The Blue Stone คิดถึงครึ่งชีวิต

by Jimmy Liao

เรื่องของหินสีฟ้าก้อนใหญ่ในป่าที่แตกครึ่ง ครึ่งหนึ่งอยู่ในป่าเหมือนเดิม แต่อีกครึ่งถูกนำมาแกะสลักในเมือง ทุกครั้งที่หินสีฟ้าในเมืองคิดถึงอีกครึ่งของตัวเอง ร่างกายของมันจะแตกออก แล้วก็มีคนนำไปแกะสลักเป็นของชิ้นใหม่ เป็นแบบนี้ไปเรื่อยๆ ทุกครั้งที่ร่างกายมันแตกสลายด้วยความหวังว่าจะได้กลับไปอยู่กับอีกครึ่งที่อยู่ในป่า มันกลับอยู่ห่างออกไปเรื่อยๆ

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Art, Poetry, Travel

120 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2006

About the author

Jimmy Liao (pen name: 幾米；autonym: Lao Fu-Bin, 廖福彬) born in Yilan County, Taiwan. in Fine Arts, with a major in Design. He had worked in advertising companies for 12 years. Now he works as an illustrator. Since 1998, Jimmy published several illustrated books with amazing originality and multi-faceted narratives. He had since set a fashion in creating and publishing illustrated books in local and international markets. Utilizing images as a refreshing form of literary language, Jimmy creates in his works poetic frames that emit charms and appeals. He has published seventeenth popular books so far, and they are translated into English, French, German, Greek, Japanese, Korean and so forth. Being the most popular illustrator author in Asia, creating lots of fantasy and touch hearts cross all generation, however, with low profile personality, he enjoys the family time more, lives a tranquil life and devotes most of his time to work. Immersing in his works is just like to go into Jimmy's inner world, his inviting stories reflect the reality of real life, more and more people are intoxicated by his vivid strokes and his magic realism narratives. Now in Asia, Jimmy becomes vogue of the time, beyond his stories, "Jimmy" is like a pop of a new life style.

from: http://www.jimmyspa.com/en/

Reviews

[Thuỳ Vân · Rating 5 out of 5]

Một ngày, mình thấy hòn đá xanh giống một tâm hồn nguyên vẹn. Rồi có một ngày, nó mất đi một nửa, một nửa tâm hồn hay một nửa của bản thân. Những ngày tiếp theo nó càng bị cuốn xa khỏi một nửa còn lại. Nó cũng từng nương lại tâm hồn ở đâu đó, hay với người nào đó, hoặc chỉ với bổn phận là chứng nhân im lặng vậy thôi. Nhưng mà tất cả cũng chỉ là sự nương thân yếu ớt, vì nó luôn nhớ về nửa còn lại đã lạc mất của mình, về những hạnh phúc nó từng có. Nó tan vỡ mỗi khi nhớ về, từng chút từng chút. Đến khi chỉ còn là bụi, đến khi không còn gì và là gì, nó không còn gánh nặng gì nữa cho dù gánh nặng đó đã luôn là chính bản thân nó, nó mới có thể đến được với nửa còn lại đã lạc mất từ lâu.

[Cheryl]

I don't get it. I mean, I get homesick, but I don't find it comforting or cathartic or anything to read this. And the stone, being a stone, is passive, and has to accept all the things people do to it. But the people are enriched by knowing it, so that's a good thing? The author's bio in the book says that he's a cancer survivor; is that relevant to understanding the metaphor? Is is a metaphor, or is it meant to be read more literally? Is it a fable?

Does it work better in other cultures, rather than in America?
Maybe refugees would find it more meaningful?
---
Reread carefully. Still have the same questions, and more: why did each artist paint their creation, instead of leaving the beautiful blue intact? And what happened to the crumbles each time the stone got smaller?

Is the author saying that life's adventures make us smaller? But that we must keep going, and never give up hope? Maybe... but I want it to be more than that. And I just can't find it. Nice pictures though.

Giving to a certain young family. the father at least is an immigrant, apparently from someplace in SE Asia, so he might connect with this better than I do.

[Ivy Fu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jimmy Liao is one of my favorite authors , I love his books so much especially this one. The illustrations are wonderful, they are done by watercolor pencils. This book is talking about a stone's life(a person life), is sad and a little bit depressing. This story has truly touched my heart.

[specialday · Rating 5 out of 5]

เล่มนี้ดีมากๆ พูดถึงเรื่องราวของการอยากกลับบ้าน
ได้เห็นหลายๆมุมมอง ชอบมากๆ

28/12/66 กลับมาอ่านรอบนี้รู้สึกถึงความเศร้ามากๆในการเดินทางกลับไปสถานที่ที่เรียกว่าบ้าน และทำให้แวบคำพูดประโยคหนึ่งขึ้นมาว่า อย่าแตกสลายอีกเลย

[Molusco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maldita sea, no recordaba lo mucho que esto me marcó durante años. Sé que son casi puros dibujos, y que a lo mejor va dirigido para niños, pero nunca voy a dejar de pensar lo maravilloso que es el mensaje que da, el de perderte a ti mismo, creer que estás bien pero luego darte cuenta de que no es tu lugar y entonces romperte, una y otra y otra vez. El mensaje de que, aunque te rompas todavía hay esperanza. El mensaje de que, por más lejos que estés de tu hogar, siempre vas a regresar a él.

