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womanwill's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Mental illness
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Rape, Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Transphobia
Minor: Body horror, Car accident, Eating disorder, and Medical trauma
shahana_bookquoting's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
wow! what a smashing debut! i don't know how to put into words how this book made me feel. this hit different than the books I've read recently. this had the wierdness of a Murakami book with all those magical realism-ish elements. I didn't expect to get a clear explanation or an answer in the end & i'm ok with it.
this book deals with some dark shit but the writing makes it oh so easy to get through it. usually when a book gets tough i keep it down & take a break from it, but not this one. i just wanted to keep reading it & the way it's written certainly helps.
is this a perfect book? no. it has it's flaws, the characters come off a little unclear at 1st & it takes some time to understand & get into it, & yeah some things are not very well explained by the end, but despite it's flaws it's nothing short of 5star read for me, cuz it achieved way more in 230 pages that some books are not able to achieve even in 500 pages.
this book deals with some dark shit but the writing makes it oh so easy to get through it. usually when a book gets tough i keep it down & take a break from it, but not this one. i just wanted to keep reading it & the way it's written certainly helps.
is this a perfect book? no. it has it's flaws, the characters come off a little unclear at 1st & it takes some time to understand & get into it, & yeah some things are not very well explained by the end, but despite it's flaws it's nothing short of 5star read for me, cuz it achieved way more in 230 pages that some books are not able to achieve even in 500 pages.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Moderate: Transphobia, Death, Body shaming, and Child abuse
vanguardens's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
“I have lived many lives inside this body. I lived many lives before they put me in this body. I will live many lives when they take me out of it.”
Wow. This book was a powerful read. This is the story of both Ada and Emezi themself. Ada is afflicted with the obangje, spirits that live inside her body but do not necessarily belong. Their birth was careless and harm 'the Ada' throughout the book while also giving her protection. Whether you read this book through the lens of mental illness or a pure focus of spirituality, there is a lot to be gleaned by seeing.
This is not a book for people who cannot delve into the matters of the self and dealing with and healing from trauma. It is written in a lyrical and raw way that you'll need to take breaks from. It is unmistakably heavy, especially given the amount of trauma Ada suffers over her lifetime. But if you have the stomach for it, the journey is worth it.
I loved the writing of this book. It mirrors how I think about both myself and the world at times. Emezi writes things with a pointed tongue, never letting up on subject matter that is important. This book is deeply important to me, as a non-binary person. They write to us so well, they see us so well. We were able to see each character as deeply as Ada and the other-selves could. Ada struggles deeply with humans because she is first and foremost and in-betweener yet she still struggles with seeing and being seen in a deeply human way.
“The worst part of embodiment is being unseen.”
Wow. This book was a powerful read. This is the story of both Ada and Emezi themself. Ada is afflicted with the obangje, spirits that live inside her body but do not necessarily belong. Their birth was careless and harm 'the Ada' throughout the book while also giving her protection. Whether you read this book through the lens of mental illness or a pure focus of spirituality, there is a lot to be gleaned by seeing.
This is not a book for people who cannot delve into the matters of the self and dealing with and healing from trauma. It is written in a lyrical and raw way that you'll need to take breaks from. It is unmistakably heavy, especially given the amount of trauma Ada suffers over her lifetime. But if you have the stomach for it, the journey is worth it.
I loved the writing of this book. It mirrors how I think about both myself and the world at times. Emezi writes things with a pointed tongue, never letting up on subject matter that is important. This book is deeply important to me, as a non-binary person. They write to us so well, they see us so well. We were able to see each character as deeply as Ada and the other-selves could. Ada struggles deeply with humans because she is first and foremost and in-betweener yet she still struggles with seeing and being seen in a deeply human way.
“The worst part of embodiment is being unseen.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Medical trauma, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, and Transphobia
alexiswiththefreckles's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Transphobia
megplant's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book fascinated me. It's beautiful and intriguing, but I feel like I missed a lot of things that made it so great. I debated between 4 & 5 star ratings because I think the story and writing deserve a 5 but I enjoyed it at a 4. Maybe on a re-read, going in with better understanding of what's happening, I will love it more
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Self harm, Rape, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Moderate: Biphobia and Transphobia
natverse's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I'd love to give this author more than 5 stars once again. There's something about a story about the dual self and the pain of consciousness in a body as a prison that I really feel. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Once again the writing is beautiful.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical trauma, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Transphobia
soppysays's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Transphobia
moonandmadness's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
There is little this novel lacks. Heart breaking prose, inundated with culture, and metaphor, while still staying grounded in experiences that are all too real. Everyone should read this, if they can.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Transphobia and Body shaming
valereads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was an experience, one I do not quite know how to talk about. I’ve been putting off reviewing this book for a while because I’m not entirely sure how I feel about it. Saying I enjoyed it wouldn’t be accurate but it’s a good book and I’m glad I read it.
