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A sus cuarenta años, Chris Astor está viviendo el peor momento de su vida. Poco antes, su mundo era perfecto: tenía un trabajo importante, un hogar acogedor y una preciosa hija, Becky, que lo adoraba. Y de pronto el divorcio lo deja solo.
Becky tuvo que superar un enorme desafío antes de convertirse en una joven alegre y vital. Pero la separación de sus padres deja huella, sobre todo en su relación con su padre. Antes intercambiaban largas historias de mundos imaginarios. Hoy casi no se hablan.
Paralelamente, Tamarisk, el mundo imaginario que Becky y Chris crearon a lo largo de los años, ha desarrollado vida propia. Pero Miea, su joven reina, sólo sabe que la ecología de su maravilloso reino está ahora en peligro.
En el momento crucial de sus vidas, Becky y Miea se conocen. Para Becky, es casi inconcebible que Tamarisk sea un mundo real. Para Miea, es casi imposible que una niña haya creado su mundo. Para Chris, es casi un milagro volver a vivir algo importante para Becky, su hija. Juntos deberán guardar el secreto de por qué esos dos mundos, el uno real y el otro imaginario, se han cruzado en un mismo plano.
Becky tuvo que superar un enorme desafío antes de convertirse en una joven alegre y vital. Pero la separación de sus padres deja huella, sobre todo en su relación con su padre. Antes intercambiaban largas historias de mundos imaginarios. Hoy casi no se hablan.
Paralelamente, Tamarisk, el mundo imaginario que Becky y Chris crearon a lo largo de los años, ha desarrollado vida propia. Pero Miea, su joven reina, sólo sabe que la ecología de su maravilloso reino está ahora en peligro.
En el momento crucial de sus vidas, Becky y Miea se conocen. Para Becky, es casi inconcebible que Tamarisk sea un mundo real. Para Miea, es casi imposible que una niña haya creado su mundo. Para Chris, es casi un milagro volver a vivir algo importante para Becky, su hija. Juntos deberán guardar el secreto de por qué esos dos mundos, el uno real y el otro imaginario, se han cruzado en un mismo plano.
392 pages, Paperback
First published December 3, 2010
103 people are currently reading
1505 people want to read
About the author
Lou Aronica
53 books90 followersI have been associated with the book publishing world since August 1979, when I started as an assistant in the Managing Editor’s Department at Bantam Books. Prior to founding The Fiction Studio, I served as Deputy Publisher of Bantam and Publisher of Berkley Books and Avon Books. During this time, I launched the premier science fiction and mystery imprints in the business, and also presided over the largest growth period to date in the history of the #1 single-title romance program.
My earliest publishing experiences were in the field of science fiction and fantasy. I started my first publishing imprint, Bantam Spectra, at the age of 27 and published my first New York Times bestseller with that imprint a year later. My first editorial acquisition, David Brin’s Startide Rising, won the field’s two highest awards, the Hugo and the Nebula. I subsequently published New York Times bestsellers with Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, David Brin, Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, Raymond Feist, William Gibson, Neal Stephenson, Neil Gaiman, and others, while also acquiring five consecutive winners of the Nebula Award. In addition, I created the “Full Spectrum” anthology series, which won me a World Fantasy Award in 1994.
My biggest commercial accomplishment in the field of science fiction and fantasy was my acquisition and design of the Star Wars book publishing program. Started at a time when licensing interest in the movies was very low, the book publications consistently hit the New York Times list (as high as #1) while also jump-starting the entire Star Wars franchise.
In the nineties, I moved beyond science fiction. As Mass Market Publisher for Bantam, I launched the Bantam Crime Line mystery imprint and was closely involved in the development of several bestselling authors, including Elizabeth George, Robert Crais, and Diane Mott Davidson. I launched the Bantam Fanfare romance imprint, which led to the development of bestselling authors such as Amanda Quick, Tami Hoag, and Iris Johansen.
In 1994, I left Bantam to become SVP and Publisher of the Berkley Publishing Group. The two imprints I started there, Boulevard (a media imprint) and Signature (a literary imprint) had New York Times bestsellers within their first year. I also acquired and edited the bestselling futuristic mysteries by J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts).
In 1995, I moved to Avon Books to spearhead a turnaround of that company as SVP and Publisher. I supervised significant changes to the company’s industry-leading romance program, which led to the largest growth period in the program’s history to that point. Committing the company to a profitable path of publishing for dedicated readers, I launched a series of imprints focused on science fiction, literary fiction, mystery, pop culture, health, history, and teen literature. Most of these imprints had bestsellers very quickly.
In 1999, I left Avon after the acquisition of the company by The News Corporation. The creative investment I made in that house continues to pay significant dividends, however, as writers whose publishing programs I developed became breakout bestsellers, including Dennis Lehane, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, J.A. Jance, Stephanie Laurens, Lisa Kleypas, Bruce Feiler and Peter Robinson.
In addition to my current role with The Fiction Studio, I am a novelist and nonfiction writer. My novels, The Forever Year and Flash and Dazzle appeared under the name Ronald Anthony. My nonfiction books include the New York Times bestseller The Element (written with Sir Ken Robinson), the national bestseller The Culture Code (written with Dr. Clotaire Rapaille), Conscientious Equity (written with Neal Asbury), Miraculous Health (written with Dr. Rick Levy) and A Million Thanks (written with Shauna Fleming).
