violetends's review against another edition
dark
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Read for my bookclub.
When I initially took Open Water out of my bookshelves and read the first pages, I felt annoyance over the star-crossed-lovers-esque direction the narrative seemed to take. Fortunately, I gave it a second shot, beginning from the first pages again. Having just finished it, on a rainy fall day, huddled under several blankets, I struggle to find words for what I just read.
The prose is breathtakingly beautiful and so powerful I felt myself shiver again and again as I reread paragraphs to grasp the beauty of these words. While I feel that this sentenced should be bold, underlined and however else stressed, I don't know how else to highlight how hauntingly beautiful this book is written. It is clear as day that Caleb Azumah Nelson writes poetry as well.
While I was initially annoyed with the idea to find myself reading yet another story of two people just looking at each other across a room and simply *knowing* they're made for each other, I quickly found myself accepting the sense of idealization and the overt focus the narrative has on this relationship for the majority of the time. I loved the tender way with which they continue to dance around each other while they figure each other as well as themselves out. I loved how their relationship is not necessarily one that needs labels and descriptors but how prevalent the idea of wordless communication through their bodies and gazes is. There is a playfulness and curiosity to the way in which this narrative portrayed them together that I felt myself connect with very well.
Open Water is not merely a story about love though. It's a story of Black love and Black lives. It is clear to me that many of the emotions and experiences described are nothing I can relate to and I'm fairly certain many specific feelings ascribed to the experience of music, interpersonal interactions and encounters with police as well as a racist society, flew over my head. And I think that's ok. I have the feeling this book is only partially written 'for me'. The protagonist (do we actually ever learn his name?) continously ponders over the difference between perceiving someone else and seeing them, the latter only ever ascribed to other Black characters. And this book very much feels like an attempt of this very seeing and being seen.
When I initially took Open Water out of my bookshelves and read the first pages, I felt annoyance over the star-crossed-lovers-esque direction the narrative seemed to take. Fortunately, I gave it a second shot, beginning from the first pages again. Having just finished it, on a rainy fall day, huddled under several blankets, I struggle to find words for what I just read.
The prose is breathtakingly beautiful and so powerful I felt myself shiver again and again as I reread paragraphs to grasp the beauty of these words. While I feel that this sentenced should be bold, underlined and however else stressed, I don't know how else to highlight how hauntingly beautiful this book is written. It is clear as day that Caleb Azumah Nelson writes poetry as well.
While I was initially annoyed with the idea to find myself reading yet another story of two people just looking at each other across a room and simply *knowing* they're made for each other, I quickly found myself accepting the sense of idealization and the overt focus the narrative has on this relationship for the majority of the time. I loved the tender way with which they continue to dance around each other while they figure each other as well as themselves out. I loved how their relationship is not necessarily one that needs labels and descriptors but how prevalent the idea of wordless communication through their bodies and gazes is. There is a playfulness and curiosity to the way in which this narrative portrayed them together that I felt myself connect with very well.
Open Water is not merely a story about love though. It's a story of Black love and Black lives. It is clear to me that many of the emotions and experiences described are nothing I can relate to and I'm fairly certain many specific feelings ascribed to the experience of music, interpersonal interactions and encounters with police as well as a racist society, flew over my head. And I think that's ok. I have the feeling this book is only partially written 'for me'. The protagonist (do we actually ever learn his name?) continously ponders over the difference between perceiving someone else and seeing them, the latter only ever ascribed to other Black characters. And this book very much feels like an attempt of this very seeing and being seen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Police brutality, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol
karalauryns's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
this book took me forever to read as it's that no-plot-just-vibes kind of book that I need to be in a specific mood to read. however: I'm pretty sure I highlighted half the book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Violence
alisonfaith426's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Police brutality, and Racism
beancity's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality
Moderate: Violence
jadawhooreads's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Hate crime, Racism, Gun violence, and Violence
helliepad's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The prose was beautiful and I love the 2nd person POV. The story itself had a pulse like the music it metaphor'd the entire time. At first I was tired of these people dancing around the fact that they like each other (I can't stand torpe guys! Spit it out now!) but then I get to the point where they show a reason why he can't let himself be that vulnerable and it just made me feel things. Great story!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Violence
Minor: Death
airr's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality and Racism
Moderate: Gun violence, Death, and Violence
icarusandthesun's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
3.0
a wonderful book, but simply wasn't for me.
nelson's writing is plain beautiful. lyrical. it sounds like a song, like a poem, like a friend telling you about their woes, like an observation of the world - its beauty and terrors - all in one.
i've never seen anyone describe life and love quite like he did. nelson's portrayal of love must be one of the most comforting, most romantic and rawest portrayals one can find in literature today.
passages heart-wrenching, alternating between joy and grief. appreciation for all kinds of art created by people of color. celebrating it.
nevertheless, i was a little bored. and i want to note that that's totally on me, not the book. since it is a very lyrical piece, it doesn't have a lot of plot. i also found it a little hard to concentrate on some of the passages, kept zoning out, because there were a lot of repetitions (used as a stylistic device and executed beautifully, but alas), long descriptions of memories and photographs of moments to remember. i just couldn't quite find my footing, if that makes sense.
it was kind of like swimming in open water - lyrical and sensitive words flowing all around you, but there was nothing to grasp, nothing that wouldn't immediately seep through your hands again, leaving you with but open water, and no land to be seen.
if you like swimming, that's great, you'll love this. but personally, i'm not one to swim.
but whatever! will this stop me from reading nelson's second book? absolutely not.
even if i won't be staying for the story, i will for the quotes, i know it. because the ones in open water were all gorgeous, filled with dreams and pure truth.
nelson's writing is plain beautiful. lyrical. it sounds like a song, like a poem, like a friend telling you about their woes, like an observation of the world - its beauty and terrors - all in one.
i've never seen anyone describe life and love quite like he did. nelson's portrayal of love must be one of the most comforting, most romantic and rawest portrayals one can find in literature today.
passages heart-wrenching, alternating between joy and grief. appreciation for all kinds of art created by people of color. celebrating it.
nevertheless, i was a little bored. and i want to note that that's totally on me, not the book. since it is a very lyrical piece, it doesn't have a lot of plot. i also found it a little hard to concentrate on some of the passages, kept zoning out, because there were a lot of repetitions (used as a stylistic device and executed beautifully, but alas), long descriptions of memories and photographs of moments to remember. i just couldn't quite find my footing, if that makes sense.
it was kind of like swimming in open water - lyrical and sensitive words flowing all around you, but there was nothing to grasp, nothing that wouldn't immediately seep through your hands again, leaving you with but open water, and no land to be seen.
if you like swimming, that's great, you'll love this. but personally, i'm not one to swim.
but whatever! will this stop me from reading nelson's second book? absolutely not.
even if i won't be staying for the story, i will for the quotes, i know it. because the ones in open water were all gorgeous, filled with dreams and pure truth.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Racism, and Police brutality
Moderate: Death, Hate crime, and Violence
Minor: Alcohol
ginachapman's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Mental illness, and Racism
cindeeduong's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Racism, and Police brutality