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Blue [Paperback]

Lou Aronica
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (121 customer reviews)

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Book Description

January 16, 2011
Chris Astor is a man in his early forties who is going through the toughest stretch of his life. Becky is Chris's fourteen-year-old daughter, a girl who overcame enormous challenges to become a vibrant, vital young woman - and now faces her greatest obstacle yet. Miea is the young queen of a fantasy land that Becky and Chris created when Becky was little, a fantasy land that has developed a life of its own and now finds itself in terrible, maybe fatal trouble. Together, Chris, Becky, and Miea need to uncover a secret. The secret to why their worlds have joined at this moment. The secret to their purpose. The secret to the future. It is a secret that, when discovered, will redefine imagination for all of them. Blue is a novel of trial and hope, invention and rediscovery. It might very well take you someplace you never knew existed.

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Blue + Until Again: Prequel Novella to BLUE
Price for both: $21.52

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book ranks right up there with my top reads for 2010. I absolutely loved this book and found myself so wrapped up in the story. In fact, I hated to see it end. Even those who don't usually read fantasy will enjoy this tale." --Reading Frenzy, December 4, 2010

"Blue is a compelling fantasy novel that will tug on your heart strings and fill your eyes and heart with wonder. Beautifully written, the worlds just come to life in vivid color in your mind, and the hope and magic will keep you up late into the night turning the pages. Well executed, engaging and with characters you can't help but love, Blue is a must read! I absolutely loved it!" --Minding Spot, December 24, 2010

"So much more than a fantasy story. It's a story of hope and love and sadness all rolled into one. It's a story that made me wish dreams really did come true. The ending brought tears to my eyes and that doesn't happen often. You need to read this." --Confessions of an Overworked Mom, December 5, 2010

"Blue is enriched with great characters, a moving story line, and an author who will have you want to read more of his work. I could feel the anguish Chris felt for his daughter and wanting to spend as much time with her as he possibly could. The world of Tamarisk is full of intriguing people, who are almost as real as Becky. Blue is a five star read in my books!" --Cheryl's Book Nook, January 2, 2011

"Blue is an emotional, thought-provoking story that reaching in and squeezes the heart.... Blue made me cry and laugh. It enlivened my imagination and offered hope. This story is full of subtleties that tease the mind. I'm sure new wonders will come to light each time the story is read--it is a story to be enjoyed more than once. Becky and her Tamarisk Kingdom will be remembered long after the last words of Blue are read." --Long and Short Reviews, January 5, 2011

"Once in a while, a story comes along that completely surprises me because it delivers so much more than I expected; more depth, more feeling, more story-weaving. Blue not only falls into this category, it tops the list.... I humbly give this book FIVE STARS, and wish I had more to offer." --Between the Pages, January 7, 2011

"This book is so imaginative, touching and visual. It is so beautifully written. The characters are easy to bond with and believe in. If your a parent you will start to believe that Becky could be your own child. This book will bring tears to your eyes, and bring you to a wonderful emotional place.... I highly recommend this book. I would have given it more than 5 stars if I could." --Romance Writers Reviews, January 20, 2011

"This was such a well written novel, I couldn't praise Aronica more for the beautiful way he intertwined characters and worlds. Every last detail in the fantasy world was creative and added more to the story. There were some heartbreaking scenes along the way that had me crying, but the love between father and daughter was extremely clear and quite emotional.... A recommendation to all readers." --Chick Lit Plus, January 12, 2011

"Blue is definitely one of those books that everyone should find a moment to read.... If you haven't read Blue, you need to and I promise you won't regret that you did." --Book Noise, January 12, 2011

"Author Lou Aronica creates a world that manages to be both surreal and tangible. Reading this book is like experiencing a lucid dream with depth and detail that play on all five senses." --Blogcritics, January 16, 2011

"Lou Aronica has definitely created an amazing piece of art in writing Blue. The book tugged at my heart, and every emotion expressed was easy to feel and understand. I feel cheated that I've had to go this long without having read something this wonderful. Sometimes there are just certain books that come into your life at the perfect time and touch you in unforeseen ways. Blue was that book for me." --Geek on the Brink, February 4, 2011

"It doesn't happen too often (for me) where I read a book and tell everyone I know about it. And I mean everyone. Blue was such a book. This is a book that will delve into all the emotions you have and leave you wanting more. It is a story about courage, survival, loss, happiness and all the emotions in between....This book is a must read, truly one of the best books I have read in quite some time." --Review from Here

"I read this 400 page book in one night. I just couldn't bring myself to put it down.... There is something to enjoy for every reader in this book. Guaranteed to leave you breathless." --A Fanatic's Book Blog