Finding myself missing the publishing side of the business, in 2008, literary manager Peter Miller and I started a small book imprint called The Story Plant. Right now, it’s a tiny opera
My earliest publishing experiences were in the field of science fiction and fantasy. I started my first publishing imprint, Bantam Spectra, at the age of 27 and published my first New York Times bestseller with that imprint a year later. My first editorial acquisition, David Brin’s Startide Rising, won the field’s two highest awards, the Hugo and the Nebula. I subsequently published New York Times bestsellers with Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, David Brin, Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, Raymond Feist, William Gibson, Neal Stephenson, Neil Gaiman, and others, while also acquiring five consecutive winners of the Nebula Award. In addition, I created the “Full Spectrum” anthology series, which won me a World Fantasy Award in 1994.
My biggest commercial accomplishment in the field of science fiction and fantasy was my acquisition and design of the Star Wars book publishing program. Started at a time when licensing interest in the movies was very low, the book publications consistently hit the New York Times list (as high as #1) while also jump-starting the entire Star Wars franchise.
In the nineties, I moved beyond science fiction. As Mass Market Publisher for Bantam, I launched the Bantam Crime Line mystery imprint and was closely involved in the development of several bestselling authors, including Elizabeth George, Robert Crais, and Diane Mott Davidson. I launched the Bantam Fanfare romance imprint, which led to the development of bestselling authors such as Amanda Quick, Tami Hoag, and Iris Johansen.
In 1994, I left Bantam to become SVP and Publisher of the Berkley Publishing Group. The two imprints I started there, Boulevard (a media imprint) and Signature (a literary imprint) had New York Times bestsellers within their first year. I also acquired and edited the bestselling futuristic mysteries by J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts).
In 1995, I moved to Avon Books to spearhead a turnaround of that company as SVP and Publisher. I supervised significant changes to the company’s industry-leading romance program, which led to the largest growth period in the program’s history to that point. Committing the company to a profitable path of publishing for dedicated readers, I launched a series of imprints focused on science fiction, literary fiction, mystery, pop culture, health, history, and teen literature. Most of these imprints had bestsellers very quickly.
In 1999, I left Avon after the acquisition of the company by The News Corporation. The creative investment I made in that house continues to pay significant dividends, however, as writers whose publishing programs I developed became breakout bestsellers, including Dennis Lehane, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, J.A. Jance, Stephanie Laurens, Lisa Kleypas, Bruce Feiler and Peter Robinson.
In addition to my current role with The Fiction Studio, I am a novelist and nonfiction writer. My novels, The Forever Year and Flash and Dazzle appeared under the name Ronald Anthony. My nonfiction books include the New York Times bestseller The Element (written with Sir Ken Robinson), the national bestseller The Culture Code (written with Dr. Clotaire Rapaille), Conscientious Equity (written with Neal Asbury), Miraculous Health (written with Dr. Rick Levy) and A Million Thanks (written with Shauna Fleming).
Finding myself missing the publishing side of the business, in 2008, literary manager Peter Miller and I started a small book imprint called The Story Plant. Right now, it’s a tiny opera
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 259 reviews
March 11, 2011
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.
I won’t tell you if they did or not but I will say that we all have a different idea of happy. I ultimately think that Becky and Chris and Miea are each happy in their own way.
I loved how the author dealt with reality and fantasy in Blue. It is a lovely story and it has stayed with me. The ending was deliciously sweet and I cried…not so much for the sadness but for its purity and beauty.
I truly loved reading this magical novel.
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.
I won’t tell you if they did or not but I will say that we all have a different idea of happy. I ultimately think that Becky and Chris and Miea are each happy in their own way.
I loved how the author dealt with reality and fantasy in Blue. It is a lovely story and it has stayed with me. The ending was deliciously sweet and I cried…not so much for the sadness but for its purity and beauty.
I truly loved reading this magical novel.
May 5, 2011
I found Blue by looking at the top-selling fantasy ebooks on Amazon. When I started it, I thought it might have been miscategorized. It follows the story of Becky, a 14 year old survivor of childhood leukemia and her father, who struggles to re-bond with his daughter after her mother divorced him. However, it is definitely a fantasy. To help Becky deal with her illness, she and her father created a make-believe world called Tamarisk and spent the evenings making up stories about it. As Becky grew older, they stopped creating stories, but one night, Becky is transported to Tamarisk and realizes it isn't quite as make-believe as she thought.
This book was very emotional and I very nearly cried as I read it on an airplane (don't worry - I managed to hold back the tears and avoid a very awkward situation!). The story deeply resonated with me, as I'm sure it does with many others. I highly recommend it for daughters, fathers, and anyone with an imagination who has ever imagined another world.
This book was very emotional and I very nearly cried as I read it on an airplane (don't worry - I managed to hold back the tears and avoid a very awkward situation!). The story deeply resonated with me, as I'm sure it does with many others. I highly recommend it for daughters, fathers, and anyone with an imagination who has ever imagined another world.
March 9, 2011
Original review posted on Layers of Thought.
A tear inducing novel about family love and the methods we create when coping with a life threatening illness - in ourselves, and in those we love most.
About: Set presently in the US, our key characters are Chris and his 14 year old daughter – Becky. From the very beginning it is clear that Chris adores Becky in a way that is perhaps beyond the norm, even to the point of ignoring his own needs and development. This is in part due to a difficult illness Becky has been afflicted with as a small child. Within this extremely constrained and nightmarish situation, and as a means to cope with medical treatments, the two contrive an elaborate and fantastical world together. This is their story, of their parallel and perhaps symbolic world, and what happens when the fine line between reality and fantasy becomes blurred during life altering events.
