Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Freshwater, by Akwaeke Emezi

275 reviews

introvertsbookclub's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

4.5

The plot, the writing and the characters within this novel are entirely original and unlike anything I have ever encountered before. The way the story is woven together, switching between time, spaces and protagonists, creates a novel that is dense but also sprawling, and full of unique elements. It is a story with a lot of pain and trauma, but it leaves you thinking about healing and survival. And it questions freedom, entrapment, power, gods, selves, memory, reality, binaries and spaces in between. It opens up your mind and I know it is a book that I am not going to be able to stop thinking about.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Self harm

Moderate: Rape

millysreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative 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? Yes

4.5

  ọgbanje are as liminal as is possible - spirit and human, both and neither. I am here and not here, real and not real, energy pushed into skin and bone. I am my others; we are one and we are many. Everything gets clearer with each day, as long as I listen. With each morning, I am less afraid. 

A truly beautiful novel about discovery of self, discovery of the spiritual, and most importantly redemption.

The overlapping and non-chronological narratives were at time confusing, but were far more instrumental in demonstrating the complexities of this character's mind and everything she was going through.

I really loved the explanation of gender dysphoria, sexual identity, and mental self through the lens of the ọgbanje, it was truly a fascinating perspective that made perfect sense. Through the use of these different spirits that represented different parts of Ada's self, you got a real sense of the fracturedness of the self, but also acted as a way for the reader to visualise the different identities. 

Thought-provoking, powerful, and beautifully constructed. I would deeply recommend this novel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Self harm

eliakine's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

this was a bit of a tricky read! not because it was difficult to read, the narrative voice was so clear, it made actually reading the book feel lovely and smooth. the topics discussed however were very heavy and numerous, so it's definitely not one for the faint of heart. even still, I don't regret picking it up at all, I just know that going forward I should be more careful to familiarise myself with content warnings before starting to read lol

I really enjoyed reading about Ada, and Emezi so skillfully wrote from so many different perspectives and voices this truly was a wonderful time. :)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Sexual content, Blood, Body horror, Car accident, Cursing, Drug abuse, and Injury/injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Alcohol, Dysphoria, Child abuse, Homophobia, and Transphobia

Minor: Physical abuse, Violence, and Outing

zitalilla's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Injury/injury detail, Rape, Dysphoria, Drug use, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Alcohol, Eating disorder, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Suicide

eve81's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Sexual assault and Child abuse

krsnris's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny informative sad fast-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Alcohol

Minor: Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Outing, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, and Drug use

madiekvv's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective fast-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Drug use, and Rape

grey_jayne's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Freshwater is beautifully written and the audiobook is read by the author. This is the third Emezi book that I have switched over to audiobook because they create characters with strong Nigerian voices that I don't feel comfortable narrating in my head. Besides this book, Pet and Bitter were also great audiobooks, read by people other than the author. All three audiobooks increased my enjoyment and Emezi's wordcraft is magical.

The story is a little challenging in how the splintered voices speak and this is the best DID narrative I know. Also the sharing of trans moments was quite honest and lovely too. I would recommend checking the content warnings though because parts of this book are intense. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Rape, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Self harm, Pedophilia, and Dysphoria

milanaradic's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts

kmgard's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Violence, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Misogyny, Body horror, Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Outing, Emotional abuse, Dysphoria, and Drug use