Winterton Blue

by Trezza Azzopardi

At once a powerful love story and an intricately plotted mystery, Winterton Blue is the breathtaking new novel from the Booker Prize finalist and national best-selling author of The Hiding Place and Remember Me. For the last twenty years, Lewis has been haunted by his brother’s death. Then, on a quest to finally find the person he believes is responsible, he meets Anna, who is haunted by her mother. Except her mother, Rita, happens to be very much alive and is the exact opposite of her daughter; loud, carefree, and a daredevil. At seventy-six, she still runs a guest house overflowing with cocktails, music hall turns, and her boyfriend, Vernon, a retired actor and bon vivant. Recognizing a kindred spirit in each other, Lewis and Anna are at first too headstrong to admit they are susceptible to love. Against the backdrop of the Norfolk coast, with its massive skies and relentless seas, they must learn to trust each other and accept that an uncertain future can be as wild and alluring as the landscape they have grown to love.

Genres: Fiction, British Literature, Contemporary, Literature

273 pages, Hardcover

First published February 19, 2007

About the author

Trezza Azzopardi is a British writer.

She was born in Cardiff to a Maltese father and a Welsh mother. She studied creative writing at the University of East Anglia, and currently works as a lecturer there. She also has an MA in Film and Television studies from the University of Derby.

Her first novel, The Hiding Place, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2000 (a significant accomplishment, since first novels are not often shortlisted for the Booker). Her novel also won the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize and was also shortlisted for the James Tait Black Memorial Prize. Her second novel, "Remember Me", was shortlisted for the Wales Book of the Year. "Winterton Blue" was longlisted for the 2008 Wales Book of the Year. She also writes short stories, and readings for BBC radio. Her books have been translated into 17 languages.

Azzopardi currently lives in Norwich, in the east of England.

Reviews

[notgettingenough · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://alittleteaalittlechat.wordpres...

[Wal.li · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nebelbrandung

Die Wege von Anna und Lewis hätten sich nie kreuzen sollen. Anna hat sich ihr Leben in London eingerichtet und ihre Mutter Rita führt eine kleine Pension an der Küste von Norfolk. Aus der Ferne verstehen sich die beiden am besten. Rita, schon über 70, stürzt jedoch eines Tages auf der Treppe und Anna will für eine Weile zu ihr ziehen, um sich um sie zu kümmern. Lewis dagegen hat den Tod seines Zwillingsbruders nie verwunden, eigentlich, so meint er, hätte er an Waynes Stelle sein sollen. Auf der Suche nach seinem Jugendfreund Cal führt auch Lewis` Weg in die raue Landschaft Norfolks.

Anna, deren Vater fehlt und die Angst vor Wasser hat, Lewis, dem sein Bruder fehlt und der irgendwie Angst vor Allem hat. Dagegen stehen Rita und ihr einziger Gast oder Nachbar oder wie man das nennen will Vernon mit beiden Beinen fest im Leben. Natürlich sind sie nicht mehr ganz jung und Rita ist auch sehr froh, dass ihre Tochter sich Zeit für sie nimmt, aber so geerdet wie sie und Vernon sind die jungen Leute noch lange nicht.

Wechselnd zwischen Rückblenden und der Gegenwart erzählt Trezza Azzopardi die Geschichte ihrer beiden scheiternden Helden. Ob es der Wirklichkeit entspricht, ist unklar, dennoch vermitteln ihre Worte die Vorstellung von einer rauen grauen Landschaft, vom Sturm gepeitschte Wellen wühlen auch die Gefühle von Anna und Lewis auf. Aber sind sie auch bereit, sich aus ihrer fein eingerichteten Problemwelt zu befreien. Manchmal sprunghaft, machmal eher undurchsichtig, aber manchmal auch mit feinem Gespür für ihre Protagonisten bringt die Autorin dem Leser ihre Charaktere nahe. Worte, die sich mitunter aneinander reihen wie wertvolle Perlen, lassen Bilder von den Augen entstehen. Manchmal allerdings entsteht der Eindruck, dass in den schwelgenden Beschreibungen die eigentliche Geschichte etwas aus den Augen verloren wird. Dies allerdings meint eine passionierte Leserin von Kriminalromanen, die gradlinigeren Handlungssträngen vielleicht mehr abgewinnen kann.

