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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
madeleineelr's review
- 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
Graphic: Racism and Police brutality
readingwithgoose's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Graphic: Police brutality and Racism
Moderate: Sexual content
nhacco's review
- 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
3.25
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Gun violence, and Police brutality
gkaltam'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
4.0
Graphic: Racism
peggy_racham's review against another edition
5.0
Second person perspective, my beloved. Never have I read a love story quite so profound and beautifly written and also tragic.
Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Murder, Police brutality, Racism, Alcohol, Drug use, Animal death, Blood, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, and Death
dinipandareads'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
5.0
I don't even know where to begin with this review. This was so beautifully written. I don't pick up much poetry but this often read like spoken word and it added more depth and movement to the writing. Although slow-paced, at 145 pages it still could've easily been read in a couple of hours, but I wanted to take my time to savour every moment with Azumah Nelson's stunning prose. It's deeply moving and written with such heart. I know that this will probably stick with me for a long time to come.
"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."
Open Water is at turn an achingly tender romance and a heartbreakingly honest and eye-opening portrayal of what it means to occupy a Black body in a society that refuses to see you. Set against a backdrop of an improbable summer romance between two best friends falling madly in love, Azumah Nelson presents the slowly intertwining lives of our nameless narrators through various dichotomies, taking us from embracing joy, light, love, and hope, to being shadowed by anger, trauma, fear, and death. I loved how Azumah Nelson captured the intimacy of their romance and made it feel almost as if we were intruders in their tender love. Although there is so much joy and safety in their relationship, it is tempered by the racism and violence that surrounds their lives, particularly that of the male protagonist. This story is rich in themes and they are all done so well! The author explores what it means to love, be free, be seen, be honest, and be vulnerable enough to let someone see your ugly alongside your beauty. Unsurprisingly, the raw heart in this story had me crying buckets (ch. 27 wrecked me)!
"Indeed, what is a joint? What is a fracture? What is a break? Under what conditions does unconditional love become no more?"
I loved the joyous celebration of Black art and culture, particularly as experienced through music. It is a core part of these character's lives and it's woven through their connection. While reading I decided to check whether there was a playlist for this book and I found one prepared by the publisher—listening to the tracks while reading elevated my experience of this book and I highly recommend it if you can do so! Overall, this was a short, poignant and impactful story wrapped up in stunning writing that will keep you hooked until the last sentence and the very last word.
Graphic: Racism and Police brutality
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Sexual content
stellahadz's review
- 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
Side note: I loved all the references to Zadie Smith! I haven't read NW yet but added it to my TBR the second I saw it mentioned in this book.
Moderate: Death, Grief, Police brutality, and Racism
Minor: Blood
rachelfayreads'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? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Racism and Police brutality
bricharis'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Racism and Violence