Reviews

Sötvatten by Akwaeke Emezi

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kapertures's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

naicrix's review against another edition

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challenging dark slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? N/A
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

Content Warnings

georgia_sara93's review against another edition

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challenging dark informative mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.0

Ada is a troubled child. They struggle with emotion. Their parents prayed them into existence and brought other things with them into this life. As life continues and events occur altered states begin to arise.

This was an incredible book as per usual by Emezi! I finally read their debut book!!! The writing is incredibly done as someone who didn’t know of any Nigerian spiritual culture before, I feel like I learned a lot through this incredible read! Slow paced, things move and grow long before you can understand where it’s all going. And once again this book solidifies Emezi as one of my favourite authors! The diversity of their books is just incredible and something I always love!

alwaysairie's review against another edition

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4.0

What an amazing and beautiful debut Emezi blessed us with! If you want something refreshing, new, or just well written give this book a chance. It is very rich and tackles deep topics and issues regarding human nature, mental health, race, and spirituality. You may be a bit taken off guard at the beginning but a few pages in and you won't want to put it down. The Life of Ada and by association Akwaeke is a frightening, off-putting, and deeply touching story about dealing with a fractured mind and still striving for happiness and flourishment.
I recommend it, it is a short read and a very nourishing one that will certainly please those who have an open mind to spirituality and may show people set on a religious another aspect of it.

shimmery's review against another edition

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Really interesting to read a book about a person who has a totally different neurological experience of the world actually written by the person who experiences that.

This was completely different to anything else I’ve ever read and so felt hugely valuable to read. It doesn’t shy away from depicting everything the main character suffers through so was a very difficult read at times.

vtlism's review against another edition

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dark sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I preferred the author's memoir instead. This is auto fiction but it has none of the triumph of the memoir, only the most upsetting depressing content.