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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
katesant's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, and Rape
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Sexual assault
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
abijmieds'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Addiction, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, and Dysphoria
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
michaelion'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
They peeled my scalp back, cracked my skull open, and wrote exactly what's going on in my brain. What the heck Akwaeke Emezi my future spouse. How dare you. I love you. I guess I'm an ogbanje? Is it appropriative of me to say that even though I know my ancestry comes from Nigeria I'm just not sure which people group? Anyway anyway. I am her and they is me and I am we. Amazing. I'm so glad I chose to pock this up this month. THIS IS Black history NOW !!!
Graphic: Physical abuse, Blood, Grief, Self harm, Rape, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Gaslighting, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Addiction, Homophobia, Eating disorder, Violence, Death, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Infidelity, Religious bigotry, Colonisation, and Abandonment
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Adult/minor relationship, Transphobia, Biphobia, Pedophilia, and Medical content
amermanda's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, and Rape
persnickery'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: Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, and Mental illness
Moderate: Alcohol, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Drug use, and Child abuse
tartanshelf's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Alcohol, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Grief, Physical abuse, Eating disorder, Drug use, Child abuse, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Death
arj'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
3.75
Graphic: Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, and Rape
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Self harm, Grief, and Gaslighting
Minor: Infidelity, Homophobia, and Car accident