Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi

189 reviews

paigeisinabook's review against another edition

dark informative sad slow-paced

• 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? Yes

2.5

What the Western world calls mental illness, in Nigeria there is ogbanje. They are not the same.

Ada is troubled and saved by those from another plane of existence. They protect her while also shaping her into a creature of their own making. This begins at birth but shows itself fully in the U.S. while in college and follows her for as long as they need each other or meet an end. As Ada comes to understand she is more than one person, the world opens up for her.

So, this was my second Emezi book. I should have read this first, I know. But, it worked itself out.

This book was okay. Very heavy on the sexual relations that at times, that it seemed to be all that the book was about. Like Ada was just being promiscuous and that was all (not that that is a bad thing). I know there was more to it, but the rest of it just seemed unbalanced. None of the other spirits had balanced time on the page (which I guess could mean that they weren't as powerful or as present). That was the main drawback for me. I would have liked to read from some more perspectives for longer.

I was torn because I know this book is well-acclaimed, but in my gut (for now) I'm giving it 3.5 stars.

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31 March 2024
After thinking about it, 2 or 2.5 stars

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm and Mental illness

Moderate: Sexual assault

There are a lot of content warnings for this book that I'm forgetting. It might be good to look up the content warnings from other reviewers before picking up this book if you need them.

elmo_isnotmyname's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

This was a dense ride. Through abuse, rape, self-harm, loneliness, mental illness, migration; spirituality.
The protagonist's 'fractured selves' spoke more than the protagonist themself -- though: what even is a self?, they end up wondering.

Instead of telling a lifetime of traumatic events through the eyes of the person battling against their ensuing 'madness' (as it is called here) -- we follow 'the madness' battling against the human body it is bound to. Outrageous lust and anger splitting the Ada (the protagonist) and their memories into multiple versions. Ultimatly as to protect the Ada.

So this can be read as a story about Dissociative Identitiy Disorder; weaving in tales of Igbo gods, myths, and spirituality.
There are many graphic scence of violence. The latter endeared this book to me (-- I'm sorry, as a reader I'm just craving for mirrors of myself, but I don't want to spoil this work of art by mixing in my own ego.)
I'm looking forward to reading Emezi's other work!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Blood, Gore, Death, Grief, Mental illness, Sexual violence, and Violence

Moderate: Alcohol, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Child abuse, Car accident, Eating disorder, and Panic attacks/disorders

am2ara's review against another edition

Content warning 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Self harm, and Abandonment

Moderate: Misogyny, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, Car accident, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, and Rape

abbieh95's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness

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

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Content Warnings

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

nicoleisalwaysreading's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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

I’m in complete awe. This was a very difficult read. I have only read one (maybe two) other book(s) that made me feel this way: like I plunged into a claustrophobic darkness/evil/sadness that made my chest ache the whole time I was swimming and I came to the surface GASPING for air and light. It was also beautiful; I wish there was a more specific word for this type of beauty. GENIUS writing, but I cannot recommend this one lightly.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Racism and Dysphoria

random19379's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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: Self harm, Mental illness, Rape, Blood, Suicide, and Infidelity

Moderate: Abortion and Transphobia

Minor: Homophobia and Racism

penguiniq's review against another edition

challenging dark 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, and Transphobia

dakotahreads's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Self harm and Suicide attempt

Minor: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Eating disorder, Blood, Homophobia, and Rape

lesenilpferd's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

1.5

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Lesbophobia, Child abuse, and Religious bigotry