Reviews with content warning for Racism - Freischwimmen

Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Freischwimmen by Caleb Azumah Nelson

407 reviews

bibliomich's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I'll start by saying that Caleb Azumah Nelson's writing is absolutely beautiful, and I would happily read more of his work. Because of the beautiful prose, I enjoyed much of Open Water, though overall there was something about the pacing that didn't quite work for me. The book felt like it either needed to be a shorter novella that really honed in on the themes or a longer book with more plot points. It fell somewhere in the middle, and I found myself both wanting more and also feeling like there were scenes that didn't quite fit. I know lots of readers loved this one, and I can absolutely see why. Overall I would recommend this book if you're looking for a poetic piece of literary fiction.

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adrianascala's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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danireyes98's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This might be my most highlighted book ever. The prose felt like reading poetry in the best way possible (coming from a tepid fan of poetry, I swear this is high praise). I absolutely loved everything about Caleb Azumah Nelson’s writing for this book, and I was impressed by his use of second person narration, wildly unconventional, yet imaginative and successful. Nelson managed to make the main character feel deeply relatable, real and like you understand all his emotions without feeling detached by the narration style.

I’m a big fan of romance novels, and while this is more than a romance book, it has some of the most beautifully written and lyrical descriptions for falling in love that I’ve ever read. There were so many amazing lines that made me yearn for love and connection throughout, that I can just hope someone falls for me in the same way the main character falls for the girl.

Moreover, the two main characters are both deeply flawed individuals, which makes them feel even more real. Neither is perfect, and neither is quite ready for what it takes to be in a deeply committed relationship due to their traumas, yet for the promise of potential true love they try.

Nelson explores the main character’s traumas in a masterful way, that made me feel the emotional toil of issues such as systematic racism and police brutality. While I have experienced some instances of racism in my life, I have never faced major setbacks or been wounded due to my ethnicity or color of my skin, therefore, I’ve deeply sympathized with people that have suffered through these societal problems but never truly empathized with them. I believe that the mark of a great author is one that makes their readers feel profound emotions, which Nelson succeeds at.

The only reason I’m not giving this book the full five stars it probably deserves, is that I feel the ending wasn’t as strong as the first two thirds of the book. In a way the main character’s internal retrospection feels quite inconclusive, in a sense that I can’t quite remember how it ended.

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nicoless's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

In this nightmare, there is only water lapping at your feet, nipping at your heels. Show me your scars, the monster asks. Show me where the snake wrapped itself around your arm and sunk its teeth into soft flesh. You roll up your sleeves and show him the holes littering your limbs. Come out of the shadows, he says. There’s no solace in the shade. Show me where it hurt, he says. Don’t wait for the water to rise. The water won’t save you. You look down and see a warbled reflection in the ripple of the black depths. God has many faces. Many voices. A song in the darkness. Have faith. Suck at the snake’s bite, spit out the venom at your feet. To swallow is to suppress. To be you is to apologize and often that apology comes in the form of suppression, and that suppression is indiscriminate. Spit it out. Don’t wait for the water to rise. Don’t apologize. Forgive yourself.

Life is, sometimes, a nightmare in which I am drowning. And the demons that belong to hell are mine then. I wonder: why do I take that ownership?.
In Open Water Someone's truth is repeated in crescendo until it upsets me, because, if to be me is to apologize and often that apology comes in the form of suppression, and that suppression is indiscriminate; when someone tells me their truth (again and again) as if it's mine -and it is-, it's inconvenient.

-I'm trying not to drown out here, while drowning inside.

I've known most of these feelings, but some of these heart wrenching experiences were foreign to me until recent; "You have known him by many names, but today he was Daniel."

This poetic prose is an exploration of the Inner Being; Trauma as a result of Police Brutality; as well as Love and Relationships of a Black experience.
I'm grateful to dive into this flow of Pain, Fear, Love, Rawness and Rhythm.

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fengxin's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring fast-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

5.0

i went into this book knowing absolutely nothing and i was very surprised, but delighted, to find out it's in second person pov. what a beautiful story, i never wanted it to end. the prose kept taking my breath away, i was highlighting one sentence in nearly every paragraph, or even whole paragraphs really. the immediate and yet organic chemistry between our two mains? beyond stunning. the romance was so tender, i adored every moment. the way the author wrote about race, prejudice, and all that comes with being black was just stunning and still very real. the repetition of certain phrases made the book even more beautiful in my opinion, the whole thing felt like a poem. the ending devastated me, this story made me feel every emotion under the book and i'm so grateful it exists and i was able to experience it.

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raebennison's review against another edition

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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? Yes

5.0

My God. I'm not being dramatic when I say this book has changed my outlook on so many things. Love, being seen, music, and an insight into the black identity.

You never learn their names but that doesn't matter.Their love and the end of their relationship is so poetic and beautifully written that it almost felt like I was in the relationship myself.

I would absolutely recommend this book to everyone. It is a must-read. I've never read love captured like this, but it's exactly how it feels.
Also reading with Caleb Azumah Nelson's playlist 'open water' really enhances the book.

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