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A review by elizabethgreads
Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson
emotional
hopeful
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? No
2.5
2.5 Stars
This book was hard for me to rate and read. The novel is essentially a love story between a young man and women who both struggle with the realties they face because they are black and living in London. Because of the racism they face there is this feeling that London is home however they and their cultures don't fully fit into London completely. Two people are trying to find their purpose and place in the world.
What really pulled me out of the story was the writing style. At time the writing was beautiful and lyrical however when pair with the convoluted way in which the story told felt a bit awkward. At times scenes felt over dramatized (more so the awkward love scenes). While art pulled the two characters together it was the way the art they enjoyed was described that pulled me out of the story a bit. The thing about the book that really bothered me was the second person POV. I think I would have liked the story more written in 1st or 3rd person.
This book was hard for me to rate and read. The novel is essentially a love story between a young man and women who both struggle with the realties they face because they are black and living in London. Because of the racism they face there is this feeling that London is home however they and their cultures don't fully fit into London completely. Two people are trying to find their purpose and place in the world.
What really pulled me out of the story was the writing style. At time the writing was beautiful and lyrical however when pair with the convoluted way in which the story told felt a bit awkward. At times scenes felt over dramatized (more so the awkward love scenes). While art pulled the two characters together it was the way the art they enjoyed was described that pulled me out of the story a bit. The thing about the book that really bothered me was the second person POV. I think I would have liked the story more written in 1st or 3rd person.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Sexual content