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internationalreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
kmgard's review against another edition
- 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
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
nannahnannah's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Ada is a Nigerian and Tamil woman whose sense of self fractures after a traumatic incident in college. She is also an ọgbanje, a minor god—or perhaps a collective god—Nigerian trickster spirits who had been more or less stuffed into Ada's human body when she was born. For years, Ada will fight with two distinct selves that form from the ọgbanje for control over her body and, if you're familiar with Western DID, the "front" of herself.
I won't lie, this book was painful to read for a host of reasons. It was frustrating, it was difficult, and at many times I wanted to put it down. Much of that has to do with my own difficulties with some of the things Ada was going through, and some of that had to do with me being completely uninterested in the repetition of the sex life of one of Ada's selves. There was so much sex. And a focus on men in general. But because this follows the author's life so closely, it's hard for me to fault that. When your trauma is so deeply rooted to men, it can make sense.
I also struggled a little bit with the prose. Don't get me wrong, overall Emezi's writing is gorgeous. But when every line is a little bit overwritten, the book becomes wearisome—some lines were beautiful, but at the same time I found myself wondering if they even meant something other than that. There were also a few problems I had with parts that were too coincidental, like when Ada needed to get into her boyfriend's room, so the book brought up random karate lessons that had never been mentioned before (and were never mentioned since), and Ada was able to kick the door down. Again, I'm aware this probably happened in the author's life, but as a story, it felt a little off.
However, the way that Emezi describes Ada's gender and dysphoria was incredibly relatable. That's just how I felt growing up and being called a boy: "the misfit of it fit." Even if it wasn't relatable to me in particular, it's so accessibly written.
I also want to make a note that the suicide parts are super intense. I did not feel that well mentally when or after I read them. If there weren't only a few pages left, I might not have finished it. Please be careful while reading this, but know that my reaction has no bearing on the work itself.
I feel bad rating this under four stars, but even though I consider this a very important work, it just wasn't a book I particularly enjoyed very much. And some extremely important works aren't enjoyable and aren't supposed to be. In this case, it's definitely a me problem and not the book's problem. It's beautifully written and so very honest, and I appreciate it so much for that, but near the end I just couldn't wait for it to be over. And yet I am very glad that I read it.
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Eating disorder
emily_journals's review against another edition
- 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
I found this to be a very intriguing exploration of identity, gender, and sexuality through the lens of Igbo religion and culture. This book was heartbreaking and profound and is a book that I will be rereading in the future to fully appreciate and absorb everything portrayed in this book.
Graphic: Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Outing
Minor: Biphobia, Homophobia, Transphobia, Stalking, and Lesbophobia
am2ara's review against another edition
Graphic: Self harm, Blood, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Car accident, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
laynemandros's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, Alcohol, and Dysphoria
lycheejelly's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Biphobia, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Homophobia, Misogyny, Vomit, and Dysphoria
Minor: Pedophilia, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Outing
snowforest's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Blood
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Lesbophobia, Outing, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail