Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson

57 reviews

lb781's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

2.75

This is a beautiful book, an ode to Blackness and to Black Bodies. Although there is a main story, I would describe the writing more as poetry than as a novel. It’s definitely for people in the mood of reading something pretty “intellectual” , which requires a lot of focus. Not for people who hate poetry ! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, and Murder

Moderate: Drug use, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Sexual content

kaitisbooknook's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Police brutality

Moderate: Mental illness

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Alcohol

thxrxsa's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad 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

The writing. THE WRITING. 

"You feel you have never been strangers.
You do not want to leave each other, because to leave is to have the thing die in its current form and there is something, something in this that neither is willing to relinquish." (Open Water, p. 15)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Police brutality, and Grief

Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence

Minor: Alcohol

sydapel's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad 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

5.0

Easily both my favorite and the best book I've read this year. With some of the most beautiful writing I've ever read (had to restrain myself from underlining in my library copy), the way the author weaves desire, youth, masculinity, art and living within the Black body was awe-inspiring. I already want to re read it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, and Murder

cwatson1234's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, and Police brutality

anima_vestaa's review against another edition

emotional inspiring 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

This writing is pure truth. Heartbreaking and emotional, but beautiful in so many ways. Words always fail us but somehow Caleb made them work. I am so thankful for this work 💗

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Mental illness

anxiousbookclub's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, and Police brutality

Moderate: Mental illness, Racism, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

sib_reads's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug use, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Mental illness, Sexual content, Blood, and Alcohol

raphynette's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, and Police brutality

Moderate: Mental illness and Death of parent