A poetic and intimate novel about love and life as a young black man living in London.
Caleb Azumah uses a 2nd person perspective throughout. It is a bold artistic choice, it asks you the reader to embody the experience of the unnamed central character. The effect is deeply moving and profound.
Fear paralyses our main character. Fear of the police brutality he witnesses so frequently and the consistent racial profiling within his city. His black body labels him both as dangerous, and in danger. His humanity and personal identity have been chipped away. It is not only violence he fears, but love and intimacy too. Allowing himself to be vulnerable is difficult, but to do it while experiencing grief and the micro and macro aggressions aimed at people of colour adds another dimension to that difficulty. He is wanting to be seen, desired and valued as well as wanting to take cover and hide.
Self-actualisation versus self-preservation.
In contrast, Open Water is a celebration of black British excellence and artistry and black love. The photographer and the dancer spark, they connect inescapably through art in various forms. They attempt to make sense of and express themselves and their experiences using their art, and the art of others. The story, the characters, and their relationship feel more like a snapshot than a detailed account of real people. A beautiful, poignant snapshot. A song, a dance.
I fell in love with Caleb Azumah while reading this.
I have never met nor read a man who can articulate the terrifying experience of falling in love and vulnerability with such vivid brilliance. His unique voice lends a sensitivity and nuance to the discussion of male identity and masculinity. I found it refreshing and impressive.
Talk about small but mighty, this teeny tiny book packs a punch.
The prose is dazzlingly intimate. The use of rhythm and repetition creates a lyrical fluidity in the language and it is truly masterful.
This book won’t appeal to everyone. I can understand why the style and musicality of the language could be off-putting to some readers, depending on what you are expecting or what you look for in a book. However, it cannot be denied that this is an important piece of modern literature.
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