A review by mayphoenix7992
Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson

challenging dark hopeful informative reflective sad tense slow-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

4.0

4 ⭐

"Let's ask: which came first, the violence or the pain?"

This book is a love letter to Black people. It has hit me deeply and has taught me things about Black people in the UK which, I am ashamed to admit, I had not realised. The fear, the uncertainty, the invisibility, the hope for a home, it was all described so raw, so achingly beautiful, by Caleb Azumah Nelson, I'm in awe.

The 2nd pov writing style disturbed me at first but I quickly got used to it. If anything it made the writing more powerful: it talked to you, it dragged you into the story.