Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson

58 reviews

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

dinahn's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime and Police brutality

Moderate: Death and Racism

Minor: Mental illness and Abandonment

horizonous's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective 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? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, and Police brutality

Moderate: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief

Minor: Death

◦ Death (Minor): Grandparent
◦ Death (Moderate): Friend
◦ Mental Illness (Graphic): Depression
◦ Mental Illness (Moderate): Anxiety

aweightytome's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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

5.0

I cried multiple times. It being written in second pov, you immediately feel the intimacy of the characters as well as the writing. The poetic and lyrical writing style can deter you from the story, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. 
 
“We all fail each other, sometimes small, sometimes big, but look, when we love we trust, and when we fail, we fracture that joint.”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug use, and Sexual content

Moderate: Mental illness and Police brutality

Minor: Hate crime, Racism, and Grief

bookbinbaby's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.5

Found the characters a bit infuriating at times, more their resistance to how they felt about each other, but had a lot of sympathy for them both at different stages of the book. The feeling-the ache he describes and the feelings and themes of loss, grief and submission/injustice/prejudice were painful to read. It was written from an odd viewpoint for me, which put me off a lot and the dreamy prose was too much at times (again for me! Others might find it appeals) but I liked the scattering like beautiful breadcrumbs the names of art and music which could provoke and interest further exploration. All in all I am glad I read this. I feel it is a story I won't ever forget.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Mental illness, and Grief

Minor: Bullying, Racism, Murder, and Toxic friendship

bookswithgeorgia's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, and Police brutality

leslielychee's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Grief, and Murder

aaronjdilkes's review against another edition

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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, and Police brutality

rashi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I don’t think I have the words to properly articulate how I feel towards this novel, that felt almost as much poetry as prose. I loved getting to know the UK Black perspective and I feel honoured to have found it. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Racism, and Police brutality

iamivypark's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

Open water is a debut novel that follows the life of a young black photographer in East London and his relationship with another artist: a dancer. Their love is a slow burn. They meet in a pub at the wrong time. Watching their friendship develop and love simmer is an absolute pleasure. 

LYRICAL. It reads like a song. The prose of this debut novel is stunning and embodies a melody & a rhythm. I am not a fan of the romance genre typically, but this was an amazing exploration of love that also felt like so much more than romance. It has emotional intensity. Examining systematic racism, black masculinity, crippling violence and trauma. It is emotionally intelligent, deep with reflection & thought. Vulnerability is at the heart of its beauty. The use of open water as a metaphor for his relationship - swimming, drowning, entering open water was truly phenomenal.

The suffocation of traumatic memories, constant vigilance & encounters with police is explored and it’s impacts on our protagonist and his relationships unearthed.

The book is in second person narrative and may take a little to get comfortable with the style. But once you’re in it’s rhythm, get ready for some mesmerising writing. 

I will be looking out for more of Nelson’s writing 😍 highly recommend reading 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Racism, and Police brutality