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A review by simplypheyie
Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson
2.0
Open Water is written in 2nd person POV, which made it tough for me to connect, even though it's a short book. I kept getting lost with the switches between conversations and internal thoughts—it was confusing at times. The writing is almost poetic, but the 2nd person perspective just didn’t work for me and made it harder to enjoy.
The story covers love, being Black in a mostly white community, and the struggles of a Black man dealing with his vulnerabilities and guilt. It felt personal, almost like a confession, but I couldn’t fully relate to his experience or his feelings. There were a lot of references to music, his work as a photographer, and his deep love for a woman, but it started to feel repetitive—either he’s anxious about being Black in London or expressing his love for her.
Honestly, I think literary people would appreciate this more than someone like me who reads for fun. I didn’t find it relatable or enjoyable, but I can see how it might resonate with others who have similar experiences.
The story covers love, being Black in a mostly white community, and the struggles of a Black man dealing with his vulnerabilities and guilt. It felt personal, almost like a confession, but I couldn’t fully relate to his experience or his feelings. There were a lot of references to music, his work as a photographer, and his deep love for a woman, but it started to feel repetitive—either he’s anxious about being Black in London or expressing his love for her.
Honestly, I think literary people would appreciate this more than someone like me who reads for fun. I didn’t find it relatable or enjoyable, but I can see how it might resonate with others who have similar experiences.