Thoughts: A realistic story that also possesses a fantastical thread with elements of both science fiction and fantasy, Blue has an ecological theme which I particularly liked. I would even say it is on the verge of magical realism. I think that because of its connection to “real life” and its setting in the “real world”, this makes the book an opportunity for non-fantasy readers to adventure into the speculative.
One thing that I particularly liked is that it feels like the author has a good grasp on and around human nature. For example, he has an understanding about what it is like to be a good parent, and what it can feel like for a person to be extremely ill. With examples of both within the pages, I want to share one quote which summarizes the feelings of a parent:
I really enjoyed this read, but I do have to say that I had a slight confusion while reading. I kept going back and forth as to who the book’s intended audience were -tween/young adult, or adult. I felt like I wanted to recommend it to parents to read to their children with its child friendly fantastical elements and language development. However with some very adult mentions, like the Karma Sutra, this could be precarious. In the end I would recommend this book to adult readers only.
In summary Blue is an accessible page turner which includes an intriguing and creative concept. I liked that all the interwoven and layered threads constructed through the story followed through and that all my questions about this “other world” were addressed. My favorite part of the book is it’s heartbreaking yet affirming ending. 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. I give this novel 4 stars.
A tear inducing novel about family love and the methods we create when coping with a life threatening illness - in ourselves, and in those we love most.
About: Set presently in the US, our key characters are Chris and his 14 year old daughter – Becky. From the very beginning it is clear that Chris adores Becky in a way that is perhaps beyond the norm, even to the point of ignoring his own needs and development. This is in part due to a difficult illness Becky has been afflicted with as a small child. Within this extremely constrained and nightmarish situation, and as a means to cope with medical treatments, the two contrive an elaborate and fantastical world together. This is their story, of their parallel and perhaps symbolic world, and what happens when the fine line between reality and fantasy becomes blurred during life altering events.
Thoughts: A realistic story that also possesses a fantastical thread with elements of both science fiction and fantasy, Blue has an ecological theme which I particularly liked. I would even say it is on the verge of magical realism. I think that because of its connection to “real life” and its setting in the “real world”, this makes the book an opportunity for non-fantasy readers to adventure into the speculative.
One thing that I particularly liked is that it feels like the author has a good grasp on and around human nature. For example, he has an understanding about what it is like to be a good parent, and what it can feel like for a person to be extremely ill. With examples of both within the pages, I want to share one quote which summarizes the feelings of a parent:
One of the first things Chris learned as a father was that being one allowed you access to previously unavailable resources. The ability to function coherently at two in the morning when a baby needed soothing, a bottle needed heating, and a diaper needed changing at the same time. The ability to navigate through a little kid’s tantrum without either screaming or running away. The ability to perform the same bit of slapstick several dozen times in a row because it made your child laugh. The ability to bear up when your preteen chose a sleepover at a friend’s instead of the plans you made with her a week before.
I really enjoyed this read, but I do have to say that I had a slight confusion while reading. I kept going back and forth as to who the book’s intended audience were -tween/young adult, or adult. I felt like I wanted to recommend it to parents to read to their children with its child friendly fantastical elements and language development. However with some very adult mentions, like the Karma Sutra, this could be precarious. In the end I would recommend this book to adult readers only.
In summary Blue is an accessible page turner which includes an intriguing and creative concept. I liked that all the interwoven and layered threads constructed through the story followed through and that all my questions about this “other world” were addressed. My favorite part of the book is it’s heartbreaking yet affirming ending. 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. I give this novel 4 stars.
January 24, 2011
I was sent a copy of Blue by Lou Aronica for review.
Blue is a YA fantasy that introduces us to a family that's been broken by a child's serious illness, divorce, and a loss of communication. Becky, daughter of Polly and Chris, battles her way through a horrible illness as a young child. Her father, Chris helps her through this time by helping her to create a fantasy world, Tamarisk, to mentally escape to. The details of this world they build together is amazing and I loved watching Becky discover all the games, creatures, smells, and sounds that she and her father created once she discovers that she can actually go to Tamarisk, that it, in fact, exists. Sadly, however, the real stress of dealing with this illness has caused Becky's parents' marriage to reach its breaking point and somehow Becky and her father lose that connection they had with each other as well as Tamarisk.
I didn't like the parents, Polly and Chris. Polly was an overbearing, hypocritical, controlling toad of a woman and Chris was a weak, pathetic, clueless mess of a man. These two were such perfect caricatures of so many divorced couples that I've seen, the power and control games that get played and nobody bothers to notice that the child gets caught in the middle and ends up lost and confused. Polly and Chris couldn't have been more true to life, and while I didn't really like either of them, I understood them and their place in this story. Their one redeeming quality was that they did genuinely love their daughter. Becky was such a brilliant character. The depth of friendship she shared with Lonnie, the easy relationship she had with step-father Al, and the hope she was always willing to reach for made me really connect with her. I loved reading the slow process of Becky's reconnection with her father and the surprise and delight Chris felt at having that communication with his daughter back again. It was beautifully written.
I absolutely loved this story. I was hooked from the very beginning and there wasn't a single point where I ever lost interest in what I was reading. The novel flows easily from one chapter to the next, the plot is clearly laid out, and while I figured out long before the ending where it was headed, it didn't take away from how much I enjoyed getting there.
I found only one fault with Blue, there were a couple of chapters about Gage, seemingly some sort of God-like being maybe. These chapters were a little awkward and confusing and personally I just didn't get it. But they were a very small part of the story and overall I loved this book so much that it didn't even matter that I didn't understand Gage.
