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earthtokb's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
so much admiration for this book & this writer! it’s definitely inspired me as I go about writing my own Black, queer, trans af memoir. thanks, alwaeke!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
Minor: Sexual assault and Transphobia
ashleysbookthoughts's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
In my book, Akwaeke Emezi can do no wrong. I’ve loved every book of theirs I’ve read and all of their books are so different. When I read Freshwater back in 2018, it blew my mind. I wish I’d had bookstagram back then so I could have talked through it with someone!
Dear Senthuran is an honest, raw memoir in letters that goes into great depth regarding Emezi’s belief that they are ogbanje and just how much of a memoir-in-fiction that Freshwater was. It is at times hard to read (they go into great depth regarding suicidal ideation and past attempts) but always compelling and interesting. It at times can be hard work being in Emezi’s head – there is a lot of conflict here, which is probably a big part of why their stories are so emotionally evocative, but it’s definitely worth the journey.
Dear Senthuran is an honest, raw memoir in letters that goes into great depth regarding Emezi’s belief that they are ogbanje and just how much of a memoir-in-fiction that Freshwater was. It is at times hard to read (they go into great depth regarding suicidal ideation and past attempts) but always compelling and interesting. It at times can be hard work being in Emezi’s head – there is a lot of conflict here, which is probably a big part of why their stories are so emotionally evocative, but it’s definitely worth the journey.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Sexual assault
wholeottabooks's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
5.0
I don’t think I’ve ever read a more vulnerable memoir than this. Emezi is one of my favorite authors and I don’t think anyone elses writing can even begin to compare. Emezi is out of this world and beyond our time. They discuss non binary non human forms of life, the dedication and sacrifice it takes to reach your dreams, the solitude upon reaching them, and so much more. I wanted to hold Akwaeke and tell them how much they mean to me.. how much their mind, heart, and soul, and words speak to me… This memoir has many valuable life lessons and I think it’s one that’s meant to be savored, cherished like a sacred text, and studied for reflections.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Sexual assault
northernzephyr's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt and Dysphoria
Moderate: Transphobia, Violence, and Medical content
Minor: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, and Sexual assault
souplover2001's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
akwaeke emezi IS a god ! favourite letters include mutilation, execution, deathspace, canon, deity, worldbending, maps, holy, undefeated, and regeneration !!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Transphobia
elizea's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Moderate: Body horror, Gore, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Violence, and Medical content
savvylit's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
4.5
Dear Senthuran's epistolary format allows readers an incredibly personal glimpse into Emezi's relationships and fascinating life. Letter after letter, one thing quickly becomes clear: Emezi is unabashedly talented, passionate, joyful, and in love with their chosen family. They do also suffer, though, and this memoir intimately explores their past depression and suicidal ideation. That juxtaposition between the lowest lows and their joys is what really demonstrates Emezi's resiliency and dedication to living their life authentically.
Furthermore, beyond the powerful subject matter of Dear Senthuran, this memoir is absolutely brimming with unforgettable sentences. My own words can't do their words justice. Thus, here are a few quotes from Dear Senthuran:
"If just this terrified you - the tip of a feather - how am I supposed to open up entire wings?"
"What is love if not a shield thrown up around you when you are too injured to throw it up yourself?"
"People can do such spectacular things if you forget to tell them it's impossible. I want them to try."
"Part of bending the world we want into existence is that we get to choose who we want to be in it with, and I choose you."
Furthermore, beyond the powerful subject matter of Dear Senthuran, this memoir is absolutely brimming with unforgettable sentences. My own words can't do their words justice. Thus, here are a few quotes from Dear Senthuran:
"If just this terrified you - the tip of a feather - how am I supposed to open up entire wings?"
"What is love if not a shield thrown up around you when you are too injured to throw it up yourself?"
"People can do such spectacular things if you forget to tell them it's impossible. I want them to try."
"Part of bending the world we want into existence is that we get to choose who we want to be in it with, and I choose you."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Medical content, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Transphobia
criticalgayze's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Y'all, Emezi will do it and then do it again. A world of worlds live inside of their head, and they produce with the efficiency of an assembly-line author, yet each book is whole and unique and rejuvenating. Emezi lifts up the Queer in all the facets that the word can encompass and leaves a sense of refresh and enlightenment in their wake.
Even more affecting here for the artist and art-inclined among us, Emezi gives a sense of transparency that is often lacking in the business of the arts that can feel so intimidating, especially to historically marginalized creators. To that end, Emezi weaves in a level of knowledge and advice that is reminiscent of such workbook memoirs as You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero and Minority Leader by Stacey Abrams.
This work also bolsters what I have come to find about my own reading life. What seems to leave the greatest impact on me as a reader are works of memoir, auto-, and experimental fiction by Queer creators. Works that Queer the space of writing while being Queer themselves, and works that peel back the exterior and interior process of creation that help me access that space within myself. (Now to take Emezi's advice and start letting that inspire, instead of intimidate!)
Quotes:
I tell him that my search for somewhere to be is really a search for self, and the only self I feel at home with is one that doesn't exist, not anymore, one that's bee taken apart, whipped into dust. (2)
The magician tells me that other people can't do what I do, and maybe I believe him a little, but that's not the point. People can do such spectacular things if you forget to tell them it's impossible. I want them to try. (22)
Illusions are the best things to burn, I think, but some people consider such fires to be threats, and those who start them even worse. (24)
People would read Freshwater and speculate about what my career would have looked like after starting with a book so bold. I would be less of a threat, they wouldn't hesitate to call the book what it was - not the way they do when you're alive and young, Black and pretty and fucking talented, and you don't pretend like you don't know all of this. (30)
I am, at once, the person most bent on my death and the person most successful at keeping me alive; even the devil won't take me. (44)
So, you could just show a terrible thing and let the showing be the strength of it? I thought it was brilliant. (77)
'I stood at the border, stood at the edge, and claimed it as central,' you said, your voice weighted with intent. 'Claimed it as central and let the rest of the world move over to where I was.' (77)
You should see my centers, Ms. Morrison. They're glorious. They pull with the force of a planet and I'm patient; it's only a matter of time. (80)
The rules are clear, no matter the stakes: when anyone fucks with the work, burn them to the ground. (87)
Everything advances, mutates, we are in new worlds constantly (154)
It gets so ugly, this thing of punishing other for prioritizing their well-being over reassuring insecurities. (206)
It's never too late - that's a human lie of time, there is no late, there is mostly now because now is so flexible, I find. You can change a whole life, a whole world, inside of a now. (213)
'You write when you are most fragile, because you're changing from one form to another. These transformations and transmutations that take place - it has to be painful.' (227)
Even more affecting here for the artist and art-inclined among us, Emezi gives a sense of transparency that is often lacking in the business of the arts that can feel so intimidating, especially to historically marginalized creators. To that end, Emezi weaves in a level of knowledge and advice that is reminiscent of such workbook memoirs as You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero and Minority Leader by Stacey Abrams.
This work also bolsters what I have come to find about my own reading life. What seems to leave the greatest impact on me as a reader are works of memoir, auto-, and experimental fiction by Queer creators. Works that Queer the space of writing while being Queer themselves, and works that peel back the exterior and interior process of creation that help me access that space within myself. (Now to take Emezi's advice and start letting that inspire, instead of intimidate!)
Quotes:
I tell him that my search for somewhere to be is really a search for self, and the only self I feel at home with is one that doesn't exist, not anymore, one that's bee taken apart, whipped into dust. (2)
The magician tells me that other people can't do what I do, and maybe I believe him a little, but that's not the point. People can do such spectacular things if you forget to tell them it's impossible. I want them to try. (22)
Illusions are the best things to burn, I think, but some people consider such fires to be threats, and those who start them even worse. (24)
People would read Freshwater and speculate about what my career would have looked like after starting with a book so bold. I would be less of a threat, they wouldn't hesitate to call the book what it was - not the way they do when you're alive and young, Black and pretty and fucking talented, and you don't pretend like you don't know all of this. (30)
I am, at once, the person most bent on my death and the person most successful at keeping me alive; even the devil won't take me. (44)
So, you could just show a terrible thing and let the showing be the strength of it? I thought it was brilliant. (77)
'I stood at the border, stood at the edge, and claimed it as central,' you said, your voice weighted with intent. 'Claimed it as central and let the rest of the world move over to where I was.' (77)
You should see my centers, Ms. Morrison. They're glorious. They pull with the force of a planet and I'm patient; it's only a matter of time. (80)
The rules are clear, no matter the stakes: when anyone fucks with the work, burn them to the ground. (87)
Everything advances, mutates, we are in new worlds constantly (154)
It gets so ugly, this thing of punishing other for prioritizing their well-being over reassuring insecurities. (206)
It's never too late - that's a human lie of time, there is no late, there is mostly now because now is so flexible, I find. You can change a whole life, a whole world, inside of a now. (213)
'You write when you are most fragile, because you're changing from one form to another. These transformations and transmutations that take place - it has to be painful.' (227)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Drug abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Transphobia
Minor: Excrement
liaandersson's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
I love everything Akwaeke Emezi writes. They are such a phenomenal writer, I want every book they have ever written. I am transpired to a new dimension and I see life through their eyes - it's terrifying, beautiful, inspiring, saddening, and so many emotions at once. It feels weird writing a review on somebody's memoir, so I will simply say that this book was yet another literary masterpiece by Emezi, while we were afforded the opportunity to get to know them better on the way. Thank you for this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Medical content, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
tangleroot_eli's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Beautiful. Inspiring. Infuriating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Gore, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Infidelity, Racism, and Cannibalism
Minor: Sexual assault