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malin12ccf's review
3.0
3.5 stars
Carly works the evening shift as a cook at a small cafe, so she can spend her days surfing. She's estranged from her family, and dropped out of university, and keeps herself mostly to herself. The thing she can't tell her family is that surfing is the only thing that makes sense to her anymore, and that helps her not to dwell on the incident after her high school graduation two years ago, when she got drunk, separated from her friends, and woke up in a strange apartment having been raped by three strangers. Carly doesn't want to be a victim, and telling people about rape, always makes them pity and see you in a different light - so she doesn't talk about it, and she allows no one to get close.
While Carly may want to stay isolated, there are people around her who want to get closer. Hannah, a Dutch woman estranged from her husband,lives upstairs from her (but has to keep using her shower because her plumbing is bad) and tries to take Carly salsa dancing and makes her breakfast. Danny, a persistent kid she meets while surfing has synesthesia and won't leave her alone, even when the colour he sees her as is occasionally unpleasant. He keeps wanting to hang out and discuss surfing movies, and persuades Carly to get him a part time job at the cafe. Lastly, there is Ryan, who stands out from some of the crowd of macho surfer dudes. He doesn't hide the fact that he's just out of jail, and that he'd like a chance to get to know Carly better. He wants to turn his life around into something better, and if Carly will let him, he wants her to be a part of that life. The question is if Carly is ready to let him in?
My friend Erica read this some time ago and rated it very highly indeed. She gave me a copy, but it's been lingering on my TBR shelf until blue was one of the monthly keywords for this month. Must admit, I didn't love it as much as she, or quite a few book reviewers out there on the internet did, possibly because I had such a hard time engaging properly with the book. I felt really bad for Carly, and really hoped that she'd get over her assault, but I didn't really like her all that much, and her very narrow goals in life (work in cafe, surf) were not something that resonated with me. While I felt bad about it, I occasionally found myself thinking that maybe Hannah, Danny and Ryan should just let her sulk in peace, she was clearly not going to reciprocate the kindnesses and patience they kept showing her. I also have absolutely no idea if the surfing terms used in the books are accurate, but am going to assume so, as it's such a central part of the narrative.
I've seen the book classified as young adult and new adult. As Carly is nineteen and Ryan is twenty-six, and there is some description of sex (while nothing particularly graphic or explicit), I think it would fit better in the new adult category. I'm not particularly bothered by such labels, myself, but figured it might be worth noting that the romance in this book is not of the "fade to black" variety, even though it's aimed at younger readers.
Carly works the evening shift as a cook at a small cafe, so she can spend her days surfing. She's estranged from her family, and dropped out of university, and keeps herself mostly to herself. The thing she can't tell her family is that surfing is the only thing that makes sense to her anymore, and that helps her not to dwell on the incident after her high school graduation two years ago, when she got drunk, separated from her friends, and woke up in a strange apartment having been raped by three strangers. Carly doesn't want to be a victim, and telling people about rape, always makes them pity and see you in a different light - so she doesn't talk about it, and she allows no one to get close.
While Carly may want to stay isolated, there are people around her who want to get closer. Hannah, a Dutch woman estranged from her husband,lives upstairs from her (but has to keep using her shower because her plumbing is bad) and tries to take Carly salsa dancing and makes her breakfast. Danny, a persistent kid she meets while surfing has synesthesia and won't leave her alone, even when the colour he sees her as is occasionally unpleasant. He keeps wanting to hang out and discuss surfing movies, and persuades Carly to get him a part time job at the cafe. Lastly, there is Ryan, who stands out from some of the crowd of macho surfer dudes. He doesn't hide the fact that he's just out of jail, and that he'd like a chance to get to know Carly better. He wants to turn his life around into something better, and if Carly will let him, he wants her to be a part of that life. The question is if Carly is ready to let him in?
My friend Erica read this some time ago and rated it very highly indeed. She gave me a copy, but it's been lingering on my TBR shelf until blue was one of the monthly keywords for this month. Must admit, I didn't love it as much as she, or quite a few book reviewers out there on the internet did, possibly because I had such a hard time engaging properly with the book. I felt really bad for Carly, and really hoped that she'd get over her assault, but I didn't really like her all that much, and her very narrow goals in life (work in cafe, surf) were not something that resonated with me. While I felt bad about it, I occasionally found myself thinking that maybe Hannah, Danny and Ryan should just let her sulk in peace, she was clearly not going to reciprocate the kindnesses and patience they kept showing her. I also have absolutely no idea if the surfing terms used in the books are accurate, but am going to assume so, as it's such a central part of the narrative.
I've seen the book classified as young adult and new adult. As Carly is nineteen and Ryan is twenty-six, and there is some description of sex (while nothing particularly graphic or explicit), I think it would fit better in the new adult category. I'm not particularly bothered by such labels, myself, but figured it might be worth noting that the romance in this book is not of the "fade to black" variety, even though it's aimed at younger readers.
jenniferaimee's review
3.0
This wasn't bad - I liked the writing a lot, and the characters were believable and three-dimensional. I just don't really think this is my genre.
danaherrmann's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
sophs1f44a's review
5.0
Flamin' Nora, mate - what a read! I have never met an Australian book I didn't end up loving (let's just forget I ever owned The Slap) but this is definitely one of the best. Raw, funny and I'm now talking in an Aussie accent. Great stuff.
bookninja232b4's review
Reread, because Kirsty's IG mention of a possible film made me want to read it again. One of my favorites.
divinefolly's review
4.0
I adored this book and I adored it for its simplicity. It's a story about a girl - Clary - just trying to live her life after being raped about a year ago.
