A review by sirhe
Bluets by Maggie Nelson

dark emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

3.75

This is an interesting collection of mini essays that take a poetic shape. Not only is Maggie Nelson talking about blue objects and blue things in American pop culture, but she is also inserting herself into these reflection as someone who is experiencing blues and needs help overcoming them. 
Unfortunately, all of the references make the reading tideous for people who weren't born in the 70's or are not as familiar with Americana. Prepare to do a lot of Googling and maybe a second read to absorb all of the information.

Mostly, Nelson makes connections between herself and Joni Mitchell. There is also mention of Leonard Cohen, but no references to any blues artists or legends. Nelson also depends on a lot of quotes from other writers, mostly from Goethe and Ralph Waldo Emerson. These are usually enjambed into the essays or are presented as fragment, without any connective tissue. 

As a person that hates blue, this book did not convert me, but I do appreciate the color a bit more now. Some of the most beautiful passages highlight how blue is a representation of the divine darkness and the ones about the Blue Satin Bowerbird show that the appreciation of blue extends into the the animal kingdom. 

For Nelson, Blue is hope, isolation, wonder, introspection, death, desire, heartbreak, healing, strength, power, and an aphrodisiac. It is as part of her life like a tattoo, she wears it on her soul. 

Overall, this book is not blue enough for me, literally, the publisher missed the opportunity to make the text blue.

⚠️ WARNING ⚠️ This book might give you the blues and possibly Werther Fever.

⚠️ WARNING ⚠️ Don't read this if your favorite color is green, Nelson despises green and spends a few pages ranting about it...

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