To make a long story short, Caleb Azumah Nelson’s debut novel is a triumph.
Open Water is a novel, set in London, that follows the lives of a black man and a black woman as they intermingle. While initially it may sound simple, such a story brings about so many questions just in its existence. Nelson explores all of these questions through a lyrical prose that brings life to these characters, and sheds light on the world they, and so many black people, live in.
It would be remiss of me not to caveat that I cannot fully understand all the themes discussed by Nelson – I am obviously not black and therefore there is a whole raft of experiences I will simply never be privy to. Yet, therein lies some of the power of Nelson’s writing – he is able to transplant emotions and thoughts into his reader through his wordsmithing creating an understanding of what it may be like for those who do live lives like the ones he is describing. He provides a profound insight into the lives of black people, particularly black men, living in London, and what this can mean for those who exist in this space.
To discuss blackness in Britain in full is to discuss the violence perpetrated towards black people on a daily basis. Not only the overt, easily identifiable violence like police brutality, but also the more covert violence. Glances exchanged, words said or left unsaid, a lack of welcomeness in spaces that should be welcoming to all. Both types of violence, overt and covert, are explored at length in a way that allows us to observe just how these events can impact on people and their relationships. In some ways, enduring these attacks can strengthen bonds – as happens in the real world, those who suffer the same injustices are united in their fight for freedom from their oppressor and look to each other for help and kinship. However, there are more insidious repercussions. Other than the physical harm inflicted on individuals, the characters, and indeed many people in the world around us, carry the emotional weight of victimhood. The concept of the ‘black body’ permeates the novel and we are able to see just how the treatment of this body can impact the person inside in a real and devastating way.
The complicated notion of what it means to be a black man is examined. Further than the already difficult concept of masculinity, the race of the individual provides another layer. We are able to see how the expectation of strength and hardness is amplified for the character because of his skin-colour. This not only impacts him but also those closest to him. Of course, this is nothing new – we understand that anything that deeply impacts the way we see ourselves is going to impact those around us – however the way Nelson unpacks the impact is special. He allows us, in the most beautiful language, to observe a certain self-destruction occurring within the character of which he is unaware. Like many of us have been at some point in our own lives, the main character becomes so lost in his own thoughts and feelings that he does not recognise that he is adding to his anguish by pushing those closest to him away.
Throughout each chapter and exploration, there is one common thread: love. For me, above and beyond anything else, this book exemplified the incredible love that can exist between two people in spite of, and sometimes because of, the difficult circumstances they are consistently facing. Though the initiation of their relationship is messy and hurtful, the solace that the two find in one another is incredible. The relationship is not perfect and that is what makes it so beautiful – these are just two people who found their person, against the odds. I am a hopeless romantic, so a story about love is always going to pull me in, but there is so much to the book that kept me there until the very end. Open Water offers a combination of rich culture, beautiful writing, and a wonderful storyline that held me from start to finish. This is one of my favourite books I have ever read and yet it’s one I tend to recommend only to people who are special to me. Not because I want to keep it secret, but rather because it feels that it should be a gift to share with those you love most. That is truly a testament to this novel and the place it holds within my book-loving heart.
Image | France24