I like that this isn't a story about snapping out of your depression/anger and becoming the old you, because the "old you" no longer exists. It's more about coming to terms with who you are now (and not with the magical powers of some dude's penis). It's about finding strength and trust in good friendships in order to fight for yourself.
It's an added bonus that the writing is SUPER Australian. I'm talking "faaarks" and "mates" **heart eyes**
It's an extra added bonus that Kirsty is a beautiful human bean :D
I like that this isn't a story about snapping out of your depression/anger and becoming the old you, because the "old you" no longer exists. It's more about coming to terms with who you are now (and not with the magical powers of some dude's penis). It's about finding strength and trust in good friendships in order to fight for yourself.
It's an added bonus that the writing is SUPER Australian. I'm talking "faaarks" and "mates" **heart eyes**
It's an extra added bonus that Kirsty is a beautiful human bean :D
themaddiest's review
4.0
Carly dropped out of university to spend her days surfing. At night, she works as a cook in a cafe. Surfing is the only thing she loves to do, and it’s the only thing that pulls her out of bed when she starts to think about what happened two years before at school. When she meets Ryan, another local surfer, she can’t help but be drawn to him. Carly has to make a decision: will she open up enough to allow someone–anyone in? Or will she continue to shut the world out?
This is a dark story. Kirsty Eagar’s first novel is a story of regeneration and rebirth, but it is not an easy journey. Eagar writes with a nuanced skill that captures the reader’s attention and tugs at their heartstrings. This is a beautiful story, full authentic emotions and characters.
It starts with Carly, who has a strong voice and is remarkably well-developed. She is painfully real, as are all of the characters in the novel. Everyone she meets is fully realized, awkward, endearing. These feel like people who exist in the world. They linger with the reader long after the story is finished.
As does the story itself. Eagar’s story is full of heightened emotion and tension, but it never feels melodramatic or unnecessary. Carly has experienced something horrific, and instead of dealing with it, she has suppressed it. It bubbles just beneath the surface, and although Eagar is careful with her pace, readers will be able to anticipate a tipping point long before it happens.
A powerful novel, this will have crossover appeal and could be recommended to adults as well as older teens. Carly and the characters that inhabit her world get under your skin. Beautiful, intensely moving, and full of hope, this is a story that everyone should be reading. Highly, highly recommended. One of my favorite reads of the year so far.
Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar. Penguin Books: 2009. Borrowed copy.
This is a dark story. Kirsty Eagar’s first novel is a story of regeneration and rebirth, but it is not an easy journey. Eagar writes with a nuanced skill that captures the reader’s attention and tugs at their heartstrings. This is a beautiful story, full authentic emotions and characters.
It starts with Carly, who has a strong voice and is remarkably well-developed. She is painfully real, as are all of the characters in the novel. Everyone she meets is fully realized, awkward, endearing. These feel like people who exist in the world. They linger with the reader long after the story is finished.
As does the story itself. Eagar’s story is full of heightened emotion and tension, but it never feels melodramatic or unnecessary. Carly has experienced something horrific, and instead of dealing with it, she has suppressed it. It bubbles just beneath the surface, and although Eagar is careful with her pace, readers will be able to anticipate a tipping point long before it happens.
A powerful novel, this will have crossover appeal and could be recommended to adults as well as older teens. Carly and the characters that inhabit her world get under your skin. Beautiful, intensely moving, and full of hope, this is a story that everyone should be reading. Highly, highly recommended. One of my favorite reads of the year so far.
Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar. Penguin Books: 2009. Borrowed copy.
samnreader's review
5.0
The children are hogging the computer so I'm going to do my best with my phone... Which is usually where I do these anyway but I wanted to give this more effort. Oh well.
The title saws raw and that's what this is. A brutal, knife's edge first person from the perspective of Carly, a 19 year old rape victim who can only get out of her own head in the ocean.
No one writes quite like Eagar, I'm afraid. If I had to draw comparisons I'd say she's similar to [a:Julianna Keyes|7254943|Julianna Keyes|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1540518536p2/7254943.jpg] with romance being slightly less central.
Carly strikes up an unlikely friendship, at one point saying she didn't choose her friends (something pointed out to her in this book) with a 15 year old with synesthesia whose courage and perceptions intrigue her. Her interactions are short, often meaningless, often torn between shame and terror. And I think that's what's effective about this book. Carly is navigating PTSD, anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation in hefty doses. But she's also navigating her life, living for surfing, getting trapped into friendship by well-meaning and pure characters but not really living until a split second decision and chain reaction of things gone wrong send her crashing into another surfer.
And oof, is it well done. You are pulling for this unlikely gentleman. You are pulling for Carly.
It's not the romance. It's the journey. It is how real it all is. It is so well done.
The title saws raw and that's what this is. A brutal, knife's edge first person from the perspective of Carly, a 19 year old rape victim who can only get out of her own head in the ocean.
No one writes quite like Eagar, I'm afraid. If I had to draw comparisons I'd say she's similar to [a:Julianna Keyes|7254943|Julianna Keyes|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1540518536p2/7254943.jpg] with romance being slightly less central.
Carly strikes up an unlikely friendship, at one point saying she didn't choose her friends (something pointed out to her in this book) with a 15 year old with synesthesia whose courage and perceptions intrigue her. Her interactions are short, often meaningless, often torn between shame and terror. And I think that's what's effective about this book. Carly is navigating PTSD, anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation in hefty doses. But she's also navigating her life, living for surfing, getting trapped into friendship by well-meaning and pure characters but not really living until a split second decision and chain reaction of things gone wrong send her crashing into another surfer.
And oof, is it well done. You are pulling for this unlikely gentleman. You are pulling for Carly.
It's not the romance. It's the journey. It is how real it all is. It is so well done.
sass's review
4.0
I don't think I loved this the way some of my friends do, but that ending is perfect