Reviews

Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson

ruthiegk's review

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? It's complicated

4.5

loreleen's review

emotional hopeful 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

3.0

I really couldn't get along with the writing style

likeabook_page's review against another edition

I finished a very different kind of book and hopped right into this. I listened to the audio book and whilst the narrator and words were beautiful I wasn't able to connect with the story. 

I'm hoping to give this another go in the future and not so quickly after a different book.

oscarnotwildin's review

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing sad tense 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

easily the best book ive ever read.

savannahacosta's review

emotional reflective 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

lydiaprendergast's review

dark emotional hopeful 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? Yes

3.75

zoereadsnrambles's review

5.0

one of the most beautiful books i have read in a while and the fact that this a debut novel is INSANE. 'Open Water' is so intimate and introspective, it’s beautifully written with prose that feels like poetry at times. this is a short book but a slow read. from page one it's too prettily written to go through quickly, and too searing in content to want to! the novel follows two young black artists, one a photographer, one a dancer, getting to know one another, becoming friends, falling in love. their journey to find each other, trying to navigate their relationship, and ultimately falling apart. 'Open Water' explores themes of identity, what it is to be a young black person in london, masculinity, exhaustion, fragmentation, and trauma of racism, police brutality, and of constantly not being seen. there is love, heartbreak, and hope in the poignant narrative and poetic prose. a truly unforgettable read.

chiajosephine's review

emotional hopeful 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

You know,’ she pauses to take a drag. ‘OK, we’re doing this now, I’m drunk, and we’re doing this now.’ Another drag. ‘I was talking to my friends about you, about us. And there’s parts of me you’re gonna have to learn and understand.’ She gazes at the ground for a moment. ‘I haven’t really done this before. I mean, I have, you know that. But this feels different.’ There are words and phrases rattling about your brain. You want to tell her, one day at a time, as you have been. You want to tell her you cannot wait to learn more about her, about all of her. But that you can and will wait, that time means nothing to you and her now, not really. You want to tell her how much you love her, but you’re met with an impossibility, so instead you chuck under her chin and pull her towards you for a kiss, hoping she understands.”

doritamat's review

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? Yes

4.0

I appreciate learning about black culture, music, and art but also the hardships that a black person goes through their life. I have to admit, though, that I started enjoying the writing style after I reached the halfpoint of the book. At first, it was a little bit tiring, but I think it's a book worth reading. The book has a dedicated playlist on Spotify, which I think is a nice touch.

emmyagb's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.0