"Be sure to have a box of tissues beside you when you approach the last quarter of the book, especially if you are a parent. I always say this, and it rings true time and time again, I know a book is good when it makes me cry (even though I HATE being sad). I highly recommend this book." --The True Book Addict

"Although I choked back tears unsuccessfully through the last 15 pages getting the pages all soggy and damp, this sweet novel is also redemptive, which is such a wonderful combination." --Layers of Thought

"This is a big book. Beware. It is a book that will take you from one emotion to the next and leave you wanting more.... If you are looking for one book to read this year that is an unexpected treasure, pick up Blue!" --Life with Five Monkeys

About the Author

Lou Aronica is the author of several novels and works of nonfiction, including the New York Times bestseller, The Element (written with Ken Robinson) and the national bestseller, The Culture Code (written with Clotaire Rapaille). He lives in Southern Connecticut with his wife and four children.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 400 pages
  • Publisher: Fiction Std (January 16, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1936558009
  • ISBN-13: 978-1936558001
  • Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.5 x 0.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (121 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #939,925 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I am the author of several works of fiction and nonfiction, including the New York Times bestseller, THE ELEMENT (written with Sir Ken Robinson) and the national bestseller, THE CULTURE CODE (written with Dr. Clotaire Rapaille). Prior to focusing on writing, I spent two decades as a senior executive in the publishing industry, including stints as Publisher of Avon Books and Deputy Publisher of Bantam Books. I am currently Publisher of two independent publishing houses, The Story Plant and The Fiction Studio.

My latest solo novel, the national bestseller BLUE, is the most personal and passionate work of my career to date. It took me six years to complete, and it deals with themes I've wanted to address my entire life. The extremely warm reception it has received from reviewers and readers has been tremendously rewarding. I have subsequently published a novella prequel to BLUE titled UNTIL AGAIN, and my newest work is DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS, a novel I wrote with Julian Iragorri.

I live in southern Connecticut with my wife and four kids.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
61 of 61 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars A Review Of Blue... March 11, 2011
Format:Paperback
My thoughts...

I just finished reading this most beautiful and unusual novel. It sort of reminds me of the movie Avatar. Nothing specifically, just sort of the aura of it. When I was first reading it I thought that it was a father's story. Then a few chapters later I thought it was a daughter's story. A few chapters after that it became an amazing fantasy. And then three quarters of the way through I realized it was all of the above. Chris, the father, was mourning the loss of being with his daughter Becky due to the break up of his marriage. Becky was confused about the situation and was fourteen and was spending her allotted time with her father but separating from him, too. They had been very close and Chris was at a loss as to how to get this closeness back. When Becky and Chris made up the world of Tamarisk it was to help Becky get through a difficult time. Becky needs Tamarisk back again and Chris helps her to achieve that goal. Becky begins to go to Tamarisk and interact with the people there. She especially loves being with Miea who was the Princess when Becky was little but now Miea is the Queen. On one of her trips to Tamarisk Becky learns that there is trouble in Tamarisk. Plants are dying and no one knows why. Becky enlists her father...who is a botanist...to help her.

I cannot even begin to describe what Tamarisk looks like. The descriptions in the book make Tamarisk come alive. I wanted to taste fenigers and drink barritts and ride a waccasassa over the bloat marshes. I want to listen to the music of all the amazing birdlike creatures that Becky and Chris had made up in their stories years and years ago. I loved being able to see Tamarisk. It was magical and lovely and it felt real. I wanted Becky to help Miea and I wanted everyone to live happily ever after.
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32 of 34 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Blue January 13, 2011
Format:Paperback
Much is involved in this book but.... Blue is a story of about Chris & his daughter Becky and what happens when their reality meets the fantasy world they created. Blue was an enthralling tale, sweet and touching. A unique story. The story explores life's challenges, magic, adventure, hope & possibility. I'm quite picky when it comes to fantasy, and this book is not something I wouldn't have picked up on my own, but I'm glad I got the chance to read about Chris and Becky's journey. If you love when fantasy and reality collide, this book is for you.

3 Stars = Good Read
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28 of 32 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars A good read! January 27, 2011
Format:Paperback
At first, this story was a little confusing as it went back and forth between our world and Tamarisk, the fantasy world Becky and Chris created long ago. But once I got the hang of all of the multiple narrators and figured out who was who, the story flowed much smoother. Still not 100% sure who Gage is, but I have a rough idea.

