A review by notoriousesr
Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi

adventurous challenging dark inspiring 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

3.0

Ada has always been different. Maybe it’s because, in her human body, she hosts spirits from a world far beyond our own. In this tale of myth and madness, Ada must navigate how to exist in a world not meant for gods.

I can see why this book has resonated so deeply with so many people. Though I don’t think it resonated with me in a similar way, I understand its power. The language is beautiful and I appreciated how the incorporation of Nigerian spiritual tradition made me look at “madness” through a different lens. However, through all this beauty, I found the narrative to be a bit incomplete and disjointed. Though we spend the entire book literally inside Ada’s head, most of the seminal events in her life are narrated, rather than shown, and sometimes even tossed offhand. In many ways, this was a missed opportunity, and made me feel less able to connect to Ada’s story. I’m not discrediting the kaleidoscopic style, but I still wish it could’ve had clearer development within that style. Overall, I’m giving this book 3 out of 5 pythons.