Bookseller Reviews
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Another lyrical masterpiece from the author of Open Water
Stephen lives with his mum and dad (who both grew up in Ghana) and brother Ray in South London amidst a close-knit black community. Stephen has inherited h... READ MORE
Lyrical and moving
With thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for my proof copy.
Another great one from Caleb!
Loved Open Water last year so was an easy choice to dive str... READ MORE
A lyrical masterpiece that I won't ever forget
Small Worlds is a story about music and community, friendship and faith, about being a son. It’s a story about loving.
Through vulnerability, a breathta... READ MORE
A symphony of a book!
"So instead, we build each other a small world, our solos swelling, rising like a chorus, forward as he goes back, back as he goes forward, our hands to ou... READ MORE
Another beautifully moving masterpiece from the king of lyrical prose!
Simply, no one does it quite like Caleb. His way of masterfully weaving language together pieces together the most honest, vivid, and emotional portrayals ... READ MORE
I cannot get enough of Caleb Azumah Nelson
Caleb Azumah Nelson is one of my favourite writers. I read open water initially as an audiobook, so when it came to reading their second novel, i could he... READ MORE
Absolute perfection in a novel!
I absolutely adored Caleb Azumah Nelson's debut novel, Open Water, and so I was fortunate enough to be sent an early review copy of Small Worlds by the tea... READ MORE
I cannot express how much I believe that everybody should read this
Small worlds follows Stephen as he journeys through summers in London and Ghana, relationships blossoming and unravelling, faith, trauma, grief and rhythm.... READ MORE
A Fantastic Follow Up
‘Small Worlds’ was a reading journey that few books are able conjure. The story is beautifully crafted, with reminiscent summer settings that leave your wa... READ MORE
Lyrical and Luminous
I was immersed in this novel; the prose is hypnotic and so well observed. Nelson weaves a coming of age tale about discovering our place in the world, and ... READ MORE
Beautifully raw and loving
I was so excited to receive a copy of ‘Small Worlds’ by Caleb Azumah Nelson after absolutely loving ‘Open Water’ last year - and for me, this was even bett... READ MORE
Five perfect stars
This is a beautiful book that follows the narrative of a young man through three summers of his life, as he navigates life, love and loss. A feeling of com... READ MORE
Exactly what I was hoping for — and more
Small Worlds is an extraordinary book. In the way that the words draw you into the scene. In the way that you are standing alongside the characters, unseei... READ MORE
If Jazz Were A Novel
If you loved Open Water, you will love this as there is more of Azumah Nelson's lyrical prose. This book is drenched in the love of music. Jazz is king her... READ MORE
Poetic, lyrical, emotional, and just absolutely beautiful
I finished reading small worlds a couple of months ago and I have not stopped thinking about it since! Caleb’s writing is unbelievably beautiful and he tac... READ MORE
Modern Family Saga
loved his first book 'Open Water', but this has too many many music references that began to get in the way of the story. Stephen and Del could be characte... READ MORE
A Love Letter to South London
SMALL WORLDS follows young Stephen as he navigates family, matters of the heart, and his calling in life, all while trying to find his rhythm. Many hazards... READ MORE
Synopsis
The one thing that can solve Stephen's problems is dancing. Dancing at Church, with his parents and brother, the shimmer of Black hands raised in praise; he might have lost his faith, but he does believe in rhythm. Dancing with his friends, somewhere in a basement with the drums about to drop, while the DJ spins garage cuts. Dancing with his band, making music which speaks not just to the hardships of their lives, but the joys too. Dancing with his best friend Adeline, two-stepping around the living room, crooning and grooving, so close their heads might touch. Dancing alone, at home, to his father's records, uncovering parts of a man he has never truly known.
Stephen has only ever known himself in song. But what becomes of him when the music fades? When his father begins to speak of shame and sacrifice, when his home is no longer his own? How will he find space for himself: a place where he can feel beautiful, a place he might feel free?
Set over the course of three summers in Stephen's life, from London to Ghana and back again, Small Worlds is an exhilarating and expansive novel about the worlds we build for ourselves, the worlds we live, dance and love within.
Publisher information
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
- ISBN: 9780241574348
- Number of pages: 272
- Dimensions: 202 x 138 x 23 mm
- Weight: 320g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
View allSuperb!!
Thank you to the publishers for this early review copy.
Having previously been a massive fan of his first book - Open Water this book latest book was star... READ MORE
Beautiful cover, even more beautiful book
My first Caleb Azumah Nelson book, and I'm blown away by the prose. Wow. I knew it would be good, but THIS GOOD?
Every word is like a song, so if you can ... READ MORE
A beautiful story
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc of this wonderful book. What a beautiful and powerful story by Caleb. This story is full of immaculate poetic writing a... READ MORE
Tender and heartfelt
Beautiful new novel from Caleb Azumah Nelson. Tender and heartfelt.
