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laurataylor's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Police brutality, Blood, Drug use, Gun violence, Racism, Sexual content, Alcohol, Animal death, Death, Grief, and Murder
jasminrain's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
This book is the most stunning piece of literature I've read over the past decade and I'd be suprised if it didn't become a modern classic. The storytelling is extraordinary - I have never read a book written so beautifully. It just feels like poetry in a shape of a novel. It deals with difficult topics and as such is not an easy read. But it portrays black manhood in a manner I've never seen before in literature. It's bittersweet, touching and just simply stunning. There's so much I've taken from this book and I'm already looking forward to reading it again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Racism, Police brutality, and Gun violence
Moderate: Violence, Grief, and Murder
field_pumpkin's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Grief, and Hate crime
Moderate: Alcohol
savvylit's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It's not often that a debut features such a distinct and wholly original voice. In the case of Open Water, however, Nelson's unique voice shines from the very first page. The primary focus of this novel is a passionate, slow-burn romance. Our narrator experiences love at first sight and then gradually develops a devoted friendship with the unnamed woman. Their love is tender and realistic. The secondary focus is Black identity. Open Water's narrator frequently celebrates expressions of Black joy. In stark juxtaposition, he just as frequently laments being publicly seen as a body of color and not an individual.
This entire story is told in second-person, which lends the book an incredibly intimate quality. "You wish you had the words, no, you wish you had the courage to climb up from whatever pit you have fallen into, but right now, you do not." By addressing his audience as "you," Nelson puts the readers directly in the perspective of the narrator. This makes all of the ups and downs of Open Water all the more visceral -- it's like it's all happening to you.
Lastly, Nelson mentions a variety of songs and albums throughout the story. Music as connection, music as healing, music revealing the words you couldn't find... This thread of musicality fits the story so perfectly. Nelson's writing includes a fair amount of repetition. Repeated words and phrases lend the novel it's own rhythmic, lyrical quality. It's incredibly effective and unforgettable.
This entire story is told in second-person, which lends the book an incredibly intimate quality. "You wish you had the words, no, you wish you had the courage to climb up from whatever pit you have fallen into, but right now, you do not." By addressing his audience as "you," Nelson puts the readers directly in the perspective of the narrator. This makes all of the ups and downs of Open Water all the more visceral -- it's like it's all happening to you.
Lastly, Nelson mentions a variety of songs and albums throughout the story. Music as connection, music as healing, music revealing the words you couldn't find... This thread of musicality fits the story so perfectly. Nelson's writing includes a fair amount of repetition. Repeated words and phrases lend the novel it's own rhythmic, lyrical quality. It's incredibly effective and unforgettable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Racism, Hate crime, Alcohol, and Death
flowingleaves's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Violence, and Racism
Moderate: Hate crime, Death, and Grief
serving_goffman's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
perfect, i‘m grateful to have read it.
the second person narration seemed so ambitious at first, but it really worked, and made you feel really immersed in the story and empathetic to the main characters. the writing is wonderfully lyrical and almost hypnotic in its use of repetition and metaphors. incredible meditations on putting feelings into words, and the black body on modern britain. joyful and sad in perfect balance, a breathtaking work of art and highly impactful and important read.
the second person narration seemed so ambitious at first, but it really worked, and made you feel really immersed in the story and empathetic to the main characters. the writing is wonderfully lyrical and almost hypnotic in its use of repetition and metaphors. incredible meditations on putting feelings into words, and the black body on modern britain. joyful and sad in perfect balance, a breathtaking work of art and highly impactful and important read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Death, Grief, Hate crime, Police brutality, and Racism
emi_ly's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Gun violence and Hate crime
nebraskanwriter'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? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is one of the most beautiful, important books I think I will ever read. As someone who is not Black and has been privileged to not go through the things that the author and so many other people of color go through, this book felt so important to me as it showed me so much of my own privilege/prejudice and made me understand things more then I ever have before.
The way Caleb writes is incredible, the way he is able to put words to trauma and raw emotion is unmatched. This is a story about two people who love each other but Caleb also talks a lot about police brutality, how that has affected the main character and how it affects the Black community on a daily basis.
This is such an important book for everyone to read as it deals with internalizing trauma, racial profiling, police brutality, learning to love yourself even when the society you live in doesn’t love you/care about you. So, so important for everyone to read this so that the Black community can be seen, they can be heard and we can put an end to violence against their community and people of color in general.
The way Caleb writes is incredible, the way he is able to put words to trauma and raw emotion is unmatched. This is a story about two people who love each other but Caleb also talks a lot about police brutality, how that has affected the main character and how it affects the Black community on a daily basis.
This is such an important book for everyone to read as it deals with internalizing trauma, racial profiling, police brutality, learning to love yourself even when the society you live in doesn’t love you/care about you. So, so important for everyone to read this so that the Black community can be seen, they can be heard and we can put an end to violence against their community and people of color in general.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Bullying, Drug use, Blood, Body shaming, Classism, Cursing, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Police brutality, Racism, Sexual content, and Violence
paumq's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Hate crime
ritanevescunha's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Racial slurs, Violence, Hate crime, and Racism
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Alcohol