A review by leahvic95
Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson

emotional reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

I was completely blown away by the beauty of this book,  a breathtaking ode to the power and depths of love. There isn’t a page that is wasted in this novel, the entire story although short is completely immersive and heartbreaking in its conclusion. Sometimes a painful read hits close to home and allows the reader to reflect on their own role in society, the space we occupy and the mental health of young men. The undertone of art and culture is also highly enjoyable. 

This is so much more than your run of the mill love story or romance, balancing the themes of deep and almost devastating love with the nuances of race and masculinity, racism in society and the impact of mental health on individuals and their communities. The lack of control the main character feels over his future is palpable, the fear he exhibits moving through London and even his life adds another heartbreaking element to the concept and moves the book beyond a sad story about love that doesn't always work out. 
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