An amazing debut novel! Freshwater will draw you into the life of Ada and her other selves. This story mesmerized me and kept me reading. Masterful story telling and certainly unlike anything I’ve read before. This novel will make you look beyond the surface and you’ll find yourself thinking of the fractured pieces of yourself. The mythology in the story was so brilliantly written that I honestly started to wonder if there was perhaps some truth to some of these beliefs.

Great job! I cannot wait to see what this author will do next.

Freshwater is the semi-autobiographical account of a young woman suffering from multiple personality disorder after a traumatic event. Steeped in Igbo tradition the main character Ada lives a life straddling two worlds. As the daughter of the serpent goddess Ala, she is born with “one foot on the other side” occupying the liminal spaces between the spirit realm and the flesh. What is the cause of her fractured self? Is she possessed or is she mad? What is reality? Can we accept both of these as plausible explanations?

In this rich and mystical novel Emezi explores self-identity, human frailty, sacrifice and resurrection. Freshwater is such an innovative work, the majority of which is narrated by the spirits that inhabit Ada. It is not often that you come across a book that is written so eloquently, that touches your soul in the deep parts and leaves you breathless. This is why we read books.

I would like to thank Grove Atlantic Press and Akwaeke Emezi for an advanced reader’s edition of this book in exchange for an honest review.

African mysticism takes center stage in this novel which explores growing up, mental health, and passion. Ada is born with a multitude of gods within her head, who are not locked out by the shutting of the door. As she grows, a more specific "god" steps forward in the form of her wild, promiscuous side and controls her passion and physicality. All along the gods demand blood, and we find Ada cutting with broken glass wherever she can find it, and the appearance of the blood calms the plethora of voices in her head.

I really liked the premise here. The representation of the confusion in a mind that struggles with depression, anxiety, or personality disorders is well represented with these external forces of African origin. Ada comes from Nigeria to America and brings those influences with her. I have mixed feelings about the depth of this method, because eventually you'll be reading and go, "okay, so now what?" There is some growth as the gods grow in power over Ada, but Ada herself does not grow or ever really gain control. She is always a servant to the forces within, and that sends a troubling message to those looking for hope, control, or some measure of peace. I suppose it could be trying to bring attention to the multitudes that are lost, but if that's the purpose I don't feel like the mark is hit.

Overall the book made me feel hopeless and lost, and in my current mental space that is not a place in which I necessarily wanted to be. But I suppose neither did Ada. So, point made, I guess?

It's a good book. Don't rush to it, but if you're looking for something different and sad that will make you think, consider Freshwater.

It's hard to talk about something that has no precedent. Freshwater is utterly unique, and the result is breathtaking. It's a dark, sensual, and thoughtful novel about a young woman coming to terms with and accepting the multiple identities that define her.

The details of Ada's life - raised in Nigeria, relocated to the U.S. for college - are only an elemental framework for what is ultimately an introspective story. The majority of this book is narrated by a chorus of Ada's selves - conceptualized as Nigerian ogbanje - until a traumatic assault in college causes two of these selves to take shape, as Asụghara and Saint Vincent.

What I found so stimulating about this novel is that it challenged a lot of my conceptions about health and identity, particularly in how these are often so heavily informed by western culture. The perceived objectivity of psychology is something I've always found comforting and taken for granted, but with this book, I'm reminded of the significance of the relationship between culture and identity. Steeped in Igbo folklore, Freshwater chronicles Ada's journey (and Emezi's, as the book is informed by a lot of autobiographical elements) in a way that's challenging, unexpected, and beautiful.

Emezi's prose is so assured and lyrical it's hard to believe this is a debut. This is an author to watch and a novel that absolutely everyone should read.

Thank you to Netgalley, Grove Press, and Akwaeke Emezi for the advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

I read this book for free as an #ARC from #netgalley.

