A review by chichio
Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson

emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

I CANT EVEN PUT INTO WORDS HOW MUCH I LOVED THIS IT WAS PAINFUL AND POETIC AND RAW AND SO REAL THAT I FELT EVERY EMOTION OF OUR NARRATOR. I LOVED THE USE OF SECOND PERSON PRESENT TENSE—I DONT THINK IVE EVER READ ANYTHING EVEN REMOTELY LIKE THIS BEFORE. 

This book is such a fantastic look into the Black British experience, namely of Black men and their lives under constant scrutiny. Rather than being a romance story that pushes the idea that “love conquers all,” this book presents an exploration of what it means to accept vulnerability and the strength it takes to finally reach a hand out across open water and ask for help.  
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