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peggy_racham's review against another edition
4.5
"We’re all haunted in some way. All my dance moves are my father’s."
As Connan Grey said "I truely am my parents child."
Some things can not be helped.
As Connan Grey said "I truely am my parents child."
Some things can not be helped.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Hate crime, Racial slurs, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Alcohol, Drug use, Police brutality, Violence, Death of parent, and Racism
rworrall78's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
4.0
For me this was one of those books that really comes together in a final closing scene of real beauty and joy.
The biggest message is about space, space to be, to love, to eat, to dance, to make music, to live. It debts delves into the racism, violence and oppression visited on Black bodies and Black lives by white supremacist thinking, media and policing.
So for that brilliance and I love it. Also for building such real characters.
Until the end the looping images weren't landing with me, so they seemed pleased with their own cleverness; a cleverness that just wasn't evident to me until the end. So I maybe love it more in hindsight than I did while I was reading it.
The biggest message is about space, space to be, to love, to eat, to dance, to make music, to live. It debts delves into the racism, violence and oppression visited on Black bodies and Black lives by white supremacist thinking, media and policing.
So for that brilliance and I love it. Also for building such real characters.
Until the end the looping images weren't landing with me, so they seemed pleased with their own cleverness; a cleverness that just wasn't evident to me until the end. So I maybe love it more in hindsight than I did while I was reading it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Slavery, and Racism
Moderate: Police brutality, Death of parent, and Drug use
Minor: Child death
rinku's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Police brutality, Racism, Drug use, Sexual content, and Alcohol
jouljet's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, and Racism
aducharme4's review against another edition
emotional
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Police brutality, and Death of parent
liamliayaum's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.5
This book is a melody. An ode to space and rhythm, of finding those spaces to live and grow in. An anthem of Black life, joy, and sorrow.
It was repetitive, often the same sentences repeated, which is why this was a 4.5 and not a 5 star for me.
It was repetitive, often the same sentences repeated, which is why this was a 4.5 and not a 5 star for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Racism
sakisreads's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
✨ Gifted ✨
Caleb Azumah Nelson does it again 👏🏼 Small Worlds encapsulates so much love and especially during the second half, I found it hard to put down 🥹
Of course Joy’s death hit me hard and made me weep, but we still manage to grieve and love her ❤️ Everything in this book is so human which I think is one of its biggest attractions!
I ‘only’ give it 4.5 stars out of 5, because although it was phenomenal, nothing has done it for me quite in the same way that Open Water has since I finished that 😂 Still brilliant though and highly recommend reading Small Worlds, thanks ✨
Caleb Azumah Nelson does it again 👏🏼 Small Worlds encapsulates so much love and especially during the second half, I found it hard to put down 🥹
I ‘only’ give it 4.5 stars out of 5, because although it was phenomenal, nothing has done it for me quite in the same way that Open Water has since I finished that 😂 Still brilliant though and highly recommend reading Small Worlds, thanks ✨
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Grief, Death of parent, Police brutality, Racism, Death, and Hate crime
theblushbookworm's review against another edition
emotional
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? Yes
4.0
I enjoyed this character study of introspective Stephen over three summers. The son of Ghanaian immigrants to the UK, Stephen is sweet and musical. Azumah-Nelson’s writing style is musical as well, carrying a nice rhythm. Phrases are repeatedly used like the verses in a song. I particularly liked the phrase “two Black crowns”. I think that imagery is so beautiful. The second summer was my favorite, and the first summer was a bit dense for my preferences. But “Open Water” is an undeniably good book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Grief, Police brutality, and Death of parent
Moderate: Racism and Violence
Minor: Colonisation
elizaob's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Police brutality, Death of parent, Racism, and Violence
mattypallett's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
This wonderful book managed to explore so much in just chronicling a few years on Stephen’s life; never once feeling unnatural or overstuffed. From the thrumming excitement of Stephen’s coming of age summertime, to the deep despair caused by systemic racism, and the conflict and complexities of parental relationships. Nelson hit every beat with precision.
At times, the way Nelson tried to draw similarities between Stephen and his father felt too heavy handed for my tastes. Using music (or food) as connective tissue makes sense since it’s such a universal language but using specific dialogue choices that their respective partners said to them, unknowingly, seemed slightly forced. On the other hand, I did like the way that it added some depth to the tension between them; with the father so mad at the son out of fear he may repeat his missteps/face the same difficulties he faced.
Nelson’s melodic and repetitive writing style worked brilliantly to reflect the constant music influences in the character’s lives, and I found it endlessly readable. And the final 10-15 blew me away.
At times, the way Nelson tried to draw similarities between Stephen and his father felt too heavy handed for my tastes. Using music (or food) as connective tissue makes sense since it’s such a universal language but using specific dialogue choices that their respective partners said to them, unknowingly, seemed slightly forced. On the other hand, I did like the way that it added some depth to the tension between them; with the father so mad at the son out of fear he may repeat his missteps/face the same difficulties he faced.
Nelson’s melodic and repetitive writing style worked brilliantly to reflect the constant music influences in the character’s lives, and I found it endlessly readable. And the final 10-15 blew me away.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Police brutality, and Death of parent