Blue is definitely an emotional roller-coaster, with flawed realistic characters, an extraordinary elaborate fantasy world, and a plot that will tug at your heart strings, this novel is one that I will certainly read again. I hope that Lou Aronica returns to the world Tamarisk for future novels.
Rating 5- Amazing, beautiful touching story.
Blue is a YA fantasy that introduces us to a family that's been broken by a child's serious illness, divorce, and a loss of communication. Becky, daughter of Polly and Chris, battles her way through a horrible illness as a young child. Her father, Chris helps her through this time by helping her to create a fantasy world, Tamarisk, to mentally escape to. The details of this world they build together is amazing and I loved watching Becky discover all the games, creatures, smells, and sounds that she and her father created once she discovers that she can actually go to Tamarisk, that it, in fact, exists. Sadly, however, the real stress of dealing with this illness has caused Becky's parents' marriage to reach its breaking point and somehow Becky and her father lose that connection they had with each other as well as Tamarisk.
I didn't like the parents, Polly and Chris. Polly was an overbearing, hypocritical, controlling toad of a woman and Chris was a weak, pathetic, clueless mess of a man. These two were such perfect caricatures of so many divorced couples that I've seen, the power and control games that get played and nobody bothers to notice that the child gets caught in the middle and ends up lost and confused. Polly and Chris couldn't have been more true to life, and while I didn't really like either of them, I understood them and their place in this story. Their one redeeming quality was that they did genuinely love their daughter. Becky was such a brilliant character. The depth of friendship she shared with Lonnie, the easy relationship she had with step-father Al, and the hope she was always willing to reach for made me really connect with her. I loved reading the slow process of Becky's reconnection with her father and the surprise and delight Chris felt at having that communication with his daughter back again. It was beautifully written.
I absolutely loved this story. I was hooked from the very beginning and there wasn't a single point where I ever lost interest in what I was reading. The novel flows easily from one chapter to the next, the plot is clearly laid out, and while I figured out long before the ending where it was headed, it didn't take away from how much I enjoyed getting there.
I found only one fault with Blue, there were a couple of chapters about Gage, seemingly some sort of God-like being maybe. These chapters were a little awkward and confusing and personally I just didn't get it. But they were a very small part of the story and overall I loved this book so much that it didn't even matter that I didn't understand Gage.
Blue is definitely an emotional roller-coaster, with flawed realistic characters, an extraordinary elaborate fantasy world, and a plot that will tug at your heart strings, this novel is one that I will certainly read again. I hope that Lou Aronica returns to the world Tamarisk for future novels.
Rating 5- Amazing, beautiful touching story.
January 27, 2011
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!
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!
December 15, 2011
Before I read Blue, I read the prequil, Until Again. While it's not necessary to read Until Again, it gives some good background for the events up to the time the main story, Blue, begins. Until Again is very short, a quick read.
These are my thoughts about the story, taking both books into account (duplicated in my notes for Until Again):
I don't know Lou Aronica, and I haven't read his bio, so I don't know anything about him. That said, this man writes as though he has faced the unthinkable - the death of a child, a child who holds a parent's heart in the palm of his or her hands. I don't know how someone could write this story who hasn't been there.
For me, the story was totally believable - not physically believable, but emotionally believable. I, too, lived a story like this with my son a number of years ago, only our "other world" was a playground filled with laughing children and the music of a merri-go-round. We, too, knew it ultimately wasn't real, but while we were there, it was so real we could hear all the joyous sounds of that place. It gave us many happy moments.
There's magic in this story, and it's so well told that you care about what happens in this other world, and you hope and pray, along with the father and daughter, that they can come up with solutions to fix the challenges the people of the other world are facing. In the end ... well, read the story to find out.
Congratulations, Mr. Aronica, on a story well told!!!
These are my thoughts about the story, taking both books into account (duplicated in my notes for Until Again):
I don't know Lou Aronica, and I haven't read his bio, so I don't know anything about him. That said, this man writes as though he has faced the unthinkable - the death of a child, a child who holds a parent's heart in the palm of his or her hands. I don't know how someone could write this story who hasn't been there.
For me, the story was totally believable - not physically believable, but emotionally believable. I, too, lived a story like this with my son a number of years ago, only our "other world" was a playground filled with laughing children and the music of a merri-go-round. We, too, knew it ultimately wasn't real, but while we were there, it was so real we could hear all the joyous sounds of that place. It gave us many happy moments.
There's magic in this story, and it's so well told that you care about what happens in this other world, and you hope and pray, along with the father and daughter, that they can come up with solutions to fix the challenges the people of the other world are facing. In the end ... well, read the story to find out.
Congratulations, Mr. Aronica, on a story well told!!!
February 13, 2011
At first glance, BLUE seems to be a typical story of one families dealing with the aftermath involving an illness of their only child, a fourteen year old daughter named Becky. The writing was impressive, the characters true to life, but yet another story about a failed marriage and the daughter whom was the sole link between the divorced couple.
Have to admit I was entirely incorrect in my assumptions.
Mr. Aronica's ability to combine reality with magical realism, while holding the readers interest is outstanding. In fact, just when you think you have it all figured out, Lou catches you off guard and you are compelled to keep reading. This story is a page-turner, full of emotion, suspense, love and fantasy. Or is it fantasy or reality? Perhaps what is real to one person is not to another.
All this reviewer knows is she entered a world beyond this dimension, full of substantial characters who intrigued and stimulated the imagination.
I believe each reader will relate to the story in their own unique way, which is a definite plus. I adore stories that open your mind and challenge your imagination; basically what I call, meaningful writings. Anyone from teens to those in their golden years will enjoy this story. I applaud the author in writing a very unique, compelling novel and hope to see more of his work in the years to come.
Have to admit I was entirely incorrect in my assumptions.
Mr. Aronica's ability to combine reality with magical realism, while holding the readers interest is outstanding. In fact, just when you think you have it all figured out, Lou catches you off guard and you are compelled to keep reading. This story is a page-turner, full of emotion, suspense, love and fantasy. Or is it fantasy or reality? Perhaps what is real to one person is not to another.
All this reviewer knows is she entered a world beyond this dimension, full of substantial characters who intrigued and stimulated the imagination.
I believe each reader will relate to the story in their own unique way, which is a definite plus. I adore stories that open your mind and challenge your imagination; basically what I call, meaningful writings. Anyone from teens to those in their golden years will enjoy this story. I applaud the author in writing a very unique, compelling novel and hope to see more of his work in the years to come.
February 11, 2012
I couldn't finish this book. There is too much and nothing going on if that makes sense. This is a book about people's lives. Their thoughts and feelings, their arguments, what they're eating, sitting in meetings at work. Mundane, everyday things, that no one really cares about. All in all, it's boring. Once they got to pages and pages of making pot pie, I couldn't take it anymore. The premise is good. A girl and her father create a magical world in stories and eventually the girl travels to this world. But it's not interesting at all. The world is just another world, having day to day problems. In addition, the girl and her father made up the story, so you hear about all of the things they made up in the world and it comes across as being nonsense. Basically, you're reading about animals, plants, foods, things with made up names. I didn't care about that world or what the girl was doing in her own world. I didn't want to find out what happened because I didn't care.
September 29, 2021
Life is complex at the best of times, and this book fits that description. The beginning and middle would lose a lot of readers for good reasons. Then you get the ending of the story. The last 100 pages or so of the book make reading it worthwhile.
To start, the characters are quite boring and the story lacks in purpose for the first 300 pages or so. The characters never really change from their base personality showing no major growth. Sometimes that isn’t a bad thing, but first the story has to be interesting, which until the end it is not.
All that said, the last 100 or so pages really have some punch to them. I won’t go into spoilers or anything, but there is quite a bit of high intensity emotions found in the end of the book. The ending itself is somewhat beautiful and tragic. At the same time the ending does give a interesting twist to the story, though not a highly unexpected one.
Overall, I’d say this book was a mix of bland and great. The author built too much of the story too slowly without much substance, giving the readers plenty of time to get bored with it. If you manage to get to the end though, it becomes quite a worthwhile read. So, what does Tamarisk mean to you?
To start, the characters are quite boring and the story lacks in purpose for the first 300 pages or so. The characters never really change from their base personality showing no major growth. Sometimes that isn’t a bad thing, but first the story has to be interesting, which until the end it is not.
All that said, the last 100 or so pages really have some punch to them. I won’t go into spoilers or anything, but there is quite a bit of high intensity emotions found in the end of the book. The ending itself is somewhat beautiful and tragic. At the same time the ending does give a interesting twist to the story, though not a highly unexpected one.
Overall, I’d say this book was a mix of bland and great. The author built too much of the story too slowly without much substance, giving the readers plenty of time to get bored with it. If you manage to get to the end though, it becomes quite a worthwhile read. So, what does Tamarisk mean to you?
December 28, 2013
A mixture of the real world and fantasy. A story about a girl who is dying, truly believes the stories her father told her when she was little and had cancer grows to believe it is real. This is how when she became sick again, made dying an easier transition not just for her, but for her family too. It was an ok book
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June 8, 2016Loved it and I want more
This book was great. There were times when I felt slightly annoyed with the writing style (like going through cooking a whole chicken pot pie when it didn't add anything to the story), but nothing so bad that it deterred me from reading. I often didn't want to put the book down. I love that it wasn't predictable but it wasn't unrealistic either.
This book was great. There were times when I felt slightly annoyed with the writing style (like going through cooking a whole chicken pot pie when it didn't add anything to the story), but nothing so bad that it deterred me from reading. I often didn't want to put the book down. I love that it wasn't predictable but it wasn't unrealistic either.
February 23, 2019
"No empieces esta novela si no quieres emocionarte"
Hay libros que te transmiten emociones, sentimientos, y otros que en ciertas ocasiones te hacen llorar. Azul es un libro realmente hermoso, ¡¡me hizo emocionar hasta las lágrimas!!
Leído literal en 2 días sin poder soltar el libro.
Hay libros que te transmiten emociones, sentimientos, y otros que en ciertas ocasiones te hacen llorar. Azul es un libro realmente hermoso, ¡¡me hizo emocionar hasta las lágrimas!!
Leído literal en 2 días sin poder soltar el libro.
July 12, 2017
(This review may contain spoilers).
I really liked the concept behind this book, being someone who has enjoyed making up stories and fantasy worlds from a really early age.
I would have liked a bit more detail of the differences between Tamarisk and Earth. While Tamarisk clearly had some fantasy elements, there were also parts that matched modern-day Earth. And while there had been some thought given to the science behind things, I would have liked perhaps some flashbacks to Chris and Becky telling the stories to each other. Seeing the strain in their relationship in the present day would have been more poignant if there'd been more showing the contrasts between their relationship in the past and their relationship in the present.
While it was easy to see the tension between Polly and Chris, I felt there was too much in the way of information dumping in regards to the other characters. For instance Lisa, who seemed to be good friends with Chris and who knew Becky... but had little to no interactions with her.
