Reviews

Süßwasser by Akwaeke Emezi

historyofjess's review against another edition

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? Yes

3.75

This is NOT an easy read, but I did find it incredibly rewarding. Emezi tells a very dark story of mental illness and trauma in a very creative way, by focusing on the dissociative voices/characters within the central protagonist's mind. What results is a fascinating trip inside the mind of young woman who has weathered a lot of storms and is trying to find a way to survive in a body that has been misused by others, while also not feeling like home to her. It's a very emotional and spiritual (without being overly religious) read.

heidilreads's review against another edition

4.0

I find African authors to have very interesting content, particularly because it isn't formulaic

nastian's review against another edition

5.0

I didn't know what to expect, but I could not have expected this.
I don't know if it hit me because I myself resonated with so much of the story, because it was fragmented and hard to follow at times and the reader was left to piece it all together. Because it was written in such a way was both easy and difficult to read. Difficult because it was painful, because it was confusing. Easy because it consumed you. At any rate, 10/10.
It may take a second to get into the flow, but you won't regret it.

tushimi's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad

5.0

kitkatsbookden's review against another edition

4.5

Pretty sure I’ve stated this before but I would read  Emezi’s grocery list if they published it. This was fantastic. I wasn’t expecting the genderqueer themes and the concept was really interesting. I just wish it was longer!

4.5/5

airheadxt's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

2.75

I have never had a harder time following a story or watching a plot not develop to its full potential. obviously there’s skill in the writing but there’s more to a book than linguistic eloquence 

swegheimerk's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

casiuolc's review against another edition

4.0

I've never read anything like this!!

faazoh's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective 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

3.5

I read emezi’s memoir first and after reading this I think I better understand the context to their life/living. I love stories that delve into the messiness of love and sex and enjoyed teetering on the line of pain and pleasure. I do wish the ending was a little more pulled out.  it felt rushed and there seems to be a very big shift in Ada realizing that the spirits/selves don’t “own” her but she actually “owns” them. I think that deserved more time. 

badwolfreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-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

4.5