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A review by dinipandareads
Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
"It's one thing to be looked at, and another to be seen."
I don't even know where to begin with this review. This was so beautifully written. I don't pick up much poetry but this often read like spoken word and it added more depth and movement to the writing. Although slow-paced, at 145 pages it still could've easily been read in a couple of hours, but I wanted to take my time to savour every moment with Azumah Nelson's stunning prose. It's deeply moving and written with such heart. I know that this will probably stick with me for a long time to come.
"Sometimes you forget that to be you is to be unseen and unheard, or it is to be seen and heard in ways you did not ask for. Sometimes you forget to be you is to be a Black body, and not much else."
Open Water is at turn an achingly tender romance and a heartbreakingly honest and eye-opening portrayal of what it means to occupy a Black body in a society that refuses to see you. Set against a backdrop of an improbable summer romance between two best friends falling madly in love, Azumah Nelson presents the slowly intertwining lives of our nameless narrators through various dichotomies, taking us from embracing joy, light, love, and hope, to being shadowed by anger, trauma, fear, and death. I loved how Azumah Nelson captured the intimacy of their romance and made it feel almost as if we were intruders in their tender love. Although there is so much joy and safety in their relationship, it is tempered by the racism and violence that surrounds their lives, particularly that of the male protagonist. This story is rich in themes and they are all done so well! The author explores what it means to love, be free, be seen, be honest, and be vulnerable enough to let someone see your ugly alongside your beauty. Unsurprisingly, the raw heart in this story had me crying buckets (ch. 27 wrecked me)!
"Indeed, what is a joint? What is a fracture? What is a break? Under what conditions does unconditional love become no more?"
I loved the joyous celebration of Black art and culture, particularly as experienced through music. It is a core part of these character's lives and it's woven through their connection. While reading I decided to check whether there was a playlist for this book and I found one prepared by the publisher—listening to the tracks while reading elevated my experience of this book and I highly recommend it if you can do so! Overall, this was a short, poignant and impactful story wrapped up in stunning writing that will keep you hooked until the last sentence and the very last word.
I don't even know where to begin with this review. This was so beautifully written. I don't pick up much poetry but this often read like spoken word and it added more depth and movement to the writing. Although slow-paced, at 145 pages it still could've easily been read in a couple of hours, but I wanted to take my time to savour every moment with Azumah Nelson's stunning prose. It's deeply moving and written with such heart. I know that this will probably stick with me for a long time to come.
"Sometimes you forget that to be you is to be unseen and unheard, or it is to be seen and heard in ways you did not ask for. Sometimes you forget to be you is to be a Black body, and not much else."
Open Water is at turn an achingly tender romance and a heartbreakingly honest and eye-opening portrayal of what it means to occupy a Black body in a society that refuses to see you. Set against a backdrop of an improbable summer romance between two best friends falling madly in love, Azumah Nelson presents the slowly intertwining lives of our nameless narrators through various dichotomies, taking us from embracing joy, light, love, and hope, to being shadowed by anger, trauma, fear, and death. I loved how Azumah Nelson captured the intimacy of their romance and made it feel almost as if we were intruders in their tender love. Although there is so much joy and safety in their relationship, it is tempered by the racism and violence that surrounds their lives, particularly that of the male protagonist. This story is rich in themes and they are all done so well! The author explores what it means to love, be free, be seen, be honest, and be vulnerable enough to let someone see your ugly alongside your beauty. Unsurprisingly, the raw heart in this story had me crying buckets (ch. 27 wrecked me)!
"Indeed, what is a joint? What is a fracture? What is a break? Under what conditions does unconditional love become no more?"
I loved the joyous celebration of Black art and culture, particularly as experienced through music. It is a core part of these character's lives and it's woven through their connection. While reading I decided to check whether there was a playlist for this book and I found one prepared by the publisher—listening to the tracks while reading elevated my experience of this book and I highly recommend it if you can do so! Overall, this was a short, poignant and impactful story wrapped up in stunning writing that will keep you hooked until the last sentence and the very last word.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Police brutality
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Sexual content