The already-established relationships were actually quite easy to believe, but I thought that the friendship between Miea and Becky was glossed over and didn't feel that real. Most of the travels to Tamarisk were just glossed over; and there was little to no foreshadowing about what Becky was seeing when it was shown. By the end of the book, I had very little idea of just how much time had passed.
I did figure out the exact cause of the Blight before it was revealed and I found it quite strange that the characters didn't figure it out for a long time. When it was realised, it didn't really feel all that satisfactory, as said realisation was glossed over and not shown.
I liked being able to see different parts of the world and something of the animals that existed, but there were some things that weren't really explained away; for instance that Miea remembered animals that had disappeared while no one else did. I was also disappointed that the forays into Earth weren't really explored.
I don't think I'd read this book again, but it was entertaining to read the first time. I think there were some things that could have been expanded upon further.
I really liked the concept behind this book, being someone who has enjoyed making up stories and fantasy worlds from a really early age.
I would have liked a bit more detail of the differences between Tamarisk and Earth. While Tamarisk clearly had some fantasy elements, there were also parts that matched modern-day Earth. And while there had been some thought given to the science behind things, I would have liked perhaps some flashbacks to Chris and Becky telling the stories to each other. Seeing the strain in their relationship in the present day would have been more poignant if there'd been more showing the contrasts between their relationship in the past and their relationship in the present.
While it was easy to see the tension between Polly and Chris, I felt there was too much in the way of information dumping in regards to the other characters. For instance Lisa, who seemed to be good friends with Chris and who knew Becky... but had little to no interactions with her.
The already-established relationships were actually quite easy to believe, but I thought that the friendship between Miea and Becky was glossed over and didn't feel that real. Most of the travels to Tamarisk were just glossed over; and there was little to no foreshadowing about what Becky was seeing when it was shown. By the end of the book, I had very little idea of just how much time had passed.
I did figure out the exact cause of the Blight before it was revealed and I found it quite strange that the characters didn't figure it out for a long time. When it was realised, it didn't really feel all that satisfactory, as said realisation was glossed over and not shown.
I liked being able to see different parts of the world and something of the animals that existed, but there were some things that weren't really explained away; for instance that Miea remembered animals that had disappeared while no one else did. I was also disappointed that the forays into Earth weren't really explored.
I don't think I'd read this book again, but it was entertaining to read the first time. I think there were some things that could have been expanded upon further.
March 31, 2018
BEYOND EXCELLENT!!!!
This is sure to be one of my favorite books of 2018 and possibly beyond that!! I can't recall when a story that is so unique has moved me in so many ways! I laughed out loud, I cried the ugly sobs and I felt peace, joy and hope. Each character in this tale is skillfully and deftly created and harbors a consistency throughout the story that makes you believe you know them. This is storytelling at it's masterful best!! There are some fantastical elements that have a strong bearing on the progression and outcome of this novel...something I generally am not a fan of...however they are woven into the tale with a perfectly believable explanation for their presence and this feature is one of the best parts of this book and is so compelling that you wish you could visit this alternate world and experience such a profound and poignant adventure in a land where music is carried in the air and beauty exceeds our greatest experience! BRAVO for an awesome and inspiring story that is a living testament to the talent and ability of this author!!! I won't EVER forget Becky, Meia, Chris and Polly!! They forged a path into my imagination and traveled directly to my heart where the essence of the beauty, love and hope they impart will live on!
This is sure to be one of my favorite books of 2018 and possibly beyond that!! I can't recall when a story that is so unique has moved me in so many ways! I laughed out loud, I cried the ugly sobs and I felt peace, joy and hope. Each character in this tale is skillfully and deftly created and harbors a consistency throughout the story that makes you believe you know them. This is storytelling at it's masterful best!! There are some fantastical elements that have a strong bearing on the progression and outcome of this novel...something I generally am not a fan of...however they are woven into the tale with a perfectly believable explanation for their presence and this feature is one of the best parts of this book and is so compelling that you wish you could visit this alternate world and experience such a profound and poignant adventure in a land where music is carried in the air and beauty exceeds our greatest experience! BRAVO for an awesome and inspiring story that is a living testament to the talent and ability of this author!!! I won't EVER forget Becky, Meia, Chris and Polly!! They forged a path into my imagination and traveled directly to my heart where the essence of the beauty, love and hope they impart will live on!
June 27, 2019
This is a terrible book. The characters are ciphers (the daughter, the queen) or awful (the parents). We are supposed to despise the mother because she doesn't believe that the father and daughter's fantasy world is real (when she's given no evidence, and any of us as readers would disbelieve, too). I think we're supposed to be sympathetic to the father, but he's basically a born-again incel (he rants to a poor woman he's on a blind date with that his marriage would still be intact if he were abusive, but he was too nice).
The fantasy world and queen thereof are just...bleh. Empty shells. I believed in Narnia, I believed in Fillory. I believed in Hogwarts and in Lyra's Oxford. I do not believe in the world in this book, which is so insipid that I've forgotten its name already.
The plot was transparent, and so telegraphed that I knew everything that was going to happen.
Oh yeah, and the father called his daughter babe all the time (as in 'babe, can you come here please?'), which was just kind of icky to me.
The fantasy world and queen thereof are just...bleh. Empty shells. I believed in Narnia, I believed in Fillory. I believed in Hogwarts and in Lyra's Oxford. I do not believe in the world in this book, which is so insipid that I've forgotten its name already.
The plot was transparent, and so telegraphed that I knew everything that was going to happen.
