Reviews tagging 'Dysphoria'

Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi

65 reviews

kmgard's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Outing, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria

kanadrallegria's review

dark emotional 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

3.75

A very unique approach to mental health and spiritualism. Dark yet hopeful. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Child abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Blood, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Drug use, Medical content, Car accident, and Sexual harassment

lanid's review

dark mysterious reflective

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, and Dysphoria

bookwyrmdancer's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Self harm, Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, and Dysphoria

mariebrunelm's review

challenging dark reflective 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

Freshwater, Emezi's debut novel, isn't exactly as fresh and delightful as its title suggests. It's a raw, violent, disturbing book about identity - or rather, identities. I'm quite certain I didn't understand it fully, and I'm not sure it's a book to understand. It's an experience, the experience of a radically other way of being. I won't even try to write a review because that's not my place. I just appreciate this book for existing, and for opening my eyes to sheer possibility. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Car accident, and Dysphoria

Minor: Child abuse and Domestic abuse

ireadtoescape_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad fast-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

5.0

There’s so much in this book. I’m not sure what to say yet. Taking some time on it. I will say it’s excellent. First book I read by Akwaeke Emezi and I’m in awe. Almost felt too quick. 

I may never say more than this but this book is incredible. Couldn’t stop until I finished. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, and Suicide

Minor: Rape, Medical content, and Dysphoria

thepennykettle's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Dysphoria

kumquats87's review

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting and Dysphoria

Moderate: Animal death, Biphobia, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Medical content, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, and Violence

dwejra's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

This is, without a doubt, one of the most original novels I've ever read. In this gripping autobiography Emezi blurs the lines between the events from their life and their emotional journey of dealing with trauma, and accepting their nature as ogbanje.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, and Dysphoria

Moderate: Child death

nicolescottwv's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Alcohol

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, and Dysphoria