This book is not an easy read. However it is totally worth the effort. I was not familiar with the concept of the ogbanje before I read this book and I know little about the Igbo and broader Nigerian cultures. Yet there was so much that Ada experienced that I could relate to. This story is told from varying viewpoints and the style takes a while to get used to. However I was heavily invested in Ada's story and genuinely cared about what happened to her. I would definitely recommend taking on this challenging story to anyone willing to stretch themselves outside their comfort zone.

Akwaeke Emezi’s Freshwater is a novel of layers that do not always nicely overlap; in fact, the pieces often seem to not fit together at all. It is a novel born from trauma and emotional paroxysms, a read that erupts with them throughout. You have to peel back the layers to get to what Emezi has laid underneath, to find the gems, to find the hidden well of pain and sentiment offered here, and that may not be a satisfying journey for many readers.

Freshwater is the story of Ada, a young Nigerian woman with a fractured self, or multiple personalities, due to the gods who have mistakenly taken root in her body and mind. It is a dark novel portraying the malevolence within us – that darkness at the very deepest depths of us that we hope to never have to witness of ourselves or in others. It is a novel that portrays the psychological effects of such darkness and emotional violence. When Ada comes into adulthood and leaves her splintered home for a new existence in a Virginia college, a traumatic sexual experience further shatters her mind and her multiple personalities are born. Ada fights a battle between herself, her other selves and her God she left behind, a battle to regain her equilibrium that veers her onto a dangerous course of self-destructive behavior. A path of bloodshed, tears and an equal dose of sexual trauma and exploration. Ada fights with herself, realizing something is wrong. She wants a change but her other personalities refuse to let her go.

Let me tell you now, I loved her because in the moment of her devastation, the moment she lost her mind, that girl reached for me so hard that she went completely mad, and I loved her because when I flooded through, she spread herself open and took me in without hesitation, bawling and broken, she absorbed me fiercely, all the way; she denied me nothing. I loved her because she gave me a name.

Freshwater was a novel that took a lot of patience for me to read. If you’re a reader who clings to continuity, who needs progressive character development to follow the path a protagonist’s life, or a reader who is in the least bit squeamish, this will likely prove to be a difficult read for you. Not an unworthy read – but a difficult one. The narrative leapt back and forth in time with new personalities and overlapping stories already told being retold differently. This book was a collage, a kaleidoscope, a reflection of a splintered self. Given the subject matter, the shattered quality of the narrative is understandable but at times arduous to read.

It was hard for me to fully connect with Freshwater when the moments of truth, heartbreak and the demise of entire relationships in Ada’s life were narrated, not fully shown in action. Emezi’s debut novel is more about the relationship between Ada and her other selves –internally—than it is about her outward experiences in the world. (view spoiler) It wasn’t enough for me, though some parts of the novel were absolutely gripping, and there were some lovely lines scattered throughout.

He wanted to pretend he was somehow better than he knew he was; he wasn’t ready to throw himself into sin. Humans find it easier to just lie and lie to themselves.

However, in those neglected moments (which is probably why the book is relatively short) the novel loses its soul and misses opportunities.

Other qualms:

The quote headings at the start of each chapter made no sense to me in the context of the story. Often, they made no sense to me at all though I got the feeling that they were Nigerian sayings. And I had too many WTF moments here because of the haphazard way life events and realizations were thrown into the narrative, no build-up, just dumped. I found myself reading whole passages and thinking, Where did this come from – outta thin air? That was the main issue I had with this novel: there was no real character development aside from Ada and Ewan, just a series of narrations and events.

I also never understood the title of the book. There was a reference to it at the end of the novel, but I found it to be too cryptic and unclear, so I still have no idea what it was trying to convey, why it was the namesake of the book. Because of this, I had the noteworthy experience of loving and hating Freshwater. There were moments where I couldn’t wait to turn the page and others where I skimmed past the incoherence of the We. Because of that, Freshwater’s dazzling and dreadful moments condensed down into a grade of 3 stars. ***

Two "it's not you, it's me" stars. This book clearly spoke to a lot of people, judging from other reviews, but it wasn't for me at all. Just too abstract and weird. I prefer a more concrete writing style, and I just couldn't connect with this or get anything out of it.

incredibly beautiful. I'm not sure how to do this justice. dissociative identity disorder told through the gods that are those personalities voices. gender fluid, bi or possibly pansexual, Nigerian main character. A++++++++++

A unique and challenging read. It wasn't my favorite but that's not to say that I do not respect Emezi's talent. I also appreciated the opportunity to read a new author and one with a different global perspective. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC.

