Scan barcode
teniamonet's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Beautifully written, raw, vulnerable and so impactful. I’m writing this review a whole seven days after I’ve finished this novel and I still can’t stop thinking about it. A refreshing perspective on the Black man and the complexities of their emotions!
The desire for connection due to the feeling of isolation while isolating oneself is one that is all to familiar to me. So many moments in this short story that made my heart ache.
I’m usually not a fan of second person narration, but it was fitting to tell this story. The narration choice made it more personal in a way, like I was there.
The desire for connection due to the feeling of isolation while isolating oneself is one that is all to familiar to me. So many moments in this short story that made my heart ache.
I’m usually not a fan of second person narration, but it was fitting to tell this story. The narration choice made it more personal in a way, like I was there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
dubious_little_creature's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Police brutality and Racism
niamhgray's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
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
Moderate: Police brutality and Racism
ilovebooks1967's review
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
Graphic: Racism, Hate crime, and Police brutality
megansoetaert's review against another edition
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
Graphic: Police brutality, Death, and Racism
sangsmiles's review
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
Graphic: Racism and Police brutality
Moderate: Death
ali1311's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
3.75
The writing in this book is so lovely and it made me YEARN! The way love is discussed is really beautiful and poetic. The actual pacing and plot of the book felt a bit estranged for some reason, and I think it may be the writing in 2nd person. I think the use of that perspective was done really well, but it still made it hard to entirely follow along. I'm also kinda mad at the main character, but I suppose that means the book was well crafted. But I'm still mad at him.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Racism
Moderate: Grief
hollyrebecca's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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
'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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Racism
madeleineelr's review
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
Graphic: Racism and Police brutality
readingwithgoose's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality and Racism
Moderate: Sexual content