3,5 Sterne

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Epic Book Clean-Out of 2015: read or re-read, then keep or dump. (Locals: let me know if you want any of the ones I'm dumping). Verdict: dump.

[Erin Moxam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book about two people who don't know what the hell they're doing in life, which is something I can relate to. A man and a woman (of course!) who don't know each other, one still trying to make peace with a past tragedy, the other with a mother she loves but can't abide. Do their paths cross? You bet they do!!! I liked this book and was surprised at the low rating. Atmosphere and landscape play big roles in this book and I really liked that, I love the environment as character. I also felt this book moved along organically, and even though I don't even know what that means as I type it, that's the right way to put it. It had its own pace and things happened and emerged as they should have. It's not a hugely uplifting book, but I didn't find it horribly depressing either. Just two people, trying not to drown in the tides of their own lives. I liked it, recommend.

[Terri (BooklyMatters) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not particularly enjoy this book and it took a bit if effort to finish it. The idea behind the plot, (the struggles of the two main characters and their finding each other, the backdrop of the seaside and all) sounded interesting, but the execution of the story was not. Neither of the two characters was likable. I could not relate to Anna in particular, and felt sorry for her mother. I also did not like the author jumping around in time and found myself trying to keep track of to who and when certain things were happening. Overall, a somewhat disappointing read.

[Madeline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was expecting much more from this book...

[Jim Leckband · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you need immediate answers for the character's actions while you are reading - this is not the book for you! In fact, some of your questions may never be answered and you are left hanging. Some might say that this is reflective of life - but some would counter that the reason why we read fiction is that it is a way to get those questions answered.

The style of the book is challenging. It is written in chapters and each chapter has sections that can go back in time. The reader has precious little information to situate themselves in time, place and character, i.e. this is not a book that headlines a section like a spy novel: "Trieste: June 16, 1904". On the other hand, it is not stream of consciousness and once you've got the basic places, times and situations you can get sorted.

But the question I have to ask, does all this conjuring by the author add to the book? I can make a case that the disorder can be reflective of the characters. In fact the male character, Lewis, can be described as having a mental condition that is like the novel's style - he lives in the past and does not always know where he is or how he got there. Other characters also have this trait. But finally, I'm not sure the payoff of the style gamble pays off during a first reading - and unfortunately I don't think I'm tempted to do a second reading.

[Cynthia Sinsap · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up first because the title and the gorgeous blue of the cover caught my eye. I smiled to note that the author also wrote The Hiding Place, which I remembered enjoying. The book cover has snippets from reviews which speak to the "lyrical, beguiling, captivating" quality of the writing.

I am a sucker for poetic type description in a novel, and Azzopardi's descriptions lived up to the glowing praises of the reviewers. However, I was not so engaged with the storyline itself for the first half of the book. While I could sympathize with Lewis, the main male character, and feel for him and the situations he had faced, the female character, Anna, did not capture my feelings so easily. I didn't like the interactions with Anna and her mother. Her attitudes did not endear her to me.
In the final part of the book, the plot picks up; the two characters lives have become intertwined and the problems they face more complex.

[Ilyhana Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good read, gets better as it progresses. I liked the structure. The parallel stories work well and come together fluently.
The narrative unfolds slowly as the reader gets to know the characters and their tragic history. The writing style is a sharply lyrical prose creating a heightened visual context for difficult and intense emotional dynamics.
The character development is full, though Anna lacks something in the writing, or is she meant to be somewhat vapid?
The narrative forms an edge that continues to sharpen and it becomes obvious that there will be violence eventually.
The "lost father" motif runs as an undercurrent throughout without being intellectually analysed, holding it in feeling space.
The resolution avoids 'happy ever after' thankfully, by acknowledging the frailty of the characters as they are.