[Ngọc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, tranh vẽ siêu đẹp, màu sắc làm mình thấy tươi mới và bình yên. Nghe không liên quan nhỉ?
Một câu chuyện buồn nhưng ấm áp.

UPDATE: Giờ đọc lại chỉ thấy buồn ơi là buồn, và quyển này mình đánh giá cao hơn quyển Chàng - Nàng nhiều :)) (cả hình vẽ và nội dung)

[Catalina Méndez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Siento que pudo haber sido más profundo pero no lo fue, cada vez que avanzaba me sentí más vacío y triste, como que empatice con la pobre piedra y no quería seguir leyendo, al terminar este libro me sentí igual que antes, vacía y triste.

[Moka Aumilieudeslivres · Rating 5 out of 5]

MERVEILLE POÉTIQUE.

[Nhat Quang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cũng như chú thỏ Edward, cũng như trong bao câu chuyện cổ tích, hòn đá xanh cũng tìm được đường về nhà.

Một năm đã trôi qua, mười năm đã trôi qua.
Một trăm năm đã trôi qua.
Một nghìn năm đã trôi qua. Một vạn năm đã trôi qua...

[Fátima Embark · Rating 4 out of 5]

¡Jimmy nunca falla! Enamorada de su trabajo <3

[Araya Pichitkul · Rating 4 out of 5]

ก้อนหินสีฟ้าจาได้กลับบ้านมั้ยนะ

[Do Tam · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me, this book much resembles the endless cycle of reincarnation and the longing to return to source

[Buchdoktor]

Der blaue Stein hatte gedacht, er würde ewig im Wald bleiben. Nach einem Waldbrand, der monatelang wütete, bleibt er mit Asche bedeckt zurück, als hätte er ein Tarnkleid angelegt. Regen legt die strahlend blaue Farbe frei, der Stein wird geteilt, eine Hälfte abtransportiert. Ein Steinmetz arbeitet eine Elefantenfigur aus dieser Hälfte heraus, die vor Sehnsucht nach ihrer anderen Hälfte zerbricht. Immer wieder wird der Stein transportiert und bearbeitet, immer wieder bricht die strahlend blaue Farbe unter der äußeren Hülle hervor. Der Rest wird dabei kleiner und kleiner, landet sogar bei den Kindern aus dem Waisenhaus, die auf dem Cover zu sehen sind. Die Sehnsucht nach der fehlenden Hälfte bleibt selbst in den verbleibenden kleinen Steinchen erhalten. Als ein paar Staubkörnchen in die Luft geblasen werden, fragt man sich, was ist eigentlich Staub – und wie viel vom blauen Stein ist darin enthalten?

In Jimmy Liaos Bilderbüchern stehen oft einsame Kinder im Mittelpunkt. Diese Bücher richten sich in erster Linie an Erwachsene; sie können natürlich gemeinsam mit Kindern betrachtet werden. Durch die rhythmische Wiederholung des Reisens und Bearbeitens, während der Stein immer kleiner wird, entsteht in „Der blaue Stein“ jedoch die Spannungskurve einer Kindergeschichte. Entstanden ist ein Bilderbuch in kleinem Format, das man als Vorleser am Ende der Geschichte noch nicht zuklappen kann, wenn es heißt „Nochmal!“Das Entdecken zahlreicher Details, die Suche nach dem Blauen Kern unter verschiedenen Oberflächen und schließlich die Heimkehr in den Wald sprechen kleine Betrachter an. Erstaunlich, wie gut man sich gemeinsam in das Wesen des Steins einfühlen kann.

[Marion Fin_Aout_Debut_Septembre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Arraché à la forêt où il vit depuis des milliers d'années, le rocher bleu est transporté et transformé à travers le monde. Mais chaque exil le laisse encore plus petit et plus las que le précédent. Il n'aspire qu'une chose, retrouver son habitat d'antan...

Le Rocher Bleu est une très jolie métaphore. Un conte à la limite de la philosophie. Jimmy Liao trouve le moyen de glisser dans ce petit album destiné à la jeunesse une réflexion intéressante et intelligente sur l'écologie et l'exploitation. Mais aussi sur l'immigration et le déracinement. Avec une économie de mots assez remarquables on parle pourtant d'amour, d'attente, d'espoir, et bien sûr de solitude et de tristesse.

