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 person perspective and it's the story about two friends falling in love. I don't know the name of "You", but I don't need to. I still connected, empathised and rooted for him.

But, this isn't just a love story. This also focus on the struggles, the experience, grief and trauma of a young black man in British society.

Caleb talks about racism, discrimination, violence, trauma, grief, police violence...

It's about: "It's one thing being looked at and another to be seen".

The rhythm is just perfect! It's poetry, lyrical, it's art!
There are ao many good quotes, that I had to stop and go search for them. This will probably be the first book that I'll annotate, when I have the physical copy.

"“What you’re trying to say is that it’s easier for you to hide in your own darkness, than emerge cloaked in your own vulnerability. Not better, but easier. However the longer you hold it in, the more likely you are to suffocate. At some point, you must breathe.”

"You hide your whole self away because sometimes you forget you haven’t done anything wrong. Sometimes you forget there’s nothing in your pocket. 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."

I listened to the audiobook and just fell in love with Caleb's voice. I am pleased that I listened to the audio, I believe it was an overall better experience. Now...am I buying the physical copy? Absolutely!
Am I reading his other book? You can bet on it...I'll probably listen to the audio, as well.

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1 person found this helpful

Very poetic but the ending seemed a rushed

Brilliant performance but the ending could have been better. Despite that, the authors way with words is phenomenal!

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truly beautiful

This story is an incredible, immersive poetic portrayal of life & the experience of being black in Britain and how this ripples through communities, time, space and love. Caleb's voice speaks from a knowing and authenticity, the calm melodic flow drifts through his voice.
I find that very rarely I want to listen again to something.. but this, I think this will be something I go back to often. Profound perspectives on life and love, how we are dancing with one another and making our own melodies through our relationships with one another.
Caleb's ability to immerse you into the life of a young black guy, to even get a glimpse of the pain, suppression and exhaustion that is experienced - a must read for everyone if we are to be compassionate humans and create new systems of empowerment!

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Beautiful Poetry

This was a very moving portrayal of love and an achingly in depth experience of being young and black today. It was an exquisite exploration of both the joy and pain within the world and how they can intermingle within the same moment.

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Deep

Loved the subtlety of the witer-narrator's tone. His reading did not stifle my imagination but enhanced it by not overacting. Beautifully paced reading of a gripping story that I wished would not end, but also needed it to so I could quietly contemplate its threads of blackness, love, loss and freedom. This book spoke.

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Beautiful

Really beautiful, lyrical book. The author's voice is monotone which makes the descriptions more haunting.

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Amazing

This is the most beautifully written book I've read in a very long time. The rhythm and poetry of deeply insightful sentences like little gems.

This explored the affects of systemic racism on a human being's psychology and emotions and was deeply moving and utterly relatable.

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amazing Insight into the marginalized lives of

written so beautifully and eloquently. A fantastic and useful insight into how young black boys are marginalized by the policing system. How young black boys are over policed u fairly! I see you, I hear you. you belong! you are of great value to this world

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beautifully told

Lovely story and so easy to listen (pretty much got through it in a day).

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2 people found this helpful

Brilliant

Best thing I’ve heard in ages. Perfect poetics for our times. I’ll be re-reading! Thanks for the words – get writing, Mr Nelson, I'll be in the queue for your next one.

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