[Laura Hogensen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe I just wasn't in the right frame of mind to appreciate this book, as I read it during a stressful period at work, but I found it dull, slow, and obtuse. (of course, those adjectives could all be attributed to me as well!) I really wanted to love this book, as Azzopardi is such a great writer, but I found myself just wishing it would end. The story is about two people, both damaged, who slowly find each other, and their own kind of love and salvation through their relationship. It's a quiet story, where the characters have buried their emotions as a protective mechanism. I think the problem with this novel is that it's altogether *too* quiet, and the writing isn't powerful enough to give it impact.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

About 60 pages into this book I was struggling. I should begin by stating that I am glad that I did not give up after those first 60 pages. Maybe it was my reading mood at the beginning of the novel but in the end it made for a compelling read. There were moments when I warmed to the two main characters (Anna and Lewis) and times when I had a huge dislike for them. The wonderful descriptions bring to life a very real discovery of these lost and a bit misguided souls. The two main characters eventually cross paths and for me, this is where the stories merge and my true interest in the overall story began.

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised this got such poor reviews. I found it a quick read, but an interesting journey into the characters' lives and inner worlds. I agree with another reviewer that the end was a tad "tidy" but I thought the way the author arrived there was worth the read. Lewis is troubled by what he calls migraines and what seem like fits of blackout-rage. Anna is struggling with an aging mother and the legacy of her lost father. The lives of the two intermingle as they find their way.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, the characters were real, gritty for lack of a better word. I think that also it was nice because i grew up near Yarmouth, and know the beaches and areas mentioned in the book. It was refreshing for someone to describe what is beautiful and peaceful about Yarmouth which often gets lost in the bad reputation and general run down appearance of what used to be a pretty sea side town.

[Essence · Rating 2 out of 5]

Azzorpardi is good with language. She's good with moments and can photographically execute scenes. But the story is a big let down. For the first half I was with her every step, eager to find out about the source of Lewis' pain. But by the time it all came out, I no longer cared. The ending is also a shade too tidy.

[N · Rating 3 out of 5]

When you look at an abstract art piece it either says something to you or you think 'elephant with a mop and a bucket of dulux'. This book was more Elephant with a mop that had something to say but I'm not sure what it was. Time jumping, no explanation, no coherent story or just something that held it together. Not a fan but not a hater either, a real head scratcher.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked up because of the colour of the cover and the title, bought for the opening paragraph, this book breathed along gently until chapter nineteen when a description of the Norfolk coast flared up with glorious luminescence. Subtly coloured, I suspect a re-read will be even richer, for all the story appeared, initially, to be slight and meandering.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I checked this out from the library so had no money invested in it - therefore, I felt no compulsion to finish it and didn't. There are two main characters, one whom I was intriqued by and interested to watch develop and one whom I dreaded to observe unfold. Overall it just didn't grab me.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 1 out of 5]

A thoroughly routine book. Not worth the time and effort. Apart from this, the author and/or editor have decided that the rules of English punctuation should not apply to them and so there are no quotation marks. Very frustrating and pointless.

[David Grieve]

Interesting and thought provoking with seemingly real people in real situations. Enough of a plot to keep the reader interested and intriguing enough for me to want to keep going. My only gripe would be that the ending was a bit anticlimactic, but nonetheless I'd recommend it.

[Lis · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is interesting to see what diverse reviews this book has received. I liked the way it was written and the two parallel tales of the main characters. However, I found the climax and conclusion of the novel disappointing and strangely unsatisfying.

[Abby Peck · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did more than skim this book but it wasn't one I could read ... it held my interest just enough to skip to parts that looked interesting and move on.

[Bethany · Rating 2 out of 5]

Azzopardi's writing style is beautiful - as always - but Winterton Blue didn't hit me the way her previous two books did. I can't put my finger on why, though.

[Rise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good - but not as good as some of her others

[Peter Bellin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the story labored, characters uninteresting.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. Two damaged people find each other. About landscape, love, grief, family... I highly recommend it.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Merely okay. I finished it because I was curious how it turned out, not because I really cared about the characters. I just didn't believe them.

[Janine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I could not get in to this book, so after about 45 pages I stopped reading. I thought the book went too long maintaining the separate stories without having them come together.

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

YUCK! A recommended author but must have picked the WRONG book. Two damaged people working their way through life- ending was a yawn.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very evocative of place and mood. I liked the way there seemed to be no climax, things carried on hurtling haphazardly - like life.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well-written and quite lyrical ... went with the landscape of sea, sky, and wind. Not as compelling perhaps as her two earlier novels, but worth the time.