Reviews tagging 'Medical trauma'

Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi

14 reviews

thekissballad's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-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

3.0

This was a hard one to get through, and not just because of the content. For which I'll say, do your research and read any warnings before diving in.

I did enjoy reading all of the personalities' perspectives and seeing how they help and/or hinder. However, in doing so, there was no clear timeline. The story jumped all around, and with it brought an excessive amount of repetitiveness.

The graphic and/or vulgar scenes were also not to my liking, and there were many. Had I done the research I suggested any future readers do, I probably would not have chosen to read this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts

allisonbrooke's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Transphobia, Car accident, Medical trauma, Sexual violence, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Forced institutionalization, Lesbophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Abortion, Biphobia, Body shaming, Homophobia, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Incest, Grief, Mental illness, and Sexual harassment

woweewhoa's review

dark reflective 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

4.75

An incredible book about identity and how it intersects with spirituality, trauma, and living. Akwaeke Emezi's writing is really vivid, and most of the explicit scenes, while yes they are explicit, they don't feel voyeuristic. I think this book very good, though please exercise caution as the book is very dark, though it does end on a hopeful note. A lot of heavy subject matter in present in this book, and I feel like most of it is done very well and with a caring hand. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Rape, Sexual content, Self harm, Violence, and Mental illness

Moderate: Child abuse, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Medical trauma, Drug abuse, Medical content, and Addiction

Minor: Body shaming, Lesbophobia, Biphobia, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, and Fatphobia

penguiniq's review

challenging dark reflective 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, and Mental illness

Moderate: Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, and Transphobia

jkbrx's review

challenging dark reflective tense 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Death, Drug use, Medical content, Mental illness, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Addiction, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Suicidal thoughts

tangleroot_eli's review

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

A thinly fictionalized account of Emezi's life. Might've been more impressive on its own; having read Dear Senthuran last month, it all piled up a bit too much.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Rape, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Alcoholism, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Car accident, Medical trauma, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Blood, Toxic relationship, and Medical content

Minor: Drug use

snowforest's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Self harm

Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Outing, Misogyny, Mental illness, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Grief, Dysphoria, Addiction, Biphobia, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Violence, Transphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Medical trauma, Drug use, Drug abuse, Child abuse, and Car accident

n_asyikin_'s review

challenging dark reflective tense 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

5.0

A beautifully written story exploring heavy topics rooted in the impact of childhood trauma. Personally, I thought reading Freshwater was akin to a religious experience. Emezi wrote it in such a whimsical way, going into depth, the state of our main character's mind. Emezi's way with words were one of the most memorable I have encountered. (Its whimsical-ness reminds me to a Nigerian British author Ben Okri). 

Emezi also has a knack of weaving powerful elements into the background of the story, e.g. how the religions of the old were eclipsed by the new, often erasing its influence in the current society. They also highlighted how culture is imbued in many aspects of our living. Coming from a background in psychology, it is easy to infer that Ada might have

Spoiler

a form of dissociative disorder, particularly dissociative identity disorder (DID). But in the earlier part of the story, I was hesitant to assume that.

Because psychology & medicine have always been centred in/for the Western world; there have been instances whereby what is considered a norm in one culture is pathologized by the Western world. I thought Emezi explored that issue in a compassionate way; certainly left me contemplating upon how best to support victims of trauma, particularly if their "symptoms" actually helped them cope: it is a topic that is (still) being debated among clinicians & scientists.

Spoiler

Regardless, I loved reading about how Ada found her solution, her own acceptance.

The topics explored here are heavy. I certainly advised caution & care for readers who might be vulnerable when exploring such issues (i.e. abuses, gender identity & dysphoria). 

But if you can read it, I thought Emezi gave such issues with as much care & nuances as they could; that the story felt beyond the realm we live in - in other words, it's spiritual & other-worldly. Yet, Ada and her ogbanje (or alters, or perhaps, maybe they are her Gods) anchored you to the ground of reality, in a way that felt weightless but also, substantial. Honestly, I thought I was exposed to a timeless source of wisdom through this book. 

I heard a lot of praises about Emezi & this was my first read of their works. And I am beyond moved. Cannot wait to read more from them!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Rape, Self harm, and Sexual content

Moderate: Car accident

womanwill's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Violence, Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Mental illness

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Rape, Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Transphobia

Minor: Body horror, Car accident, Eating disorder, and Medical trauma

vanguardens's review

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.”

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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