Oh yeah, and the father called his daughter babe all the time (as in 'babe, can you come here please?'), which was just kind of icky to me.
June 25, 2020
Azul, de Lou Aronica, es una bella historia donde la fantasía es una terapia de sanación para el cáncer que sufre una niña.
Desde el principio me ha parecido previsible, pero eso no le ha restado belleza a la novela.
Se me ha hecho un poco pesado las largas descripciones de Tamarindo, el lugar inventado, y quizás hubiera reducido unas cuantas escenas, pero la manera que tiene el escritor de explicar un divorcio entre dos padres que adoran a su hija me ha parecido maravillosa y tristemente real.
El mensaje de esperanza de un más allá ha sido conmovedor. Y sobre todo la idea de que, si abres tu mente, tu vida puede ser mejor.
Desde el principio me ha parecido previsible, pero eso no le ha restado belleza a la novela.
Se me ha hecho un poco pesado las largas descripciones de Tamarindo, el lugar inventado, y quizás hubiera reducido unas cuantas escenas, pero la manera que tiene el escritor de explicar un divorcio entre dos padres que adoran a su hija me ha parecido maravillosa y tristemente real.
El mensaje de esperanza de un más allá ha sido conmovedor. Y sobre todo la idea de que, si abres tu mente, tu vida puede ser mejor.
November 3, 2023
Becky teve câncer ainda pequena, e a maneira que encontrava para fugir ele tudo o que estava enfrentando era criando um novo mundo imaginário com seu pai, Chris.
Agora, já adolescente, se vê novamente vivendo a doença que teve. Ao mesmo tempo, ela descobre que realmente consegue viajar para o mundo criado com seu pai, porém, o mundo imaginario esta sofrendo de uma praga e só ela tem como ajudar.
Uma estória sobre momentos dificeis, esperança e muita imaginação. Senti muita semelhança com os livros 7 Minutos Depois da Meia Noite e História sem Fim.
Agora, já adolescente, se vê novamente vivendo a doença que teve. Ao mesmo tempo, ela descobre que realmente consegue viajar para o mundo criado com seu pai, porém, o mundo imaginario esta sofrendo de uma praga e só ela tem como ajudar.
Uma estória sobre momentos dificeis, esperança e muita imaginação. Senti muita semelhança com os livros 7 Minutos Depois da Meia Noite e História sem Fim.
September 8, 2017
Didn't really enjoy this book, I found it.....flat. The characters did not seem real and the world building sucked. Nothing came to life. I is not as if I hated it, it was worse - I did not care.
Not recommended, the author does not have that spark that breathes life into a story. I shall not read any more of his work (unless he writes a technical report, a scientific article or a government paper on the distribution of termites in Ohio )
Not recommended, the author does not have that spark that breathes life into a story. I shall not read any more of his work (unless he writes a technical report, a scientific article or a government paper on the distribution of termites in Ohio )
September 23, 2025
This book was an amazing journey written with beautiful words. The land of Tamarisk was a place that the reader could see thanks to the descriptive writing of this author. I was glad to see Polly finally come around at the end, but for most of the story I truly hated her. Chris and Becky and Miea were wonderfully written and complex characters. I'm impressed with how such a sad ending was told in a way that made both the characters and the reader able to move on.
June 28, 2012
I almost gave this one 5 stars, so maybe it is really 4.5 stars.
This novel was absolutely beautiful to me. It dealt with so many real world issues that people struggle with from day to day, while injecting in an entire fantasy plot. Some of the issues Lou Aronica delves into are divorce and its effects on everyone involved, father daughter relationships, terminal illness, grief, dating after divorce, adolescent friendships and so much more. This novel tells the story of Chris and his daughter Becky who have been having a hard time in their relationship with each other recently. Becky's parents have been divorced for 4 years and her mother has remarried Al who is a carefree and goofy guy. When things seem to be at their worst between Becky and Chris, she discovers that she can travel to and from the fantasy world "Tamarisk" that they have invented when Becky was younger.
As Becky begins to convince her father that Tamarisk is real and he struggles with whether to believe her, Tamarisk itself is in real trouble. The queen of Tamarisk, Miea, has learned that a blight on the local vegetation is beginning to take hold of her kingdom and that it could threaten their survival. Joining forces with Chris and Becky, the three of them embark on a mission of trying to save Tamarisk and rid the land of the pestilence.
I didn't have many complaints about this novel, but just two I want to mention here. The ending did start off very slow and was a little difficult to get in to. I stuck with it though and was glad that I did. After reading the entire novel I realized that the whole plot wouldn't have been as relevant without all of the slow beginning chapters. My other issue was that there really was no climax. We of course learn about the cause of the blight and how the characters can live happily ever after, but I was expecting more adventure to be had while Becky and Chris were in Tamarisk.
I also wanted to comment on how much I LOVED the details and descriptions given about Tamarisk! Everything was so unique and strange that it really made it feel like a world created from imagination. On that note, I think some who read this book may interpret it that Tamarisk really isn't real, and that it was a joint-delusion brought on by circumstances, as Polly believes in the novel. I found that very interesting and I appreciated it being a topic that could be debated. The author left the reader to form their own opinions about who or what Gage is, the character who makes some appearances giving sage advice and offering gifts. I gathered that the world of Tamarisk and the extent of imagination was a "gift" from Gage to bring father and daughter together, which is why some might take that to mean the it truly was all just imagination fueled visions. You decide!!
This book made me cry, which is rare. I cry all the time in movies, but not often while reading. The story and the characters were so heartwarming and relatable. I would recommend this to any age group. I would love to know other people's interpretations after reading this as well!
