Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi

433 reviews

zumpers's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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? Yes

2.75

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Content Warnings

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

Minor: Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Injury/Injury detail

businesswife's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

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

4.0

A very challenging book with hard subjects matter. I don't know that I'm the right person to have read this book and gotten the most out of it. The reading however was gorgeous. The spiritual subject matter is beautiful. And the realistic view of trauma is painful but true. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Vomit, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment

allygogo's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and Dysphoria

billiekate's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Loved both the book and audiobook. Reads like personal nonfiction narrated by different parts of a whole person. Steeped in a deep connection to Igbo spirituality. Highly recommend.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Sexual content

megatronic's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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

5.0

The freshwater book is beautiful and made me cry a bit. Coming to terms with one's alternative selves in their brain, as it seems implied that they're schizophrenic? Or at least that theme.
Accepting one's selves, liking girls and guys, not loving ones given body - in whole, because of feeling other-worldly, or godly, due to the selves.

Sometimes my own brain, My own thoughts, are hard to manage. My amygdala has been trying to keep me protected for so long (fight/flight/freeze) due to my cPTSD.. I have to remind myself I'm safe. It's okay to be present. I have to actively stay conscious to grow into the full potential of me that's buried inside because of fear and pain. 
And this book made me feel like I wasn't alone, in fighting with my own thoughts, fighting against my 'self.'

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

lena_krysiak's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective 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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Self harm, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Dysphoria

alexdebello's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

5.0

I’m at a loss for words after reading this book - trying to pin it down feels like an injustice. 

Emezi is a visionary, and is bringing to life unforeseen possibilities that run wild outside of boxes and pre-established norms for writers of color and writers at large. 

I cannot recommend this book enough, and personally plan on reading more of Emezi’s work as soon as possible. 

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Child abuse, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Outing

Minor: Dysphoria

leechspit's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

Absolute poetry.  A journey with heartbreak and layers of complex thoughts and feelings. Ada is a beautiful character who goes through so much and we are blessed and cursed to read along.
The trauma and transition of Ada make you feel scared, and angry, and mad. I could read this book again and again losing myself in that raw feeling.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Racism, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

sam_murray's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

grebegirl's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts