Freshwater
- Downloads：5264
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-03-27 14:13:40
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Akwaeke Emezi
- ISBN：0571345409
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
Ada has always been unusual。 Her parents prayed her into existence， but something must have gone awry。 Their troubled child begins to develop separate selves and is prone to fits of anger and grief。 When Ada grows up and heads to college in America， a traumatic event crystallises the selves into something more powerful。 As Ada fades into the background of her own mind， these 'alters' - now protective， now hedonistic - take control， shifting her life in a dangerous direction。
Reviews
Elaine
，
This book follows Ada and her journey to discover her metaphysical identity。 Discovering your true self can be difficult and harmful when you are not fully yourself。 Ada is continually described as having 'one foot on the other side'。 This is due to the others that inhabit her mind。 The chapters are divided up between We， Ashụghara， and Ada。 These are the ones that inhabit Ada's mind。 The story revolves around their experiences within Ada's physical body and what they do with her life， and her r This book follows Ada and her journey to discover her metaphysical identity。 Discovering your true self can be difficult and harmful when you are not fully yourself。 Ada is continually described as having 'one foot on the other side'。 This is due to the others that inhabit her mind。 The chapters are divided up between We， Ashụghara， and Ada。 These are the ones that inhabit Ada's mind。 The story revolves around their experiences within Ada's physical body and what they do with her life， and her relationships， when they are in control。 This is a beautifully written book and if you are looking for a story that does not center around the western experience and ideals this is it！ Akwaeke Emezi wrote a stunning story， unlike anything I have ever read before。 。。。more
Julia
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Beyond perfect。
Katie Gurel
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Freshwater is one of those books that made me think and reflect while reading。 It’s also one of those books that feel like they’re smarter than you。 It’s hard to describe this book， but at the same time I feel like it was really important for me to read this book at this time。 A thought-provoking book that defies boundaries and genres and will stick with me forever。
Jeanine
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Wow。 I need more stars。What an amazing book; so creative and unique， a story like none I’ve ever read。 I don’t know where to start with a review …gushing about how beautiful and powerful this was？ How completely engrossed， intrigued， and a bit scared I was？ How lost I felt when it finished？ This is a stunning piece of storytelling deserving of all the praise it has won。I can’t speak to the accuracy of the depiction of a dissociative personality disorder， I can say that each self was so believabl Wow。 I need more stars。What an amazing book; so creative and unique， a story like none I’ve ever read。 I don’t know where to start with a review …gushing about how beautiful and powerful this was？ How completely engrossed， intrigued， and a bit scared I was？ How lost I felt when it finished？ This is a stunning piece of storytelling deserving of all the praise it has won。I can’t speak to the accuracy of the depiction of a dissociative personality disorder， I can say that each self was so believable in its portrayal of one distinct self， connected to others。 The way the book dove into each should have felt fragmented and disorienting especially with the addition of the non-linear format/timeline but there was an authoritative pursuit of the story that prevailed allowing each self， voice， memory to add more layers of understanding all rolling into this complex， exciting story that toes the line between self-preservation and destruction。 Truly compelling， I don’t have the words to describe how extraordinary I found this。I’ll be thinking about this book for a while。 Can’t recommend it highly enough。 。。。more
Justina
，
it took me about 50 pages to really get into this。 it was honestly confusing at first （i didn’t read any synopsis or review about the novel） but once i looked up some of the Igbo and realized how the subjects are based in religion， everything became very literal。 based on some of the reviews i’ve read now， a lot of people felt like the spirits that inhabited Ada were figurative or metaphorical and idk。。。 maybe it’s this very Christian-centric post-colonialism culture we live that gives people pe it took me about 50 pages to really get into this。 it was honestly confusing at first （i didn’t read any synopsis or review about the novel） but once i looked up some of the Igbo and realized how the subjects are based in religion， everything became very literal。 based on some of the reviews i’ve read now， a lot of people felt like the spirits that inhabited Ada were figurative or metaphorical and idk。。。 maybe it’s this very Christian-centric post-colonialism culture we live that gives people permission to dismiss things outside of their norm as “not real。” i really took the subjects and their actions in this novel at face value though。 nonetheless， readers obviously make their own interpretations！！ and this book really does make you think！ the writing isn’t quite as “lyrical & light yet packs a punch” as some of Emezi’s other work， but damn！！ i cannot believe this was their debut novel！！it’s a very different novel than anything i’ve ever read and for that reason， i’ll be thinking about it constantly for the next couple of days。 a story that deals with identity， spirituality， trauma， and relationships。 not an easy or quick read， but definitely worth it 。。。more
Sarah
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I have no words to describe how this story affected me， changed me。 I tried to come up with a review， with adjectives， with some way to put this book into adequate words， and nothing I write does justice my feelings through and after finishing the book。 I will be reading Ada's story over and over until the book's spine is cracked and the pages worn through。I highly suggest the audio book - the author themself narrates， and there is much power in receiving the story through their voice。 I have no words to describe how this story affected me， changed me。 I tried to come up with a review， with adjectives， with some way to put this book into adequate words， and nothing I write does justice my feelings through and after finishing the book。 I will be reading Ada's story over and over until the book's spine is cracked and the pages worn through。I highly suggest the audio book - the author themself narrates， and there is much power in receiving the story through their voice。 。。。more
Amber
，
I could tell early on that Freshwater was not going to be a great fit for me as a reader。 Literary fiction is a bit hit-or-miss。 I like the lyrical language used in the genre， but the stories often don’t hold my interest。 This is to say nothing against the books themselves in the literary fiction genre – I’m used to fantasy， which tends to be more quickly paced。Freshwater is told in an interesting way， from the perspective of multiple personalities inside the body of a young woman。 This split in I could tell early on that Freshwater was not going to be a great fit for me as a reader。 Literary fiction is a bit hit-or-miss。 I like the lyrical language used in the genre， but the stories often don’t hold my interest。 This is to say nothing against the books themselves in the literary fiction genre – I’m used to fantasy， which tends to be more quickly paced。Freshwater is told in an interesting way， from the perspective of multiple personalities inside the body of a young woman。 This split in self is not mental health related， it’s because Ada is ogbanje， which is similar to the western idea of a changeling。 In Freshwater， we learn of the development of Ada’s selves， as well as multiple levels of transition – physical， sexual， spiritual， emotional。 it’s beautifully written and the perspectives were each intriguing and easy to differentiate， even in audiobook form。 I fully appreciated Emezi’s work in Freshwater and am happy to attest that it’s a wonderful book。The narrative within Freshwater feels detached， but I also believe that’s one of the intriguing things about the way this book is written。 The ogbanje is experiencing human life， but it is not invested， not fully living it。 Depending on the personality narrating at the time， you feel a different primal emotion， or the thought patterns present differently。 As a reader， I liked the detached storytelling for two reasons。 First， I found it drove the characterization really well。 Second， there is a lot of trauma in Freshwater。Telling the story from a more distant perspective helps the reader witness the trauma without being as damaged by it。 In very much the same way Asugara protects Ada from the horrors of her life， so to does this storytelling allow the reader to see what is happening and be angry about it… but it limits the descriptions to a place where it feels… safer。 Don’t get me wrong， I’d still slap a huge content warning on it。Freshwater is the sort of book that… I don’t know if I’d recommend， per se。 It’s well-written， but it’s heavy and heartbreaking and very different from other books。 It would have to be recommended to a certain kind of reader。 Or I think someone would have to solicit my opinion on it。 If you’re intrigued， pick it up （that’s what I did！） but know that it’s a little magical realism， a little literary fiction， and a lot of introspective language。 It’s a work of art， but I wouldn’t say I enjoyed it。 。。。more
Alyssa Cypher
，
I couldn’t put this book down - such a full portrayal of madness - visceral， provoking， weaving， layered。 “The world in my head has been far more real than the one outside - maybe that’s the exact definition of madness， come to think of it。”
Alyssa Rickard
，
Beautifully written， but Freshwater was mentally exhausting to read。 It forced me to reflect on the various identities that I’ve exhibited over the years and journey of merging those identities as I’ve become more confident and certain about the person I am and want to be。 So saddened and angered by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s transphobic comments and deliberate efforts to disassociate herself from Emezi。 I saw them together pioneering a new wave of feminist Nigerian/West African literature， but Beautifully written， but Freshwater was mentally exhausting to read。 It forced me to reflect on the various identities that I’ve exhibited over the years and journey of merging those identities as I’ve become more confident and certain about the person I am and want to be。 So saddened and angered by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s transphobic comments and deliberate efforts to disassociate herself from Emezi。 I saw them together pioneering a new wave of feminist Nigerian/West African literature， but I guess Emezi will be alone in that endeavor for now。 。。。more
Minna Dunås
，
Jag respekterar den här boken， mer än vad jag gillar den！ Precis som med Stanley Kubricks sätt att filma en jättebebis som flyter runt i rymden。 Eller typ Ian Curtis ”a loaded gun won’t set you free， or so they say。。。”Det känns stort och viktigt och betydelsefullt och man kan inte göra annat än att ta ett steg tillbaka och， typ， tacka författaren。 Så känns den här boken tycker jag。 Det finns nåt större， eller det betyder nåt mer än bara det som står。 Och det är saker som behöver sägas。 Det är rö Jag respekterar den här boken， mer än vad jag gillar den！ Precis som med Stanley Kubricks sätt att filma en jättebebis som flyter runt i rymden。 Eller typ Ian Curtis ”a loaded gun won’t set you free， or so they say。。。”Det känns stort och viktigt och betydelsefullt och man kan inte göra annat än att ta ett steg tillbaka och， typ， tacka författaren。 Så känns den här boken tycker jag。 Det finns nåt större， eller det betyder nåt mer än bara det som står。 Och det är saker som behöver sägas。 Det är röster som behöver höras！！ 。。。more
Louise
，
2 stelle e mezzo
Tyas Pusposari
，
It's such a fascinating read， and I don't think I have read anything like this before。 The first few chapters are difficult to follow; I indeed struggled reading it。 Nevertheless， it brings a unique perspective around mental health and gender identity through its use of alternative spiritual point of view。 It's such a fascinating read， and I don't think I have read anything like this before。 The first few chapters are difficult to follow; I indeed struggled reading it。 Nevertheless， it brings a unique perspective around mental health and gender identity through its use of alternative spiritual point of view。 。。。more
Erika Patterson
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DNF after 50%， I just could not care about the characters anymore。 Definitely wear headphones if you're listening to this one near little ones。I may try it again， but it is not holding my attention at the moment。 DNF after 50%， I just could not care about the characters anymore。 Definitely wear headphones if you're listening to this one near little ones。I may try it again， but it is not holding my attention at the moment。 。。。more
Jodi
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DNF'd @ 40%。 I'm just not in the appropriate mind-space for this right now。 DNF'd @ 40%。 I'm just not in the appropriate mind-space for this right now。 。。。more
Leslie
，
Excellent。
David
，
**Content warning: this novel （not my review） contains scenes of rape， violence， self-harm， and suicide。When we are born， the gates to the spirit world are supposed to shut after us， but with Ada， the gates were left open。 A host of spirits lives inside her， observing influencing， taking her over， protecting her。 Each new trauma in her life gives birth to a new spirit that takes over。Freshwater takes its premise from an Igbo spirit called ogbanje， that is born into families， riding the wombs of **Content warning: this novel （not my review） contains scenes of rape， violence， self-harm， and suicide。When we are born， the gates to the spirit world are supposed to shut after us， but with Ada， the gates were left open。 A host of spirits lives inside her， observing influencing， taking her over， protecting her。 Each new trauma in her life gives birth to a new spirit that takes over。Freshwater takes its premise from an Igbo spirit called ogbanje， that is born into families， riding the wombs of mothers and pulling their children into the grave。 But Ada's ogbanje makes a powerful pact with the world and stays。The story is told in a polyphony of the different spirits that inhabit Ada at different parts of her life， born into her during traumatic moments。 They take the reigns and direct her actions in ways they think are protective， but being only partial selves， their actions are often misguided。Ada exists outside the binary of spirit and flesh， and later in the novel， outside the gender binary。 Author， Emezi uses the binary or non-binary between flesh and spirit to talk about the non-binary of gender。 。。。more
Kristina
，
FRESHWATER is one of the most unique books I've ever read。 I actually read her most recent novel， THE DEATH OF VIVEK OJI first， which I enjoyed， but this debut novel by her is stunning and one of a kind。 It is even hard to describe。 The best way I interpreted it is one girl's way of dealing with unspeakable trauma。 How Emezi describes Ada's coping mechanisms are through the eyes of spirits/other selves that are a part of Ada。 Ada was born in Nigeria with the door not being completely closed to " FRESHWATER is one of the most unique books I've ever read。 I actually read her most recent novel， THE DEATH OF VIVEK OJI first， which I enjoyed， but this debut novel by her is stunning and one of a kind。 It is even hard to describe。 The best way I interpreted it is one girl's way of dealing with unspeakable trauma。 How Emezi describes Ada's coping mechanisms are through the eyes of spirits/other selves that are a part of Ada。 Ada was born in Nigeria with the door not being completely closed to "the other side。" This leaves her with competing interests within。 From a mental health perspective， I see the other selves as a form of dissociation that Ada uses to live her life。 But the way that Emezi gives voice to these other selves is so interesting。 The vast majority of the book is not in Ada's voice。 We spend most time with Asụghara who takes over particularly during Ada's sexual encounters and relationships and Saint Vincent who leans into Ada's gender identity journey。 This book really is breathtaking and so hard to describe。 I know I did not do it justice， but please read this remarkable book！ 。。。more
