Reviews with content warning for Alcoholism - Bluets

'The half-circle of blinding turquoise ocean is this love's primal scene. That this blue exists makes my life a remarkable one, just to have seen it. To have seen such beautiful things. To find oneself placed in their midst. Choiceless.'

As an eighteenth birthday gift, my friend bought me Bluets from the famous Shakespeare and Company in Paris. For this reason, and for my own lifelong, intrinsic connection to the colour blue, Bluets is extremely precious to me. (Although, apparently, according to Nelson, half of American adults also describe blue as their favourite colour. As a British just-turned-adult, can I count myself out?) Well, actually, Bluets stayed on my bookshelf for several months until I got a chance to read it, despite its short length, because I knew that it would shake me to my core. I mean, my poet friend must have gifted it to me for a reason.

So yes, maybe I came in with the preconceived notion that I would like this book. But I was indeed proved right. Nelson's series of 240 intertwining prose poems about heartbreak, sex, caring for her friend with quadriplegia, and of course, the colour blue, were so succinct yet sharp. 'Saturated', perhaps, with both the intense calm and reassurance of a blue ocean, but also the deep, dark blue of loneliness and depression.

This is my first time reading Nelson, and what I thoroughly enjoyed was her honesty and self-assured style of writing. Many moments in the book struck me, made me put it down and reflect or just sit in awe, as good poetry usually does. However, what I wasn't expecting was so many references to other people, mainly philosophers. Often, Nelson quotes these people and uses them to somewhat loosely tie them into her arguments/considerations. Like, I'm sorry, but after studying Literary Theories at uni, I don't necessarily want to bump into Jacques Derrida when I don't have to. But maybe this is a me thing.

I would recommend this mostly to people who are going through a hard time, especially a breakup. I think it would resonate with them most. (And also fellow blue lovers.)

Content Warnings