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moth_dance's review against another edition
5.0
Instant classic that left me with one of the most intense ethereal feelings I've ever experienced from a work of contemporary fiction.
Akwaeke Emezi is the perfect companion to [a:Francesca Lia Block|9072|Francesca Lia Block|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1530045619p2/9072.jpg], and I mean this not as a way to box together two writers who work with magical realism and conversations about gender and sexuality. Yes, the both do that beautifully. But I think Emezi is like FLB in the sense that they're courageous and daring with their characters. Theiir world building is grounded in ancient practices of Igbo culture and different spiritual beliefs, but like FLB's [b:The Hanged Man|14568|The Hanged Man|Francesca Lia Block|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1391461296l/14568._SX50_.jpg|946180], they go further into the unknown and pushes up against a type of mythological magic that's often left out in fiction. There's a natural sensibility in their writing, much like the kind FLB has always maintained in her many stories. And a tribute to the past with many different veins of culture and art and entertainment runs through their book, which made me recall FLB's [b:Dangerous Angels|14565|Dangerous Angels (Weetzie Bat, #1-5)|Francesca Lia Block|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1166639454l/14565._SY75_.jpg|990480] stories.
But what I really love the most about Akwaeke Emzi's Freshwater is the pure, magical excitement I feel when I think about reading it again.
Akwaeke Emezi is the perfect companion to [a:Francesca Lia Block|9072|Francesca Lia Block|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1530045619p2/9072.jpg], and I mean this not as a way to box together two writers who work with magical realism and conversations about gender and sexuality. Yes, the both do that beautifully. But I think Emezi is like FLB in the sense that they're courageous and daring with their characters. Theiir world building is grounded in ancient practices of Igbo culture and different spiritual beliefs, but like FLB's [b:The Hanged Man|14568|The Hanged Man|Francesca Lia Block|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1391461296l/14568._SX50_.jpg|946180], they go further into the unknown and pushes up against a type of mythological magic that's often left out in fiction. There's a natural sensibility in their writing, much like the kind FLB has always maintained in her many stories. And a tribute to the past with many different veins of culture and art and entertainment runs through their book, which made me recall FLB's [b:Dangerous Angels|14565|Dangerous Angels (Weetzie Bat, #1-5)|Francesca Lia Block|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1166639454l/14565._SY75_.jpg|990480] stories.
But what I really love the most about Akwaeke Emzi's Freshwater is the pure, magical excitement I feel when I think about reading it again.
intute's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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
5.0
cb841's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
erintowner's review against another edition
2.0
This book was well-written and definitely pulled me in. I was up late reading it a couple of nights. It didn't live up to the rave reviews for me. I found the main character dramatic and selfish, and not just as a side effect of her mental illness. Mental illness is incredibly difficult and I have a lot of sympathy for people dealing with it--but I also like to see people work on themselves/apologize when they inadvertently hurt others. I also had trouble understanding what the author was trying to convey a good amount of the time.
orange4orange's review against another edition
dark
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? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Rape
cam_cates's review against another edition
dark
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? Yes
2.5
The non linear plot was confusing and the book was mainly focused on sexual assault which was not clear in the summary. The spiritual approach to identity was interesting, but I felt like I could never grasp how the different gods/spirits worked in conjunction with Ada and Asughara.
ellavinophile's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
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
4.5
tarrowood's review against another edition
5.0
A phenomenal story that juxtaposes mental illness with spirituality (mostly Igbo, but others included). Beyond creative in its story telling, this was a fascinating read
vovwetonukari's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
5.0
sondered's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Rape