Reviews

Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson

fronksnotdead's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing sad medium-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? Yes

5.0

jiselle_'s review against another edition

5.0

this has become one of my favourite books ever. wow.

i have so much to say about this book which isn't even 150 pages. i don't even know where to start. i would highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone! wow.

the book is told in second person, which is something you don't see often in literature. but it was done so that the person reading could understand the Black experience— to love, to live, to grieve as a Black person. it was beautiful. i truly felt as though i could feel the authors soul in between these pages. i don't think i have ever experienced such beautiful writing!!! my copy is full of tabs and highlighted passages and annotations. i just finished reading it but i already want to go back and read it again.

i have so much more to say about this book but then this would turn into an essay. please read this book.

actualresultsmayvary's review against another edition

I wouldn't say that this is objectively a bad book and it certainly gets many rave reviews.
But dear god it's not for me, the prose are lyrical to the point of being convoluted and any point is lost amongst the heavy use of metaphor.
I also don't think 2nd person works well for a book which such clear characterisation of the protagonist, but I appreciate this book wasn't written for me and it may have resonated more if I were a black man.
I really wanted to push through to the end as Open Water is such a short book but every sentence was a battle to get myself through and at some point we have to choose life.

divineos's review against another edition

emotional 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? Yes

4.25

jwala34's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

Incredibly passionate 

alittlelou's review against another edition

4.0

It’s just so beautifully written. The story is heart wrenching and still so sweet, the characters are real gems. I loved it so much. It’s like a baby, it must be protected.

blakeandbooks's review against another edition

emotional sad fast-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

4.0

maheandco's review against another edition

5.0

[open water]

dietervonkhan'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

4.0

This was an interesting read, I've not read many things written in second person. The intended effect is to put you in the shoes of the protagonist. There were parts of the book that were very lyrical and affecting but other parts didn't quite connect with me. This book lays out the experience of young black men and it was indeed eye opening.

martha_anne_h's review against another edition

emotional

2.75