La masse du rocher diminue au fil des pages. Son voyage l'errodant un peu plus à chaque étape. Mais paradoxalement le rocher grandit de ses expériences. C'est une fatalité contre laquel il ne peut rien. C'est superbe, et plein de mélancolie.

Visuellement Jimmy Liao ne déçoit jamais. Et ses illustrations poétiques apportent toujours énormément au récit. Parfois simple et épuré, parfois fourmillant de détails, on ne se lasse pas de son trait.

Une très jolie découverte !

[Pablohoney Thebends · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bastante triste

[Pablo Osorno · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una nostalgia permanente.

[John Alvarez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Que lindo 😭

[Sammm · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7~4.2.

[Frida Bedolla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jimmy Liao es un pinche genio. Este libro me dejó así ira... heladx. A su pinche madre, Jimmy solo hace maravillas, no se ni que decir... está muy cabron, me encanta que sus historias siempre tienen ese toque nostálgico, melancólico, onírico, medio tristes pero llenos de esperanza. Mi corazón se rompió y sano con esta lectura... tiene poderes mágicos sin duda; lo tiene pinches todo, se los juro, mete un buen de temas “complejos” que usualmente no wacho en otros libros infantiles de una manera tan cálida e íntima ligada con un tema más “sencillo” pero súper simbólico. Sus libros son como un pinche abrazo justo cuando más lo necesitas 🥺 lo amé tanto, ojalá alguien se anime a leerlo.
I’m obsessed 💙✨
Y como siempre las ilustraciones son otro pedo 🥺 10000/10 wow

[jenna Hudrlik · Rating 3 out of 5]

caroline loved this book, i really liked the illustrations but i also thought it was terribly sad. caroline didnt think it was b/c in the end the stone got back to his home. i was happy that he did too but if its an allegory then i took from it that one is forced to go through life doing what they do not want to do b/c of other peoples desires of how and who they want you to be and each person takes pieces of you that you lose from yourself and the whole time you are longing to go home and even though you are bringing happiness to other people you do not care. fine and dandy but i thought it could have been a bit happier as it was a kids book.

[Giang · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations are exquisite. Absolutely in love with this book. The story is a bit depressing tho. I know longing for home could be terrifying but I think adventures could add to your personalities instead if breaking you apart every time you think about home. That's the only thing I don't really feel relatable in this tale. Nonetheless its a beautiful, beautiful book. Love it. People who think this is too depressing for children, just.. Stop. Don't underestimate children's feeling and giving them exclusively happy stuff because books like this help them to feel and grow up being able to empathize and love and live better.
Just my two cents.

[Aracne Mileto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este año se me ha dado por leer cuentos ilustrados, y cuando vi “La piedra azul” de Jimmy Liao con el 30% de descuento… no pude negarme a comprarlo.

Esta es una historia que nos habla sobre la separación, la añoranza de nuestro hogar y como esta puede rompernos en diferentes ocasiones.

Los gráficos son muy bonitos, no necesariamente de mi estilo, pero aportaron mucho a la historia. Lo que no estoy muy segura es que si este cuento es para niños, porque el mensaje que da es bastante adulto.

En resumen, me gustó, y estoy segura que haré una relectura de él próximamente.

[Susan]

I guess I get the point but it just didn't work for me? If this stone is so beautiful then why is everyone painting it after carving it up? I must admit to bursting out in laughter when, after being whittled down to a pendant on a necklace for someone's sweetheart, the stone breaks again "because first love rarely lasts." It was just too much!! After so many other terrible things happened. My six year old liked it though because he said the ending was "happy" (it wasn't not happy) and that just proves that children are far wiser than grown ups.

[Lệ Lin · Rating 4 out of 5]

vì đọc quyển này xong có nhiều suy nghĩ linh tinh quá nên mình viết hẳn vào blog luôn rồi ạ, có tí spoiler, và xem như thay review ở đây

[Alfredo Dondé · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bellamente ilustrado y con un profundo sentimiento de nostalgia arrastrandose por todo el libro, La Piedra Azul es una historia que invita a reflexionar, porque, aunque lo que siente la piedra es enfatizado muchas veces, la metáfora es vaga y puede aplicarse a diferentes contextos.

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

Illustrations are wonderful. They are done in watercolor. The story could have been so much better.

[Natt · Rating 4 out of 5]

ถ้าเหงาก็หยิบมาอ่าน แล้วจะรู้ว่า ตัวเราเหงายังไง ก็ไม่แตกสลายง่ายๆ แบบหินสีฟ้าหรอกนะ

อ่านความเห็น >> http://www.bloggang.com/mainblog.php?...

[Mariana González-Ropero · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it! It made me a little sad, though...

[Pio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quyển này viết ổn, tranh đẹp vừa phải nên tròn 4 sao :))

[ดินสอ สีไม้ · Rating 3 out of 5]

เล่าถึงการจากลา ความสูญเสีย และความคิดถึง