I waited a whole week after reading Freshwater to sit down and write a review. I needed some time to digest it and establish a succinct review. Thanks to and Grove Press and Netgalley for the advanced copy.
Emezi has written an extraordinary work of bravery and creativity. At first I thought how difficult it is to critique an autobiographical novel. I mean, it's not like one can look at the "plot" and say "they shouldn't have had that happen in the book" or "that was unnecessary." The fact is that Emezi could have taken far less risks than she did with Freshwater.
This is a book about a self that is divided, splintered, fractured. The selves are the main narrators. This makes for some confusion. The selves can be unreliable due to their instinctive nature and zig-zagging timelines. For the first 50 pages or so, I had to re-read several paragraphs or pages just to ensure that I knew what exactly was happening, what Emezi wanted to convey. I was annoyed at first, but it didn't take long for me to get over it. I get annoyed when my socks get wet, too. I get over it. Like I said, there could have been other stylistic choices made that would have made this book easier to the reader; however, the impact would be watered down. I also had to do some research on ogbanje, Igbo/Nigerian folklore and culture. Books should expand our minds and worldviews, teach us new things. Freshwater did just that.
I wouldn't describe Ada as having dissociative disorder or multiple personalities. To do this would really Westernize the ogbanje experience. There are visceral, naked portrayals of trauma and pain which introduce Ada's selves; which may affect some trigger warnings. At the core of this work is a metaphysical journey, of Ada's search for becoming whole. It's really a striking debut novel. Emezi has guts! I look forward to her next work.

Sometimes you know you're going to love a book by the end of the first chapter.

You know that Pixar movie where the girl has all the people in her head? Mad, sad and happy or something. And it's really funny but poignant? Well, Freshwater is sort of like that. Except it's for adults and some of the people in the girl's head are rather malicious. Also, they're actually gods, born and trapped into human flesh.

This book was absolutely breathtaking and so heartbreakingly beautifully written.

Twin gods born into 'the Ada', as they call the girl they live inside, start the telling of the story. They take us through her childhood in Nigeria and the first part of her college education in the United States.

A traumatic event sees another god born into Ada's mind - Asụghara. Asụghara is strong, she will protect the Ada and make sure she is never hurt again. But Asughura is also nasty and has certain appetites that need to be met.

Described as an autobiographical novel, Freshwater is the story of a traumatised young woman whose mind fractures in order to protect her. The arc follows Ada's descent into a necessary madness and her desperate attempts to claw her way out again.

I adored the imagery and the complete disregard for reality or conventions. The 'marble room' of Ada's mind is where gods are born and where Ada retreats to, allowing her alternate selves to control her body instead. Its smooth, cool walls shelter her and her internal gods but they are also a self-made prison which will cause her even more heartbreak along the way.

The tone of the first section floats and wafts like the shadows that are the twin gods who narrate it. The next section, where we're flung into the arms and voice of Asụghara, is much more solid, reflecting this new god's fury and disdain for all things human.

The merging of reality with unreality, combined with gorgeous writing, reminded me of reading Anna Spargo-Ryan's brilliant first novel, The Paper House, a story of a woman who descends into madness after the stillbirth of her first child.

I highly recommend Freshwater - I devoured it as quickly as I could and was left feeling quite stunned, but thoroughly satisfied, when it ended.

This book was beautifully written. It wasn’t an easy read, but one shouldn’t be too comfortable reading someone’s mental illness. We are presented with a retelling of Ada’s life as a Nigerian woman with a fractured personality, mostly told from the perspective of other identities. They protect her through many difficult experiences but at other times cause her harm. I enjoyed it, but perhaps enjoy isn’t the correct word to use for subject matter such as this.

