A review by sabbygee
Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson

dark emotional reflective 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

4.5

Open Water is both beautiful and heart-wrenching. It tells the story of two artists finding an instant connection and building their relationship over time. Alongside the romance is an exploration of race, identity, and the reality of living with the social scars left by prejudice and violence. 

It’s written in the second person through the eyes of the unnamed male lead. The prose often felt like poetry dancing off the pages. The pacing is too slow for my liking though but I recognize its importance to the storytelling. There’s a rhythm to reading it which, I admit, is not easy to fall into. But when I finally did, I found it very rewarding. I’m still at a loss for words hours after finishing the book. 
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