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tashtasher's review
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Death, Grief, Car accident, and Racism
Moderate: Classism and Police brutality
Minor: Infidelity, Drug use, and Slavery
nightfell's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I don't really know what to say other than this book was really good. The pace was really slow, and it follows the main character's relationship with a woman already in a relationship with his friend. I would describe this book as an insight into what it feels like to love someone who you feel an intense connection with that no one else can understand. Whilst dealing with topics such as racial profiling, and the quiet sadness that comes with struggling to find peace in life.
There were some REALLY good lines throughout that kept me reading, as the book maintains the same tone throughout as each sub section is a snippet of their life together which made it hard for me to keep reading. I wasn't attached to any of the characters, and wasn't emotionally connected with their relationship. The real draw of this book for me was how the author describes what it feels like to be obsessed with another, and how hard life in general is.
There were some REALLY good lines throughout that kept me reading, as the book maintains the same tone throughout as each sub section is a snippet of their life together which made it hard for me to keep reading. I wasn't attached to any of the characters, and wasn't emotionally connected with their relationship. The real draw of this book for me was how the author describes what it feels like to be obsessed with another, and how hard life in general is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Grief and Racism
Minor: Blood, Death, and Gun violence
imaginefishes's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
The book is incredibly reflective and draws the reader in through a 2nd-person POV, and emotions are further intensified via constant repetition of certain words or phrases. The book vividly depicts what the Black experience is like, good and bad, and while not the intent of the author, I think anyone from a minority group can relate to a certain extent regarding the thoughts and emotions the main character feels. While I found the story to really speak to me, I began losing some interest by the end, though the unconventional descriptors and metaphors the author uses really targets the precise emotions the character was feeling. All in all, it was a fantastic read and sent me off my own journey of exploration of love (not just romantic) and what that means to me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, and Racism
Moderate: Grief, Infidelity, and Blood
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
initially a midly middling--albeit exquisitely written--read, open water is elevated to new heights by its last couple chapters, for they finally bring great clarity to the main character and weave the bigger story into illuminating focus.
one cant talk abt this book w/o mentioning its writing--introspective, poetic, and...soulful? the use of imagery is also excellent, especially in its meditation on love and the self. it's the best kind of writing for me: no fancy words, yet able to articulate the deepest thoughts, feelings, and ideas through mere masterful use of words and their structure. i sighed out of sheer awe and was left stunned at times, and have never in my life highlighted so many sentences in a book.
the story itself, however, leaves a bit to be desired. there's nothing wrong w/ having no plot, but the first half seems like an endless, repetitive loop that goes nowhere, bereft of any development. i was a lil baffled at how the two main characters end up being besties out of nowhere, then proceed to act nothing like actual best friends (w/o secret romantic feelings) do, then deny being romantic even though both of them know how the other feels. like whats the point?
nevertheless, the last 20% or so brings so much clarity to the main character, shedding light on his lifetime of racial trauma and his resulting behavior. we always hear abt how black folks' constant, incessant mental stress as a result of racism literally destroys their physical well-being, and this book does a frighteningly great job--esp for a non-black person like me--at portraying the aforementioned in all its enraging, devastating reality.
all in all, an exquisitely written book (w/ a great cover) that simultaneously celebrates black culture and comforts black folks, though the story aspect leaves something to be desired.
one cant talk abt this book w/o mentioning its writing--introspective, poetic, and...soulful? the use of imagery is also excellent, especially in its meditation on love and the self. it's the best kind of writing for me: no fancy words, yet able to articulate the deepest thoughts, feelings, and ideas through mere masterful use of words and their structure. i sighed out of sheer awe and was left stunned at times, and have never in my life highlighted so many sentences in a book.
the story itself, however, leaves a bit to be desired. there's nothing wrong w/ having no plot, but the first half seems like an endless, repetitive loop that goes nowhere, bereft of any development. i was a lil baffled at how the two main characters end up being besties out of nowhere, then proceed to act nothing like actual best friends (w/o secret romantic feelings) do, then deny being romantic even though both of them know how the other feels. like whats the point?
nevertheless, the last 20% or so brings so much clarity to the main character, shedding light on his lifetime of racial trauma and his resulting behavior. we always hear abt how black folks' constant, incessant mental stress as a result of racism literally destroys their physical well-being, and this book does a frighteningly great job--esp for a non-black person like me--at portraying the aforementioned in all its enraging, devastating reality.
all in all, an exquisitely written book (w/ a great cover) that simultaneously celebrates black culture and comforts black folks, though the story aspect leaves something to be desired.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Police brutality, and Racism
Moderate: Infidelity, Death, and Police brutality
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