Bookseller Reviews
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One of the most beautiful books I've read in years
The prose in this book is astonishing. It is so beautifully written, if I'd noted down every passage that moved me or broke my heart, I would have never st... READ MORE
Thought-provoking, poetic, introspective
One of the most beautiful and hearth wrenching new novels I've read in a long time. Written in a not often seen second person narrative, the story of a you... READ MORE
How strange a life you and other black people lead, forever seen and unseen, forever heard and silenced.
An intimate and emotional portrayal of blackness and the hardships and joy that come with it, as well as an ode to art, love and all things said and unsaid... READ MORE
One of the most beautiful books I've EVER read
This book is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful books I have ever read!
Open Water follows two young black British people navigating their artistry (he... READ MORE
Astonishing and poetic debut novel
This short novel explores identity, love, and masculinity within its story of two young black Londoners. They are both artists from similar backgrounds, an... READ MORE
Caleb Azumah-Nelson is a wordsmith!
A man and woman meet in the basement of pub in South East London. He is a photographer. She is a dancer. He sees her from across the room. And knows she is... READ MORE
A phenomenal, soul striking debut
In short - this book took my breath away.
It follows two Black artists who fall in love after meeting in London, but who are torn apart by violence, fe... READ MORE
Immersive, vulnerable, and poetic
Open Water is complicated, raw, and deeply moving. What stood out most to me was the way in which Nelson weaved words into experiences, and the strength of... READ MORE
Beautiful and moving
A lyrical expression of a young man’s first true love complicated by being Black in London is way too simple a way of describing this beautifully written p... READ MORE
A groundbreaking classic
So unique and original is the tone in which this novel is written, it will inspire future generations of writers. Its angles of love, lovers and friendship... READ MORE
bursting with life and soul
The multi-sensory, immersive beauty of this book is flooring. I have never liked reading second-person narratives but this serves so well to place you in t... READ MORE
A stunning and intimate romance that understands what it means to be seen.
I have had Nelson’s novel in my TBR list since it’s publication. I am so glad I finally picked it up.
The prose was gorgeous and layered, there was so ... READ MORE
A Masterpiece of a debut
If I could give this more than 5 stars, I would in a heartbeat.
'Open Water' covers the topics of modern masculinity, race, police brutality and ultimatel... READ MORE
WOW OH WOW !!
This is a simple story,Boy meets Girl and they have an instant attraction knowing that they will spend a lifetime loving each other. But she is with his fr... READ MORE
such a beautiful novel
This book will discuss the flimsy inadequacy of language, and then proceed to say something insanely beautiful and poetic.& truly, I’m not exaggerating, th... READ MORE
Synopsis
Shortlisted for the Waterstones Book of the Year 2021
Waterstones Fiction Book of the Month for February 2022
Shortlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize 2022.
Winner of the Costa First Novel Award 2021
Winner of The British Book Awards 2022 Debut Book of the Year
Shortlisted for the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award 2021
A stunning, shattering debut novel about two Black British artists falling in and out of love.
Two young people meet at a pub in South East London. Both are Black British, both won scholarships to private schools where they struggled to belong, both are now artists - he a photographer, she a dancer - trying to make their mark in a city that by turns celebrates and rejects them. Tentatively, tenderly, they fall in love. But two people who seem destined to be together can still be torn apart by fear and violence.
At once an achingly beautiful love story and a potent insight into race and masculinity, Open Water asks what it means to be a person in a world that sees you only as a Black body, to be vulnerable when you are only respected for strength, to find safety in love, only to lose it. With gorgeous, soulful intensity, Caleb Azumah Nelson has written the most essential British debut of recent years.
Publisher information
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
- ISBN: 9780241448786
- Number of pages: 160
- Dimensions: 197 x 127 x 14 mm
- Weight: 148g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
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Short novel set in South East LONDON
This is the second novel that I have read consecutively where the second person narrative is used and I am not convinced by it – yet. It is I guess a devic... READ MORE
A stunning debut!
TW// police brutality, racism
“You fit the profile. You fit the description. You don’t fit in the box but he has squeezed you in.”
This story centres aro... READ MORE
A stunning debut
Open Water is at its heart, a beautiful love story. The love between two people, the love of music, dance, art, family, faith and most of all, words and wr... READ MORE
A stunning debut
An astounding debut, that explores intimacy and what it means to expose your vulnerabilities to another.
The two central characters are introduced at a p... READ MORE
Sometimes love just ain't enough
This debut novel has a simple plot-a guy and a girl fall in love, and navigate the tricky open waters of caring about someone else as much as you do about ... READ MORE
A beautiful story about a deep and forbidden connection.
“The trouble is, this is trouble that you welcome.”
Have you ever accidentally fallen in love with your best friend’s girlfriend, and been terrified to cr... READ MORE
A dazzling debut
"It is one thing to be looked at and another to be seen" Some books you just know within a few pages, you're going to love, and this is one of those books.... READ MORE
A love story like no other.
A love story like no other.
I’m fast becoming a super fan of audible books. Not just because I can get on and do other things while listening to a book, ... READ MORE
I do not have the words, but I will never stop trying.
One of the best books I have ever read.
This book is one of those reads that will stay with you for a long time after you finish. It is so beautifully evoc... READ MORE
An Important Novel
'Open Water' by Caleb Azumah Nelson (Penguin, 2022) is a lyrical and poetic story about a young black man who meets a young black woman and the difficultie... READ MORE
Achingly beautiful. A work of art.
This book is a work of art.
Caleb Azumah Nelson writes an achingly beautiful tale about falling in love against the backdrop of trauma, and harsh reality ... READ MORE
Poetic, heartfelt and truly amazing!
In all honesty I want to keep this short and sweet as I'm aware of how gushy this review is going to be.
So I'll start with one of the boldest claims I've... READ MORE
A beautifully tender and evocative debut exploring love, racism and masculinity in contemporary South East London.
The story follows a photographer and a dancer who begin as friends and evolve into something more. Their love has a vibrancy that’s heart-warming to read, ... READ MORE
A must read
Beautifully written, a poem even.
I did struggle a bit with following the timeline, at times.
It narrates the love story of two Black British artists, who... READ MORE
Stunning.
Open Water is more than a book, it’s a piece of art formed poetry. It holds so much emotion. It’s raw, heartbreaking and real, and it teaches you important... READ MORE
. Affecting & transcending . Open Water, is a gem..
. .Open Water, is a novel of only two hundred pages. Yet it contains an immensity of emotion. The love story of two black people. But the story is comple... READ MORE
Beautiful
This is not my kind of book. I prefer action, plot, drama. Not so much of that here but somehow the beautiful evocative writing won me over. The changing m... READ MORE
A good debut novella
There are areas of this book which are spectacularly written, but then there are areas where I felt it fell flat and bland.
A wonderful effort from the... READ MORE
Phenomenal!
I am swooned, I am moved, I am sad, I am happy, I am emotional, I basically felt everything listening to this book.
Open Water is written in a second pe... READ MORE
Sensitive, poetic, black masculinity
An exquisite, sensitively written poetic love story. Inviting the reader in to share the protagonists perspective as a black man, with both the fear and tr... READ MORE
Best book of the year
Best book I have read all year. The signed edition has the bonus of coming with the amazing short story 'Pray' which I could read 100 times and it still wo... READ MORE
Disappointing
The book itself is less than 150 pages, but i struggled to get through half.
Came to my attention through BookTok.
Was not for me despite the hundreds ... READ MORE