William Ingram
，
4。5
Emma Widstrand
，
Jag hade svårt för den här boken， men jag vill inte med det säga att det inte är en bra bok。 För den är stark， kreativ， egen。 Den kräver att bli läst noga och sakta。 Jag hade gärna läst den i samklang med någon annan så att jag hade kunnat diskutera den。
Daniela
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I got about halfway through and put it down。 It was just confusing， annoying， rambling。 I think I see what the author was doing- by having the narrative be tossed around willy nilly by the spirits and giving the protagonist no agency， she was showing that she didn't really have any agency- that's my take anyways。 It was just too hard to read。 I got about halfway through and put it down。 It was just confusing， annoying， rambling。 I think I see what the author was doing- by having the narrative be tossed around willy nilly by the spirits and giving the protagonist no agency， she was showing that she didn't really have any agency- that's my take anyways。 It was just too hard to read。 。。。more
Nenia ✨️ I yeet my books back and forth ✨️ Campbell
，
Only $1。99 today！ （3/17）
Mookie
，
wow
Martina Soban
，
Un libro davvero particolare， che prima ti disorienta e poi ti va sentire a casa。
Bree Hometown
，
I had no idea what to expect but not only did I really enjoy this， it was also a tremendously eye-opening experience。 If your religious beliefs don’t make you squeamish， you should read this book。 But even if they do， read it anyway。You will be amazed how much every single one of us can relate to Ada’s experience in one way or another。We are all more layered and more complex than our societal boxes will allow。Once you open yourself up to that truth， Ada’s experience becomes an education in empat I had no idea what to expect but not only did I really enjoy this， it was also a tremendously eye-opening experience。 If your religious beliefs don’t make you squeamish， you should read this book。 But even if they do， read it anyway。You will be amazed how much every single one of us can relate to Ada’s experience in one way or another。We are all more layered and more complex than our societal boxes will allow。Once you open yourself up to that truth， Ada’s experience becomes an education in empathy and understanding for those who don’t actually fit any binary and those who struggle to fight an often losing battle of trying to make sense of a world so concretely limited。 。。。more
Jay
，
4。5
Katie Rich
，
Haunting。 Enthralling。 Evocative。 Challenging。
Anne
，
The writing in this book is gorgeous and astonishing; it was hard to keep my jaw off the floor。 I am not worthy。
Ilana
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DNF。 I’d forgotten who the author was。 The story is interesting and has a great premise but I’m unwilling to make time for members of a cult which denies women’s rights。 I would «identify as non-binary » too but don’t for very specific reasons。 I’ve never let these ideological considerations influence my reading choices before。 I do now because I do not trust anyone who thinks queer ideology is a good thing get into my head anymore。 I’ve been abused and gaslighted enough by these people who want DNF。 I’d forgotten who the author was。 The story is interesting and has a great premise but I’m unwilling to make time for members of a cult which denies women’s rights。 I would «identify as non-binary » too but don’t for very specific reasons。 I’ve never let these ideological considerations influence my reading choices before。 I do now because I do not trust anyone who thinks queer ideology is a good thing get into my head anymore。 I’ve been abused and gaslighted enough by these people who want to push their views on humanity on the rest of us via coercition and invasion of basic boundaries and I’m not having it。 I am the resistance。 My prerogative。 This isn’t a review， they are notes to myself and your comments on how you disapprove of my views are not needed or indeed appreciated unless you have something else to say aside from insults & attempts at shaming at total stranger because of words you dislike。 。。。more
Momina Kamran
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Woah。 I don’t know what to say， this book felt all over the place at times and it made me really uncomfortable but wow wow wow。
Shaazia
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4。5 stars。Ethereal， otherworldly， unlike anything I've ever read before。 4。5 stars。Ethereal， otherworldly， unlike anything I've ever read before。 。。。more
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Freshwater
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Freshwater&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Freshwater&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0