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A review by libbysbookshelf
Dear Senthuran: A Black Spirit Memoir by Akwaeke Emezi
DEAR SENTHURAN: A BLACK SPIRIT MEMOIR by AKWAEKE EMEZI
I bought this book yesterday afternoon and started reading it immediately and my journey with it has just ended.
This isn’t a review. It’s impossible for me to review this book. What it is, rather, is an exploration of my journey with this book.
I first encountered Emezi about a year and a half ago when they were longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Freshwater. Strange that a non-binary writer should be longlisted for a prize for women, but that’s a discussion for another day. Anyway, that book moved me deeply. I was in the thick of mental health issues and that book made me feel seen. I read Freshwater as a metaphor.
Fast forward and here I am on anti-anxiety medication, mental health better than ever. I now realise how wrong I was to read Freshwater as a metaphor. It’s not. Neither is Dear Senthuran. They are both meant to be taken literally and I understand that now.
These are Emezi’s experiences and they are shocking but also unlike anything I’ve ever heard.
I can’t say much about that because I don’t know how. You’ll have to read the book.
What I can say is that I have experienced glee and excitement and anticipation because of Emezi. But I’ve also felt extremely anxious today and currently have a tightness in my chest that I’ll try to yoga out of me in a minute.
Some books are not meant to be read passively. Some books are not meant to reaffirm you. Some books are not meant for you. But, if you are willing to work for it, then you can witness them and feel changed forever.
I’m going to do some stretches and deep breathing and try to laugh with my husband because I’m deeply affected but I don’t want to be right now.
#akwaekeemezi #dearsenthuran #book #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #nigerianliterature #africanlit #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #booklover
I bought this book yesterday afternoon and started reading it immediately and my journey with it has just ended.
This isn’t a review. It’s impossible for me to review this book. What it is, rather, is an exploration of my journey with this book.
I first encountered Emezi about a year and a half ago when they were longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Freshwater. Strange that a non-binary writer should be longlisted for a prize for women, but that’s a discussion for another day. Anyway, that book moved me deeply. I was in the thick of mental health issues and that book made me feel seen. I read Freshwater as a metaphor.
Fast forward and here I am on anti-anxiety medication, mental health better than ever. I now realise how wrong I was to read Freshwater as a metaphor. It’s not. Neither is Dear Senthuran. They are both meant to be taken literally and I understand that now.
These are Emezi’s experiences and they are shocking but also unlike anything I’ve ever heard.
I can’t say much about that because I don’t know how. You’ll have to read the book.
What I can say is that I have experienced glee and excitement and anticipation because of Emezi. But I’ve also felt extremely anxious today and currently have a tightness in my chest that I’ll try to yoga out of me in a minute.
Some books are not meant to be read passively. Some books are not meant to reaffirm you. Some books are not meant for you. But, if you are willing to work for it, then you can witness them and feel changed forever.
I’m going to do some stretches and deep breathing and try to laugh with my husband because I’m deeply affected but I don’t want to be right now.
#akwaekeemezi #dearsenthuran #book #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #nigerianliterature #africanlit #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #booklover