Reviews tagging 'Dysphoria'

Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi

50 reviews

raneyak's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

It got a little confusing at times, but overall this book is a lyrical exploration of trauma and recovery. The main character has traits of some sort of dissociation disorder, but rather than portraying her experience through a psychological lens the book tells her story in terms of her cultural and spiritual beliefs.  

The story is told in a non-linear fashion, jumping back and forth in the timeline while different characters (personalities/identities within the main character) tell stories from their perspectives. This choice worked excellently for the story being told, with story pieces being told not in order of time but instead in order of personal significance. 

This book was quite explicit, though, and while the language was lyrical it still talked about self harm and suicidal ideation. Be very careful reading it if you have a history of mental health issues. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Transphobia, Blood, Child abuse, Rape, Grief, Dysphoria, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Alcohol, Medical content, Outing, and Homophobia

poubelleboi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Veramente originale, ben scritto e interessante. "Acquadolce" di Akwaeke Emezi è un viaggio nella mente di una ragazza nigeriana col DDI (disturbo dissociativo dell'identità - se non lo conoscete, prima si chiamava qualcosa come disturbo della personalità multipla ma non è più corretto) che però non è trattato in maniera medica ma spirituale. I suoi alter sono dèi con desideri e obiettivi da dèi. Quando la protagonista si trasferisce negli Stati Uniti, loro combattono per tornare alle loro origini, in Nigeria, e dai loro fratellisorelle. Ed è troppo interessante leggere il loro punto di vista, che è allo stesso tempo esterno e interno. Veramente una lettura da dieci.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Blood, Death, Grief, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Dysphoria, Lesbophobia, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Eating disorder, Abandonment, Abortion, Homophobia, and Infidelity

audaudaud's review

dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Blood, Drug use, Dysphoria, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

caelikean's review

medium-paced

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

5.0

This book left me breathless, torn, seen, changed. Awaeke Emezi is a master at this craft. Their insight is brilliant; their creativity is unreal. I highly recommend this book to anyone with one foot on the other side.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Blood, and Dysphoria

helinae's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm and Rape

Moderate: Dysphoria and Addiction

booksandboardgames's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Self harm, Rape, Sexual violence, Dysphoria, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, and Panic attacks/disorders

cocorose's review against another edition

dark emotional tense 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Dysphoria, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Sexual content, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Blood, Body shaming, and Drug use

Minor: Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual violence, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Eating disorder, and Toxic relationship

bbalcom4's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Eating disorder, Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Car accident, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Dysphoria, Suicide attempt, and Mental illness

thewoodlandbookshelf's review

challenging dark mysterious 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Alcohol, Eating disorder, Medical content, Sexual content, Dysphoria, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Death, Transphobia, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Car accident, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Abortion, and Pedophilia

waybeyondblue's review

adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Dysphoria

Moderate: Sexual assault, Death, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Infidelity, and Body shaming