Small worlds is an examination of the individual and the collective, trauma and joy, ... READ MORE
A music and dance filled follow up to Open Water
Caleb Azumah Nelson’s debut novel “Open Water” was a deserved winner of the last ever Costa Award for Debut Novels in 2021. It was both a love story albei... READ MORE
I can't recommend this book enough.
I read Small Worlds shortly after reading Open Water (by the same author), so I was a little disappointed to see that Caleb Azumah Nelson's second book was... READ MORE
A perfect book
Simply spectacular. A tale of sons and fathers and music and food and love and laughter. This is a story about family and finding oneself. Recommended read... READ MORE
Full of love and warmth
I adored this!
It‘s so nice to see a different side to the young, black experience. Yes, there is prejudice, violence and racism always there in the bac... READ MORE
Poetic and beautiful read
First of everyone must read this book, it is such a beautiful poetic read. I loved it!! Kudos to Caleb Azumah Nelson for this lovely book. It was such a na... READ MORE
Beautiful and poetic; a great follow up to Open Water
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin UK for this advance reader copy.
I read Open Water when it came out and enjoyed the real world storytelling and descr... READ MORE
Another gorgeous book by Nelson
Another gorgeous book by Nelson, following on from Nelson's debut Open Water this does not disappoint.
Small World centres around music, family, history ... READ MORE
A must read
First of everyone must read this book, it is such a beautiful poetic read. I loved it!! Kudos to Caleb Azumah Nelson for this lovely book. It was such a na... READ MORE
One of the best of 2023
This was so much more than I could have hoped for, I have fallen head over heels for it.
The words have such rhythm, with the repetition of lines through... READ MORE
Highly recommend!
I have been a huge fan of Nelson since reading Open Water last earlier this year. I knew before I read Small Worlds, it was going to be special. The book i... READ MORE
First class
It is hard to find the words to review Small Worlds because Caleb Azumah Nelson uses them in ways that I can never.
It’s another triumph. The writing is ... READ MORE
A gorgeous novel, poignant and tender
Small Worlds is a beautiful, eloquent exploration of love, loss and finding a place of safety for a person of colour in a white world. Beginning in 2010, t... READ MORE
Another beautiful book by the author
This novella won the Costa Book Award recently, and I am not surpirsed! It’s important, unique and stylishly-written. Even though it is a short story, it... READ MORE
Beautiful lyrical book about music, identity, and family
The story is told from the perspective of a young adult called Stephen, and takes place over the three summers after he graduates from college. The writing... READ MORE
Beautiful and rhythmic
I loved Caleb Azumah Nelson’s Open Water so was very happy to receive an eARC of Small Worlds and it did not disappoint. It is beautifully written, poetic,... READ MORE
An extraordinary book!
This is extraordinarily beautiful. I was welling up for most of the second half and only stopped myself so I was able to keep reading.
This is somewhat s... READ MORE
Poignant and heartfelt
This is an incredibly moving and beautiful novel that explores that period of life when you cross the line from traditional school education and embark upo... READ MORE
Beautifully crafted and lyrical prose
As we follow Stephen’s life across three summers we delve into familial relationships, love interests and go on a journey of self discovery with a young ma... READ MORE
A beautiful, moving novel
"I'm trying to tell you what it means to be in the eye of a moshpit: a small, beautiful world in the midst of chaos, free, amongst flailing limbs and half ... READ MORE
A beautiful and heart-wrenching book; a read that is at once tender and powerful.
Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson opens at the beginning of a hot summer that will change everything for our narrator, Stephen, and his friends; school i... READ MORE
Dance and music - growing up in London
I have little in common with the narrator of Small Worlds - Stephen is a young black man living in London, while I’m an older white woman - yet his story s... READ MORE
Wonderful book
The best thing about this book is its lush prose and musicality. What a privilege it was to read it and follow Stephen growth and emotional journey, to fee... READ MORE
Wonderful, lyrical, vulnerable
Like Open Water, this book was raw and emotional in every word. It isn’t often that young black men are portrayed as emotional and vulnerable, and this is ... READ MORE
I am once again under the spell of the incredible writing of Caleb Azumah Nelson.
I am once again under the spell of the incredible writing of Caleb Azumah Nelson. The words are so accurate, it resonates a lot with me. Her way of talking... READ MORE
Moving
Really enjoyed the themes of feeling lonely and lost in young adulthood, family and connections.
Lovely writting style.
Long story...
I left this book in an Uber, never to be seen again. It's so good, I went out the next day and got a new copy, promptly devouring it. Beautiful, euphoric, ... READ MORE
Story poetry
Both his books are fabulous, poetry in action.
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