Becky isn't your typical teenager, as she's a survivor of both childhood cancer and her parent's divorce. She has a best friend, Lonnie, who isn't the typical sidekick and made a refreshing change. I actually liked both of these girls, probably because they weren't stereotypes. Becky just wants to fit in, and is in denial that life might not be as okay as she'd like.

Between the two, I think I preferred Becky's story to Miea's. Not that Tamarisk wasn't interesting, but it was Becky's creation and I enjoyed watching her discover it during her visits. Of all of the characters, in both of the worlds, I liked Becky the most. Her father Chris did not make a good first impression, and her mother Polly was a weird combination of good mom/angry ex-wife. It was almost like she had a split personality!

This story kept me up much too late as I couldn't put it down, and I had a tough time finishing the book because it's a little hard to read with tears in your eyes. Tends to make the words go all blurry. I love a story that brings tears to my eye! The book had a strong main character, okay secondary characters, good plot, and an all over decent storyline. Definitely a good read!
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A special magic March 25, 2011
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The real magic of Blue is that doesn't seem like a fantasy at all. It's the story of people growing together, coming apart, growing together again, and then finding out that they were connected all along in a way they couldn't fathom. The father-daughter relationship between Chris and Becky is lovingly depicted, and Aronica crosses the threshold to Tamarisk with grace and humor. But there's a larger story here--one that can be a life-changing lesson in the real nature of loss.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Pulled into the Writer's World June 16, 2011
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I loved this book! It is one of the best "fantasy" novels I've read. Because of the low Kindle price, I took a chance on an author I didn't recognize. But what a surprise: I found an accomplished and elegant writer, and a treasure that I'll want to revisit many times. I'm buying the paperback version too, so I can keep it in my bookshelves with other much-loved and often-read books!

The premise is original: an imaginary land created in great detail by a little girl and her father, as a way to distract Becky from the pains and terrors of dealing with leukemia and its treatment. It's touching, as the father and daughter share their nightly stories about Tamarisk and its history, geography, and inhabitants both human and otherwise. Becky grows into adolescence, and the plants and animals of Tamarisk become less Disneylike and more creative. When her parents divorce, not amicably, Becky's time with Chris, her dad, is limited to the usual weekends-and-one-night-a-week arrangement. Her anger with Chris for leaving "the family" makes her refuse any more Tamarisk collaboration. Becky's illness is in remission, and she does her best to live the life of a normal fourteen-year-old. Meanwhile, Chris grieves at their emotional separation.

Then we discover that Tamarisk has a life of its own. The fantasy land has continued to develop even in the absence of further creation from Becky and Chris! The young princess created by little Becky is now the queen; and a mysterious blight is affecting Tamarisk's plant life, changing its entire ecosystems in unimaginable ways. Becky finds herself visiting Tamarisk and becoming friends with Miea, the queen. She convinces her botanist father to accompany her on her brief visits in the hope of finding some solution to the blight.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars Nice read
Nice read. Good ending. A little difficult to follow at first but then ok. Not a bad read for traveling.
Published 2 months ago by Mom of boys
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!
Couldn't stop reading it! It was both fantasy and sad reality. Well written and encompassing, funny and heartbreaking. Do read this touching story!
Published 2 months ago by Judy Badger
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful story!
This story is well written and heart warming. I found it a little slow at the beginning, but then I couldn't put the book down. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Nicole Piehl
4.0 out of 5 stars Moving and Inspirational
It takes a lot of skill to cover a heavy topic like leukemia without making a story that is completely depressing, but Lou Aronica has done just that with his latest novel,... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Jessica McKenna
3.0 out of 5 stars Blue
I thought this was a very good book. It kept my interest and I am going to recommend it to my 13 and 14 year old grandchildren. Read more
Published 8 months ago by beckams
4.0 out of 5 stars Reality-based fantasy
Although I am a grandmother, I enjoyed this book so much that I have given it to my granddaughter and other young women that I thought would enjoy it too. Read more
Published 8 months ago by onename/2reviewers
5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST READ!!!
I loved this book. It was unlike any other book I have read. It took my imagination and my spirit to a whole new place. It really is a feel good story. Read more
Published 8 months ago by daisydookes
3.0 out of 5 stars cancer, imagination and more
this is an interesting take on the imaginary becoming reality, Blue is my favorite color, and I found this a great read...some moments were disjointed...
Published 8 months ago by geeyon
5.0 out of 5 stars Healing
I really enjoyed reading Blue. It is written on a YA level, but so many of the best sellers are these days. Read more
Published 8 months ago by G. Witham
5.0 out of 5 stars Blue is a unique gift
Although this story started slowly, the set-up was needed and well worth it so the reader could connect with the characters, which I did right away. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Soggie
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