book_recs'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
An amalgamation of Nigerian folklore and spirituality, psuedo-autobiographical origin story, examination of mental health, sexuality, and gender expression, and deep effects of multiple traumas. Despite coming from a completely different situation and life, I found reflections of my experiences, which helped me feel real and seen. I think many other Queer and/or non-conforming folks could find cathartic comfort here as well. I wouldn't call this a "happy" story, but cathartic (emotionally purging). You're gonna cry, ugly sad mortified cry, but also warm hug after a bad day cry.
I'm so excited to read EVERYTHING else by Akwaeke Emezi, their new novel "Little Rot" comes out this Spring, and they're currently releasing a new album 🔥
CW: rape, disordered eating, suicide, self-harm, addiction, gaslighting, psychosis, dysmorphia, emotional/physical abuse, medical trauma, trans/homophobia, death, miscarriage. Definitely check StoryGraph for more in depth analysis of content warnings if there are specific topics you wish to avoid.
Graphic: Transphobia, Blood, Infertility, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Gaslighting, Addiction, Alcohol, Medical trauma, Eating disorder, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Dysphoria, Forced institutionalization, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Abandonment, Grief, Self harm, and Suicide
hereforthefunofit's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Rape
grebegirl'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
4.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Rape, and Self harm
grandiose_r'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
4.75
Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Rape, Misogyny, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual violence, Car accident, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Self harm, Addiction, Blood, Medical content, and Body horror
Moderate: Death, Lesbophobia, Infertility, Racism, Gaslighting, Transphobia, Cultural appropriation, and Homophobia
Minor: Outing, Vomit, Cannibalism, Pedophilia, Kidnapping, Child abuse, and Confinement
scrunger's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
allouise'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
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Drug abuse, and Physical abuse
cocorose'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
4.25
Graphic: Blood, Dysphoria, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Sexual content, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Blood, Body shaming, and Drug use
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual violence, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Eating disorder, and Toxic relationship
finkbillie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Violence, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, War, Domestic abuse, Self harm, Drug abuse, Rape, and Toxic relationship