Reviews with content warning for Police brutality - Open Water

This book is beautiful and will grasp your attention and your soul in places you weren’t expecting. You will want to hold the characters close to comfort them but will be plagued by the fact that it’s both your world and even you yourself that create the reason behind them needing to be held. It’s a tough, emotional and poetic read that will ask you to reassess your day to day and ask you “when you look at someone are you really seeing them”?

Content Warnings

ilovebooks1967's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing slow-paced

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

5.0

Probably one of my favourite books of all time!

Content Warnings

megansoetaert's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

Open Water is so beautiful. Even though it's such a short book, it took me a while to read because I just wanted to sit and savor every sentence. Caleb Azumah Nelson writes emotion so beautifully--the main character's emotions flow to you like you're his closest confidante. Each chapter has a purpose, and you feel it. Masculinity, Blackness (and being Black in england), family, love and intimacy, and mental health were central to his story. i loved it so so much, y'all. highly recommend <3

Content Warnings

sangsmiles's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective 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

3.75

Content Warnings

madeleineelr's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

4.5

Content Warnings

readingwithgoose's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

Content Warnings

nhacco's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging reflective slow-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? Yes

3.25

I thought this would be a love story but it’s mainly a reflection on the frailty of Black men’s lives in a white society. It’s very important to read this perspective. I just chose the wrong timing to be reading about anxiety and fear of death, personally. Aside from theme, I found the style confusing and a bit disjointed. A lot of references and images that seem out of place to the reader - almost like reading poetry without the beautiful lyricism. Just felt a bit disconnected. And the love story dragged. For such a short book, it felt super long. Now onto the positives. A really realistic approach to the start of a relationship in the modern world. Also shows great appreciation for music and art in general, in a really captivating way. Recommend reading while listening to the Spotify playlist that is comes with. As a memoir/piece dedicated to someone, it’s nice. As a poetic piece on love, leaves something to be desired.

Content Warnings

peggy_racham's review

Go to review page

5.0

"Ask: if flexing is being able to say the most in the least amount of words, is there a greater flex than love?"

Second person perspective, my beloved. Never have I read a love story quite so profound and beautifly written and also tragic.

Content Warnings

More...