Reviews with content warning for Violence - Open Water

Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson

106 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.

Content Warnings

nicoless's review against another edition

Go to review page

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.

Content Warnings

raebennison's review against another edition

Go to review page

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.

Content Warnings

ssolov's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

2.5

Content Warnings

kap7818's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative 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? No

5.0

This book blew me away. It’s written in a stream of consciousness style, but gives you a really deep insight into the lives of black people and their experiences. I loved this book. It gave me a new understanding and perspective.

Content Warnings

sadhbhprice's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging 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

4.75

Content Warnings

af666014's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.5

A really beautiful reflection of experience as Black in the UK - I liked the interwoven themes of joy and also sadness. The style, while beautiful, was hard to read at times.

Content Warnings

holly_daze_'s review

Go to review page

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-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

4.0

Content Warnings

brezzylovesbooks's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional reflective sad tense 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

5.0

Wow. This is the first book I have fallen in love with since The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois in 2021.

Let’s get into it… Caleb’s extraordinary talent provides the emotional depth I crave in the books I enjoy. I was hooked by the prologue: “It was strangely quiet in the barbershop.” If you understand how culturally rich a Black barbershop is at any given time, you know.

Through the characters, I was able to research paintings and rap lyrics mentioned in this book, which made me feel closer to them and their experiences and the inexplicable emotions.

This love story consisted of safety. Feeling safe in relationships is not a hard task once you find someone who “sees” you, enveloping yourself in trust, vulnerabilities, and safety.

I enjoyed reading about his role in the family dynamics. I appreciated how his experiences are revealed throughout the book as you travel with the main character, who becomes comfortably uncomfortable confronting the traumas directly and indirectly experienced.

Caleb’s writing style is poetic but not challenging to understand. There were several short chapters and paragraphs that I reread because of how lyrical his writing felt to me.

The second-person narration involves you directly in the love story. The complexities of life come out seamlessly in his writing.

Content Warnings

apersonnamedfaith's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is such a beautifully written story. It feels like a much longer book than it is just because of how much meaning and depth was packed into it. I have a deep appreciation for writers who are also truly artists, and that certainly applies here. Nelson has found the least flimsy of words.

Content Warnings

More...