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josana's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
yilik's review against another edition
5.0
Astonishing magic trick of words. Favorite meta novel so far. And flirtatious indeed.
shadowsmoon's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely exceptional. My Book of the Year so far and definitely in my top books of all time! Kennedy writes with such acutely beautiful and descriptive imagery it is impossible to do this book the justice and praise it deserves. One of Kennedy's many talents is her ability to write about pain and love and just envelop you in the lives of her characters. I say 'characters' but these people are so real to me it's hard to call them that.
Like another of Kennedy's novels "Serious Sweet" the way she weaves people's love stories into your mind and heart is truly magical. It is with deft choreography in structure, choice of words and form that all come together to bring alive the complexity of love and relationships. This is a must read for sure.
I listened to this book on Audible but will be rereading this very soon; I'm not ready to let these wonderful people go. Absolutely stunning. Thank you for your talent!
Like another of Kennedy's novels "Serious Sweet" the way she weaves people's love stories into your mind and heart is truly magical. It is with deft choreography in structure, choice of words and form that all come together to bring alive the complexity of love and relationships. This is a must read for sure.
I listened to this book on Audible but will be rereading this very soon; I'm not ready to let these wonderful people go. Absolutely stunning. Thank you for your talent!
gilmoreguide's review against another edition
4.0
A cruise from Southampton to NYC in January. The location sets the tone for The Blue Book. Crashing, icy seas and gusting winds mesh well with the juxtaposition of a woman on board with her boyfriend who discovers her old partner in crime (literally) is on board as well. A setting that should be one of enjoyment, relaxation and companionship is instead filled with angst, separation and misunderstanding. Is this man following her or has she followed him?
Ostensibly, Elizabeth Barber is taking this trip with her boyfriend, Derek, and with the knowledge that he is likely to propose at some point on the journey. As they wait to board the vessel, another man inserts himself into their conversation asking Beth to do a magic trick involving numbers with him. She complies but is only marginally polite and is relieved when he moves away. Later we learn that this is Arthur Lockwood, Beth’s partner in a successful venture where they acted as mediums, channeling the spirits of the dead, for members of paying audiences.
Read more of this review at The Gilmore Guide: http:/gilmoreguidetobooks.com/2013/03/the-blue-book/
Ostensibly, Elizabeth Barber is taking this trip with her boyfriend, Derek, and with the knowledge that he is likely to propose at some point on the journey. As they wait to board the vessel, another man inserts himself into their conversation asking Beth to do a magic trick involving numbers with him. She complies but is only marginally polite and is relieved when he moves away. Later we learn that this is Arthur Lockwood, Beth’s partner in a successful venture where they acted as mediums, channeling the spirits of the dead, for members of paying audiences.
Read more of this review at The Gilmore Guide: http:/gilmoreguidetobooks.com/2013/03/the-blue-book/
cbfredriks's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
minniepauline's review against another edition
5.0
I've heard it said that poetry is emotion written down. If so, then this book is a prose poem. But closer, even, would be to describe it as music, maybe, which is perhaps more purely emotion.
It's a love story. It's a tragedy. It might even be called a mystery. Mysterious, anyway.
It is beautiful and it should be read. That's really all I want to say.
It's a love story. It's a tragedy. It might even be called a mystery. Mysterious, anyway.
It is beautiful and it should be read. That's really all I want to say.
lola425's review against another edition
4.0
I was hypnotized by this book. At first, I thought it was slow, but the stream of consciousness, the interior monologues, the "your book" conceit, all of it conspired to enthrall me. Beth and Arthur's story could really be told in no other way, but by slow, ambiguous unveiling, they same way they operate, the same way their love unfolds in them. Key to enjoying this book is to let it unfold, don't try so hard to "understand"; approach it as a believer, not a skeptic.
Haven't really thought it through, but the page numbers at the top of the page (presumably the "blue book" page numbers) start to appear out of sequence and randomly. It distracted me, but only for a moment.
Haven't really thought it through, but the page numbers at the top of the page (presumably the "blue book" page numbers) start to appear out of sequence and randomly. It distracted me, but only for a moment.
lola425's review against another edition
4.0
I was hypnotized by this book. At first, I thought it was slow, but the stream of consciousness, the interior monologues, the "your book" conceit, all of it conspired to enthrall me. Beth and Arthur's story could really be told in no other way, but by slow, ambiguous unveiling, they same way they operate, the same way their love unfolds in them. Key to enjoying this book is to let it unfold, don't try so hard to "understand"; approach it as a believer, not a skeptic.
Haven't really thought it through, but the page numbers at the top of the page (presumably the "blue book" page numbers) start to appear out of sequence and randomly. It distracted me, but only for a moment.
Haven't really thought it through, but the page numbers at the top of the page (presumably the "blue book" page numbers) start to appear out of sequence and randomly. It distracted me, but only for a moment.
ejamie77's review against another edition
2.0
Overall this book did not work for me. Characters were so distant, plot so convoluted, so much missing. But there were some aspects of the writing that I could appreciate, and parts that I expect will stay with me a while; hence the second star. Overall I'm not sorry I read it, but I'm glad to be done!
greeniezona's review against another edition
4.0
At the library with my kids, I saw this on the New Fiction shelves and had to have it, as I have a very high opinion of Kennedy. And this book won me over with its very first page -- an intimate address to the reader from the book itself (an address that is achingly beautiful when read again after reading the book through to the end.)
It is hard to write much about this book without spoiling anything. Untangling the relationships between and identifying the characters within is sometimes frustrating, but necessary, I believe. Because at least one of the characters is a sometimes con artist. Another is a child of a magician, which is a sort of con as well, isn't it? This book is about magic, real magic and cheap magic, the difference between conning and helping, between intimacy and deduction, guilt and self-flagellation.
It's A.L. Kennedy, so you know there will be darkness, loss, and alienation. This fore-knowledge will not prevent the pain from being staggering when it hits.
Ultimately, it is about our need to lay ourselves bare, for the worst of our shortcomings to be known, so that we can be forgiven.
So that we can be loved.
It is hard to write much about this book without spoiling anything. Untangling the relationships between and identifying the characters within is sometimes frustrating, but necessary, I believe. Because at least one of the characters is a sometimes con artist. Another is a child of a magician, which is a sort of con as well, isn't it? This book is about magic, real magic and cheap magic, the difference between conning and helping, between intimacy and deduction, guilt and self-flagellation.
It's A.L. Kennedy, so you know there will be darkness, loss, and alienation. This fore-knowledge will not prevent the pain from being staggering when it hits.
Ultimately, it is about our need to lay ourselves bare, for the worst of our shortcomings to be known, so that we can be forgiven.
So that we can be loved.