This novel was absolutely beautiful to me. It dealt with so many real world issues that people struggle with from day to day, while injecting in an entire fantasy plot. Some of the issues Lou Aronica delves into are divorce and its effects on everyone involved, father daughter relationships, terminal illness, grief, dating after divorce, adolescent friendships and so much more. This novel tells the story of Chris and his daughter Becky who have been having a hard time in their relationship with each other recently. Becky's parents have been divorced for 4 years and her mother has remarried Al who is a carefree and goofy guy. When things seem to be at their worst between Becky and Chris, she discovers that she can travel to and from the fantasy world "Tamarisk" that they have invented when Becky was younger.
As Becky begins to convince her father that Tamarisk is real and he struggles with whether to believe her, Tamarisk itself is in real trouble. The queen of Tamarisk, Miea, has learned that a blight on the local vegetation is beginning to take hold of her kingdom and that it could threaten their survival. Joining forces with Chris and Becky, the three of them embark on a mission of trying to save Tamarisk and rid the land of the pestilence.
I didn't have many complaints about this novel, but just two I want to mention here. The ending did start off very slow and was a little difficult to get in to. I stuck with it though and was glad that I did. After reading the entire novel I realized that the whole plot wouldn't have been as relevant without all of the slow beginning chapters. My other issue was that there really was no climax. We of course learn about the cause of the blight and how the characters can live happily ever after, but I was expecting more adventure to be had while Becky and Chris were in Tamarisk.
I also wanted to comment on how much I LOVED the details and descriptions given about Tamarisk! Everything was so unique and strange that it really made it feel like a world created from imagination. On that note, I think some who read this book may interpret it that Tamarisk really isn't real, and that it was a joint-delusion brought on by circumstances, as Polly believes in the novel. I found that very interesting and I appreciated it being a topic that could be debated. The author left the reader to form their own opinions about who or what Gage is, the character who makes some appearances giving sage advice and offering gifts. I gathered that the world of Tamarisk and the extent of imagination was a "gift" from Gage to bring father and daughter together, which is why some might take that to mean the it truly was all just imagination fueled visions. You decide!!
This book made me cry, which is rare. I cry all the time in movies, but not often while reading. The story and the characters were so heartwarming and relatable. I would recommend this to any age group. I would love to know other people's interpretations after reading this as well!
January 21, 2023
I first read this book in middle school and revisited it again recently. I definitely appreciated both the tragedies and wonders of this story better in adulthood.
This is a unique story about the bond and love between a father and daughter creates a place for her (and later, others) to be free of their illnesses. It’s about dealing with loss, and accepting what comes next.
This is a unique story about the bond and love between a father and daughter creates a place for her (and later, others) to be free of their illnesses. It’s about dealing with loss, and accepting what comes next.
December 3, 2016
Até um pouco depois da metade achei entediante. A história é bem diferente e interessante, mas não acho que a forma como foi narrada foi cativante o suficiente. Me obriguei a ler até o fim, pois queria saber como terminaria, mas quase abandonei o livro.
February 6, 2019
Blue follows the story of Chris and Miea Astor. Miea is 14 years old survivor of leukemia. Chris is trying hard to re-bond with his daughter after her mother divorced him. Blue is a novel of trial and hope, invention and rediscovery, and for sure fantasy. Chris and Miea, to help get through her illness, create an imaginary kingdom called Tamarisk, in which Miea is the queen. They spent evenings making up stories about it. Years later, when they stopped creating stories, she discovers one day that she can actually go to Tamarisk and that it exists.
I didn’t like the fact that Chris was weak and pathetic and that his ex wife was too controlling. I didn’t like either of them, but I do understand them and their one redeeming quality was their love for Miea. One more thing I dont like is the few chapters about Gage. They were too confusing and awkward but it doesn’t affect the story. The book is too emotional, I was hooked from the very beginning and almost cried at every chapter. I never lost interest in it. The plot is very good. The novel flows easily from one chapter to another. I highly recommend for fathers and daughters or anyone with imagination.
I didn’t like the fact that Chris was weak and pathetic and that his ex wife was too controlling. I didn’t like either of them, but I do understand them and their one redeeming quality was their love for Miea. One more thing I dont like is the few chapters about Gage. They were too confusing and awkward but it doesn’t affect the story. The book is too emotional, I was hooked from the very beginning and almost cried at every chapter. I never lost interest in it. The plot is very good. The novel flows easily from one chapter to another. I highly recommend for fathers and daughters or anyone with imagination.
February 12, 2018
Started to read this when it was first published 5 or 6(?) years ago. I really wish I had read it then. Excellent fantasy of a different kind. On of the few books I give 5 stars.
February 25, 2018
Good story
I like reading a book that says what you want to say but in a different way, this book made me cry and be happy at the same time.
I like reading a book that says what you want to say but in a different way, this book made me cry and be happy at the same time.
January 5, 2021
I don’t usually like fantasy novels, but I enjoyed this one
April 21, 2021
Me gusto muchísimo! Le puse ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
February 1, 2022
no todo, foi uma boa leitura, todavia, achei o livro um tanto quanto cansativo, principalmente na primeira metade dele, se demorou pra começar a ficar fluido e menos cansativo, mas é uma boa história
August 10, 2022
Me encanto ❤️
February 7, 2023
Amo el libro, me saco demasiadas lágrimas y por alguna razón amo que hasta la última hoja entiendes porque el libro se llama azul. Es simplemente hermoso
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