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You may know I’m obsessed with the colour blue, and so is Maggie Nelson. Formally experimental, it’s described as poems on wiki, but it’s more prose than that. The closest I can think of to describe its form is prayers or hymns, each small and numbered. Read together it tells the story of a heartbreak and through thoughts on the colour blue, but it can be dipped in and out at any point and be beautiful.
3d ago
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I was mostly interested in this initally because of my own connection to the color blue, this did not disappoint whatsoever. A beautiful memoir of love, lust and loss and self exploration all while she’s in almost a manic state over the color blue. The format may not be for everyone but I loved it as someone who is particular with poetry. the short paragraph style made me really sit and reread what she was saying. All around so beautiful, definitely vulgar lol but i’m always rereading this book for comfort!
Mar 12, 2025
Nelson denotes her love of the color blue as one of the sweetest sensations she has ever known, and after reading Bluets for the third time a couple years ago, I can say it is one of the sweetest sensations in reading I have ever known. And in this regard, sweet does not mean "sweet" at its core; this book is perfectly foul and lusty. It is unapologetic in its accounts of love and desire. It is unflinching and, to borrow more language from it, glaringly bright, even in, or precisely because of, its darkest places. Noticing blues more in your daily life is a beautiful side-effect of reading this book. I have two copies–one that I have highlighted and broken in and have lent out to people– and a hardcover copy with a beautiful embossed cover.
May 4, 2025
a beautiful book exploring love, loss, grief, and other deeply personal experiences through the colour blue.
I recently reread this book and fell in love with it again. It felt like I was reading a completely different book compared to when I read it a few years ago. I think that’s due to my growth as a person and the experiences I’ve had between the last read and when I read it now. I imagine that if I were to pick it up again 10 years from now, it would feel different again. It grows with you.
It’s hard not to get teary eyed.
“trying not to think about you, about my having lost you. but how can it be? how can it be? was I too blue for you. was I too blue.”
Mar 20, 2024
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May 18, 2025
I am by no means traditionally religious, but I fully understand how being in the presence of beautiful stained glass can feel like being with god. ALWAYS stop off at a church on the way if you think it might have good stained glass. The bluebells in the bottom right corner of this made me loose my breath for a moment.
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