I'm blown away by the unique storytelling of this debut novel. It's rare that you read something that makes you say, "Wow, I've never read a book like this before." Ada was born "with one foot on the other side," her body shared by Ọgbanje, spirits from traditional Nigerian mythology. Her story is told through their eyes as well as her own. It's a haunting tale, spiritual and deeply human. Emezi is a masterful writer, and I can't wait to see what she writes next.

Fortunately I was familiar with the terms ogbanje and iya-uwa after having taught Chinua Achebe's novel, Things Fall Apart to Honors English classes. But this novel is so unique in that it's told from the spirits' perspectives as "the Ada" is referred to as the body/receptacle and "We" is the speaker. i admit it takes a while to get used to this narrative but once you are used to it, the novel takes on fascinating new characteristics that make you think very deeply and question all you may believe about human existence. As we follow Ada from birth to college, we witness her difficult childhood, her descent into troublemaking and mental illness--nothing of which is fully under her control. But the prose is lovely enough to savor and re-read while making you weep at its pathos and vulnerability of characters. Simply a beautiful book!

Official review now on my book blog: https://africanbookaddict.com/2018/02/03/freshwater-by-akwaeke-emezi/

When you dissect this stunning debut novel, it has many more layers than you might think. It deals with schizophrenia (or multiple personality disorder, I am not a professional in these questions), but because it is set in Africa, author Akwaeke Emezi adapted the Western medicine diagnosis into a more rudimentary one: demons. So not only is the protagonist Ada possessed by two god-demons, the story is also told from their perspective, which is really intriguing. How often do you get to read a book written in the "we"-perspective? Much less simple, but eerily disturbing sentences like "our body", which is how the protagonist is referred to by the demons.

It often felt as if at any point, this novel was teetering on the brink of becoming unacceptable, distasteful and offensive, but - in my modest opinion - it always managed to reign itself in. A lot of things about the demons actually made sense and changed common plot points into something innovative. After Ada is raped (trigger warning!), the demons gain power, form and voice - they are literally birthed from the trauma and also take over her consciousness at any later sexual activities (even consensual ones) as a distancing mechanism that Ada employs. The novel also describes self-harm (trigger warning for that, too!) as a sacrifice of blood to the demons living inside of her. As I said: common narratives, but twisted into a new directions. The undeniable element of magical realism certainly helped with accepting these twists of these delicate subjects. If you can not read a realistic novel treating mental issues in this way, just read it as a fantasy novel. There are moments that make this reading clearly the prefered one, such as when the demons suddenly make Ada allergic to many things in order to keep her body "clean".

The symbolism was maybe obvious, as the demons were very balanced. One is African, called a "beast", clearly the Id. The other is Christian, called a "saint", clearly the Super-Ego. One is female, the other male - Ada therefore carries both genders inside of her (hence the LGBT-categorization) and the demons later make her live as trans* and undergo surgery for a more ambiguous, gender-non-conforming body. Since both demons have a straight sexual orientation, depending on which one is in control, Ada is attracted to both genders and therefore bi, another reason for the LGBT-label on this novel.

The (granted, unavoidable and maybe evident) ending felt a bit rushed. Otherwise, this was a great novel! Certainly very innovative and crushing genre-boundaries as well as gender-boundaries. It is a good candidate for a re-read, as I am sure there are many subtle things I missed in this short, but so multilayered and rich book.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was unique, complex, thought provoking, and seriously unlike anything I’ve ever read. The folklore, the ideas, and the different points of view made this a very interesting and intriguing read. I loved how the book discussed many different serious topics and made them a part of the story. Reading this book was like a rollercoaster, there were ups, downs, and you never knew where it was going to go. I really had no problems with this book other than the fact that it could be extremely confusing at times, which led me to be bored. Certain POV’s held less weight to the story for me, so I didn’t enjoy reading them as much. Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed this read and would highly recommend it, with some trigger warnings.

I received an arc of this from the publisher through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.