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ko_rax's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
"You hide your whole self away because sometimes you forget you haven't done anything wrong. Sometimes you forget there's nothing in your pockets. Sometimes you forget that to be you is to be unseen and unheard, or it is to be seen and heard in ways you did not ask for. Sometimes you forget to be you is to be a Black body, and not much else."
Additionally, I want to compliment the prose. The words are chosen beautifully and paint a picture of emotion and trauma in a way so bittersweet that I was left in a thoughtful mood very often. I strongly believe this novel should be read by everyone.
"It's one thing to be looked at, and another to be seen."
Graphic: Police brutality, Death, and Racism
Moderate: Mental illness, Violence, and Grief
Minor: Alcohol, Sexual content, and Drug use
revoli's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Grief, Gun violence, Police brutality, Blood, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racism
blueberrywgin's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Death, Racism, Drug use, Hate crime, and Police brutality
jayisreading's review against another edition
4.75
It’s one thing to be looked at, and another to be seen.
Graphic: Grief, Death, Racism, and Police brutality
abiofpellinor's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Death and Racism
eya_b's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Multiple truths do exist, and you do not have to be the sum of your traumas.
I've never been a fan of second person narratives but god this is so so beautifully written, not only that but it touches on so many important topics and it does it so effortlessly
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Death
megansoetaert's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Police brutality, Death, and Racism
sangsmiles's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Racism and Police brutality
Moderate: Death
ali1311's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Death and Racism
Moderate: Grief
hollyrebecca's review against another edition
- 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
'I love you, you know?' She has swum out into open water, and it is not long before you join her. You take but a moment before saying, 'I love you too!’
A uniquely told, beautiful and poignant tale of love and life as a young black man in London.
The love story in this book is heartbreakingly real. From its unfortunate origins, through drunken confessions, warm and joyful summer nights, navigating long distance relationships, to stilted emotional communication and healing from trauma. This is one of the most powerful depictions of love I’ve ever read.
Caleb has used some really interesting writing techniques in this story, including utilising second person and never sharing the male leads name. This lends a sensation of a self-insert story and situates you more deeply in the main character’s headspace throughout.
This book is beautiful and lyrical in its prose while describing the harsh reality of life in London as a young black man, through racism, police brutality, being unseen and being seen as other. The omnipresence of this reality and the resultant trauma it causes are a key feature of this story in the thought processes of our main character.
I have never highlighted so many passages from a book as this, both to enjoy the almost poetic writing and to educate myself on the black experience and black culture.
A powerful read I will forever remember!
You understand. Often, you're not given a name. You would like to take the liberty. But even if you don't name yourself or name your experience, it remains. Rising to the surface, oil swimming in water.
To be you is to apologize and often that apology comes in the form of suppression and that suppression is indiscriminate
Graphic: Death and Racism