Reviews tagging 'Dysphoria'

Freshwater, by Akwaeke Emezi

41 reviews

mariebrunelm's review against another edition

challenging dark 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? Yes

Freshwater, Emezi's debut novel, isn't exactly as fresh and delightful as its title suggests. It's a raw, violent, disturbing book about identity - or rather, identities. I'm quite certain I didn't understand it fully, and I'm not sure it's a book to understand. It's an experience, the experience of a radically other way of being. I won't even try to write a review because that's not my place. I just appreciate this book for existing, and for opening my eyes to sheer possibility. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Dysphoria, Rape, and Self harm

Minor: Child abuse and Domestic abuse

ireadtoescape_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

There’s so much in this book. I’m not sure what to say yet. Taking some time on it. I will say it’s excellent. First book I read by Akwaeke Emezi and I’m in awe. Almost felt too quick. 

I may never say more than this but this book is incredible. Couldn’t stop until I finished. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, and Sexual assault

Minor: Rape, Dysphoria, and Medical content

thepennykettle's review

challenging dark emotional

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Self harm, Dysphoria, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, and Eating disorder

kumquats87's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dysphoria and Gaslighting

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Animal death, Child abuse, Sexual content, Child death, Colonisation, Self harm, Body horror, Biphobia, Mental illness, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Violence, Transphobia, and Suicidal thoughts

dwejra's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

This is, without a doubt, one of the most original novels I've ever read. In this gripping autobiography Emezi blurs the lines between the events from their life and their emotional journey of dealing with trauma, and accepting their nature as ogbanje.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Child death

nicolescottwv's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Rape, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Infidelity, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Child abuse, Alcohol, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Dysphoria, Eating disorder, and Adult/minor relationship

jamie_reads_stuff's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Biphobia, Blood, Car accident, Drug abuse, Drug use, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Fire/Fire injury, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Outing

Moderate: Medical content, Transphobia, Gaslighting, Grief, and Lesbophobia

thebakersbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

5.0

Akwaeke Emezi's debut novel Freshwater was the perfect book to boost me out of a reading slump. The prose is beautiful, the characters full of energy and detail, the experiences visceral. This is a book of sharp and jagged edges that cut to the emotional quick. I don't have the skill as a reviewer to do this story justice, but I enjoyed it a lot, even the painful parts.

It's odd to call such a dreamlike book relatable, but the main character of Freshwater was easy to connect to even when her specific struggles weren't ones I'd experienced. Ada's exploration of gender and sexuality were particularly special to me as someone with similar experiences. I'd be remiss not to mention that intersections of cultural and sexual/gender identity are unique to those who live them; as a white U.S.ian reader, I'm sure much of the nuance of being Black, Nigerian, an immigrant, etc. AND queer went over my head. That didn't diminish my enjoyment of reading it at all, and I hope will add to the richness of the experience for readers who do share those identities as well.

Freshwater is a short book but not necessarily a quick read; it grapples with a number of serious topics including rape, trauma, and grief. Nevertheless, the hints of magic and myth, whether real or allegorical, add a bit of lightness and much-needed distance from events that happen to Ada. There is joy amidst the pain that overshadows much of Ada's life, and the payoff when she eventually begins to understand herself more and come into her own feels like its own kind of magic. This is a story that will stay with me for a long time, a standout as both a literary work and a fantasy novel. I highly recommend this book to adult readers.

Content notes: accidental child injury (graphic); self-harm throughout; rape; eating disorder/anorexia; abusive relationships; drug use; alcohol addiction; gender dysphoria; outing a trans character; mild/brief homophobia; child sexual assault; suicide attempt

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, and Blood

Minor: Eating disorder, Dysphoria, Homophobia, Outing, and Transphobia

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

froggybex's review against another edition

challenging emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

LOVED LOVED LOVED!!!!

the only issue i had with this book is simply how many times i got frustrated at there being no simple translation for the igbo and it ruined my immersion. but i love it and it wouldn’t be right without it 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Rape, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Abandonment, Forced institutionalization, and Transphobia