One thing I particularly liked about this book were the distinct voices of the different POVs. You don’t need the headings to identify whose POV you’re in because Ada, Asughara and “We” all have such distinct voices which reflect their very different personalities. This is something I’ve seen some authors struggle with in the past so I was particularly impressed by this.
I thought this book took an interesting approach to spirituality and mental health. I knew a little about dissociative identity disorder (DID) before reading this (a close friend of mine was recently diagnosed) but I’ve never seen a non-medical perspective until now. I understand this book is ownvoices in this respect. I’d definitely like to see a review from someone else with a DID diagnosis so as to see what they think of this.
A warning before I conclude: this book is potentially extremely triggering. Reading a little background on it and my knowledge of DID meant that I was a little prepared but I highly recommend that if you’re even considering picking up this book then to read a list of content warnings.
Freshwater was intense. It was an experience. There is little more I can say about it other than if you’re interested then you should read it (but read the content warnings first).
Content Warnings: unreality, parental neglect, car accident involving a child, graphic description of gore, abuse, child abuse, sexual abuse, csa, cocsa, rape, victim blaming, graphic descriptions of sex, self-harm, discussions of suicide, attempted suicide, homophobia, transphobia, exorsexism, top surgery referred to as “mutilation”
One thing I particularly liked about this book were the distinct voices of the different POVs. You don’t need the headings to identify whose POV you’re in because Ada, Asughara and “We” all have such distinct voices which reflect their very different personalities. This is something I’ve seen some authors struggle with in the past so I was particularly impressed by this.
I thought this book took an interesting approach to spirituality and mental health. I knew a little about dissociative identity disorder (DID) before reading this (a close friend of mine was recently diagnosed) but I’ve never seen a non-medical perspective until now. I understand this book is ownvoices in this respect. I’d definitely like to see a review from someone else with a DID diagnosis so as to see what they think of this.
A warning before I conclude: this book is potentially extremely triggering. Reading a little background on it and my knowledge of DID meant that I was a little prepared but I highly recommend that if you’re even considering picking up this book then to read a list of content warnings.
Freshwater was intense. It was an experience. There is little more I can say about it other than if you’re interested then you should read it (but read the content warnings first).
Content Warnings: unreality, parental neglect, car accident involving a child, graphic description of gore, abuse, child abuse, sexual abuse, csa, cocsa, rape, victim blaming, graphic descriptions of sex, self-harm, discussions of suicide, attempted suicide, homophobia, transphobia, exorsexism, top surgery referred to as “mutilation”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Body shaming, Gore, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Racism, and Transphobia
Minor: Incest
caseythereader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Ada is born with gods inside her. As she grows up and experiences various traumas, the selves inside her splinter, and each self comes to the forefront when needed. But over time, Ada herself fades back, and these alternate selves begin to take control of her body. 📚
•
Wow, that is the least effective summary of a book I've ever written. FRESHWATER is too complex and engulfing to boil down to a paragraph! This book is honestly one of the most compelling, terrifying, thought-provoking books I've ever read in my life. I've been sitting on writing this review because it simply took my breath away. It's a totally unique look at how one defends oneself in the face of unspeakable trauma, of how gender and self-expression can manifest, and how spirituality and religion interweave with and affect one's life. 📚
•
I apologize for not being able to explain things further than that. You really must experience being inside Ada's mind for yourself. 📚
•
Wow, that is the least effective summary of a book I've ever written. FRESHWATER is too complex and engulfing to boil down to a paragraph! This book is honestly one of the most compelling, terrifying, thought-provoking books I've ever read in my life. I've been sitting on writing this review because it simply took my breath away. It's a totally unique look at how one defends oneself in the face of unspeakable trauma, of how gender and self-expression can manifest, and how spirituality and religion interweave with and affect one's life. 📚
•
I apologize for not being able to explain things further than that. You really must experience being inside Ada's mind for yourself. 📚
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, and Eating disorder
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