Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi

119 reviews

lindsaylhunter's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-paced

• 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

The first madness was that we were born, that they stuffed a god into a bag of skin.

I wish I could forget this book so I could read it again for the first time. Absolutely floored that this is Emezi's debut. To write as lyrically as she does on the subject matter covered is masterful.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Rape

Moderate: Eating disorder

gabriella_dorianne's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective fast-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Transphobia, and Body shaming

sunbutterlover's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

wow wow wow. just wow. never thought I would find a book that I like as much as my favorite book but this is now up there. highly recommend for everybody to check this one out 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Body shaming, Alcohol, Blood, Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content

raneyak's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• 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

4.75

It got a little confusing at times, but overall this book is a lyrical exploration of trauma and recovery. The main character has traits of some sort of dissociation disorder, but rather than portraying her experience through a psychological lens the book tells her story in terms of her cultural and spiritual beliefs.  

The story is told in a non-linear fashion, jumping back and forth in the timeline while different characters (personalities/identities within the main character) tell stories from their perspectives. This choice worked excellently for the story being told, with story pieces being told not in order of time but instead in order of personal significance. 

This book was quite explicit, though, and while the language was lyrical it still talked about self harm and suicidal ideation. Be very careful reading it if you have a history of mental health issues. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Transphobia, Blood, Child abuse, Rape, Grief, Dysphoria, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Alcohol, Medical content, Outing, and Homophobia

poubelleboi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

Veramente originale, ben scritto e interessante. "Acquadolce" di Akwaeke Emezi è un viaggio nella mente di una ragazza nigeriana col DDI (disturbo dissociativo dell'identità - se non lo conoscete, prima si chiamava qualcosa come disturbo della personalità multipla ma non è più corretto) che però non è trattato in maniera medica ma spirituale. I suoi alter sono dèi con desideri e obiettivi da dèi. Quando la protagonista si trasferisce negli Stati Uniti, loro combattono per tornare alle loro origini, in Nigeria, e dai loro fratellisorelle. Ed è troppo interessante leggere il loro punto di vista, che è allo stesso tempo esterno e interno. Veramente una lettura da dieci.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Blood, Death, Grief, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Dysphoria, Lesbophobia, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Eating disorder, Abandonment, Abortion, Homophobia, and Infidelity

aliciawithoutkeys's review against another edition

dark reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Eating disorder, Rape, Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

attackrat's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.25

This book was gorgeously religious. A deeply personal and yet very distanced conversation about metaphysical identity, trauma, and faith. The writing itself swayed in tune with story and it was a pleasure to read. I did find it abstract to the point of confusion at some times, but I see that more as a disconnect between perspectives than a lack of talent. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual assault

caelikean's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

5.0

This book left me breathless, torn, seen, changed. Awaeke Emezi is a master at this craft. Their insight is brilliant; their creativity is unreal. I highly recommend this book to anyone with one foot on the other side.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Blood, and Dysphoria

biggerpusherover's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Blood, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, and Sexual content

barboraz0's review against another edition

dark 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

Graphic: Suicide attempt and Sexual assault

Moderate: Sexual content