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A review by vanguardens
Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi
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