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A review by velvettwink
Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi
4.0
Freshwater is the debut novel by Akwaeke Emezi who wrote “The Death of Vivek Oji”, one of my favourite books of all time, and I’m not surprised I adored this book also.
Freshwater follows a young Nigerian girl called Ada, who throughout the novel is coming of age, whilst battling multiple personalities and also several different traumas. We follow her through her difficult upbringing in Nigeria, and then also track her through her close contact with several violent men in America.
I found this story to be incredibly unique in its perspective, as we follow the story through the eyes of malevolent spirits known as “ogbanjie”, who live within Ada and control her. Through this perspective Emezi highlights her genius prose, as we explore themes of gender identity, sexuality and also sexual assault. Emezi brings life to a troubled mind in the most excellent way.
Harrowing and forceful- Freshwater is easily one of the best debuts from one of the most important voices within fiction today!
Freshwater follows a young Nigerian girl called Ada, who throughout the novel is coming of age, whilst battling multiple personalities and also several different traumas. We follow her through her difficult upbringing in Nigeria, and then also track her through her close contact with several violent men in America.
I found this story to be incredibly unique in its perspective, as we follow the story through the eyes of malevolent spirits known as “ogbanjie”, who live within Ada and control her. Through this perspective Emezi highlights her genius prose, as we explore themes of gender identity, sexuality and also sexual assault. Emezi brings life to a troubled mind in the most excellent way.
Harrowing and forceful- Freshwater is easily one of the best debuts from one of the most important voices within fiction today!