Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'

Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson

22 reviews

revoli's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Gun violence, Police brutality, Blood, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racism

alisonfaith426's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Police brutality, and Racism

deideo's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, and Racism

discarded_dust_jacket's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

The phrase “open water” is used to describe both love and trauma in this beautifully-written story about the meeting and merging of two lives, which I find so fitting considering those are the book’s two main themes. 

“You know that to love is both to swim and to drown. You know to love is to be a whole, partial, a joint, a fracture, a heart, a bone. It is to bleed and heal. It is to be in the world, honest. It is to place someone next to your beating heart, in the absolute darkness of your inner, and trust they will hold you close.” (Pg. 112)

This is a story that tackles the tenderness of love but also the terror of being truly seen. It’s a story about existing as a Black man, and the constant fear that any day could be your last when the world (especially the police) looks at you and sees something dangerous. It’s a story about masculinity, mental health, and the suppression of emotions. It’s a story about Black art, music, culture, and joy.

If you like your prose to flow like poetry, this is the love story for you. This was gorgeous.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Police brutality

Minor: Gun violence

lindseyhall44's review against another edition

challenging emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Open Water was one of the most stunning books I have ever read. The prose felt like poetry, the exploration of race, masculinity, and love was extremely well done. 
While this is a love story, it does have incredibly hard topics to read, such as police brutality, so keep that it mind when picking it up! 
Ultimately, I look forward to returning to Open Water many times in my life, as well as seeing the future ahead of this talented author.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Death, Violence, Racism, and Grief

thecatconstellation's review

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

A beautifully written reflection on love, trauma, and Blackness. Steeped in references to music and art and using language as a precise tool, this is definitely a must read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Police brutality, Death, Grief, and Racism

Moderate: Drug use, Violence, and Mental illness

Minor: Sexual content, Slavery, and Blood

vinacasti's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Racism, Police brutality, and Panic attacks/disorders

thatenbyisisreads's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The constant battle of allowing oneself to be vulnerable in a world that hates you was written poetically in a way that made me take several moments to process. This book was so raw and honest, I highly recommend everyone to read this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Grief, Murder, Racism, Violence, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, and Death

Moderate: Mental illness

ktkeps's review

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Police brutality, Panic attacks/disorders, and Murder

Minor: Sexual content

marjoleinvanderspoel's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.5

Simply sublime. (Some word choices were a bit odd though.)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality and Racism

Moderate: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders