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Blue Portugal & Other Essays
Using the richness of braided essays, Theresa Kishkan thinks deeply about the natural world, mourns and celebrates the aging body, gently contests recorded history, and considers art and visual phenomena. Gathering personal genealogies, medical histories, and early land surveys together with insights from music, colour theory, horticulture, and textile production, Kishkan weaves a pattern of richly textured threads, welcoming readers to share her intellectual and emotional preoccupations. With an intimate awareness of place and time, a deep sensitivity to family, and a poetic delight in travel, local food and wine, and dogs, Blue Portugal and Other Essays offers up a sense of wonder at the interconnectedness of all things.
176 pages, Paperback
Published May 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 28, 2022
Blue Portugal is a poetically lyrical read that will surprise readers with its undeniable depth.
How did the book make me feel/think?
Soon, I might find out who my father is for the third time in my life.
The first time, I watched him take his last breath, the day after I turned 25 (1985).
Eighteen years later (2003), I accidentally discovered he wasn’t my birth father, which spiralled me into a search for my identity. I found my birth father. Met him (2006). He welcomed me into his family with open arms. Two weeks passed, and I had to inform him he wasn’t my father. My mother had lied on my birth registration.
Recently, after discovering I’m 45% Norwegian, a first cousin popped up in my DNA string—her uncle might be my birth father.
How does this relate to Blue Portugal?
Well, after the first two fathers, not being my birth father, I thought I’d never care, and as I age, why does it even matter, I thought?
That’s where Blue Portugal comes in.
First off, it is chock full of poetic lyricism and, for me, at least, highlights the importance of retracing our roots. As Kishkan ages; she thirsts for an understanding of who she is and why (?) and a longing for the comfort only found in the threads of life which make us whole.
Second, in her search for understanding, Kishkan sheds a powerful light on how, as much as the world improves daily, humanity is on a slippery slope, slicked by the limited minds of those who desperately think they need to hold on to the advantages of entitlement.
One hundred years ago, corporate greed brought over immigrants to do back-breaking work to build nations—only to deny these working slaves the rights they (the entitled) fought-tooth-and-nail to keep for themselves. When war broke out, Kishkan’s ancestors were deemed to be the enemies of the country, denied home ownership, and faced racism because the entitled railed against Immigrant Workers. The same workers’ corporations exploited for profit. Does this ring familiar today?
Blue Portugal is a poetically lyrical read that will surprise readers with its undeniable depth.
WRITTEN: 28 June 2022
How did the book make me feel/think?
Soon, I might find out who my father is for the third time in my life.
The first time, I watched him take his last breath, the day after I turned 25 (1985).
Eighteen years later (2003), I accidentally discovered he wasn’t my birth father, which spiralled me into a search for my identity. I found my birth father. Met him (2006). He welcomed me into his family with open arms. Two weeks passed, and I had to inform him he wasn’t my father. My mother had lied on my birth registration.
Recently, after discovering I’m 45% Norwegian, a first cousin popped up in my DNA string—her uncle might be my birth father.
How does this relate to Blue Portugal?
Well, after the first two fathers, not being my birth father, I thought I’d never care, and as I age, why does it even matter, I thought?
That’s where Blue Portugal comes in.
First off, it is chock full of poetic lyricism and, for me, at least, highlights the importance of retracing our roots. As Kishkan ages; she thirsts for an understanding of who she is and why (?) and a longing for the comfort only found in the threads of life which make us whole.
Second, in her search for understanding, Kishkan sheds a powerful light on how, as much as the world improves daily, humanity is on a slippery slope, slicked by the limited minds of those who desperately think they need to hold on to the advantages of entitlement.
One hundred years ago, corporate greed brought over immigrants to do back-breaking work to build nations—only to deny these working slaves the rights they (the entitled) fought-tooth-and-nail to keep for themselves. When war broke out, Kishkan’s ancestors were deemed to be the enemies of the country, denied home ownership, and faced racism because the entitled railed against Immigrant Workers. The same workers’ corporations exploited for profit. Does this ring familiar today?
Blue Portugal is a poetically lyrical read that will surprise readers with its undeniable depth.
WRITTEN: 28 June 2022
July 19, 2022
4 1/2 stars
June 26, 2022
*CANADIAN*
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"Turn the page of your aging body and find the map of what might have happened."~pg.87
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"We hang by a thread in this world of wonders and terror. On a path of indigo cotton, black silk streaked with gold, squares of grey flannel, linen the color of midnight, these silvery buttons will make a small light for anyone walking in uncertainty, in hope, scarred or whole, the whole dark length. " ~pg.111
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Thoughts ~
Beautifully written, Blue Portual is a meditation on aging bodies, the natural world, landscapes, geneology, art, history and the interconnectedness of things.
With intimate, poetic prose, Kishkan weaves us through her musings of the natural world and her own personal world. I was drawn to this book when I first read the description. I have read so many perspectives on life and living from younger female voices, coming of age stories etc, which I love but as I get older I really appreciate hearing from middle aged voices too. Blue Portugal was a unique and lovely read. Incorporating nature and personal history, geneology, a delight! I just love the way she sees and describes the world. So glad I picked this up!
Thank You @zgstories & @ualbertapress for sending me this book opinions are my own.
For more of my book content check out instagram.com/bookalong
•
🌿
"Turn the page of your aging body and find the map of what might have happened."~pg.87
•
"We hang by a thread in this world of wonders and terror. On a path of indigo cotton, black silk streaked with gold, squares of grey flannel, linen the color of midnight, these silvery buttons will make a small light for anyone walking in uncertainty, in hope, scarred or whole, the whole dark length. " ~pg.111
•
🌿
Thoughts ~
Beautifully written, Blue Portual is a meditation on aging bodies, the natural world, landscapes, geneology, art, history and the interconnectedness of things.
With intimate, poetic prose, Kishkan weaves us through her musings of the natural world and her own personal world. I was drawn to this book when I first read the description. I have read so many perspectives on life and living from younger female voices, coming of age stories etc, which I love but as I get older I really appreciate hearing from middle aged voices too. Blue Portugal was a unique and lovely read. Incorporating nature and personal history, geneology, a delight! I just love the way she sees and describes the world. So glad I picked this up!
Thank You @zgstories & @ualbertapress for sending me this book opinions are my own.
For more of my book content check out instagram.com/bookalong
September 22, 2022
Blue Portugal and other essays by Theresa Kishkan is a good book of personal essays. I was interested to read this one since I love indie CanLit. In this book she shares personal stories of tracing her ancestors, health issues and landscapes woven with quilting and dyeing fabrics. This book reads like a memoir as we learn about certain aspects of her life. It was interesting to learn about her medical and family history. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator Nina Richmond did a very fine job. I would listen to more books narrated by her. I enjoyed the Canadian settings.
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Thank you to University of Alberta Press via NetGalley for my ALC!
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Thank you to University of Alberta Press via NetGalley for my ALC!
July 21, 2022
Wonderfully crafted essays that weave together memoir, history and place.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews