Thank you so much for brining this book to my attention! The colour blue is of vital importance to my writing as of late - I chose it for the colour of magical crystals, imbued with a deep blue sea-like glow, or sky-blue brightness. And I think in a way I've deluded myself into giving the colour importance, in my writing and when I then see those things in real life - like the blue of starflower, or the patches on certain birds' plumages. Its something I'm continuing to explore in what will be my fourth novel (I'm on the third at the moment). The chapter of my serialised novella coming out next Friday will actually be the first instance of its significance to my work and now the way I see the world...
I once wrote a short story called ‘What is Red’ in which the protagonist was deeply in love with the colour red. I thought he was a little bit crazy at the time. It’s nice to know he’s not alone.
Love the creativity of the exercises. And the way that what we read can shape us in so many ways but mostly just by directing our attention in a specific place.
This got me thinking about what colors send me into paroxysms of joy ecstasy confusion, disgust...
I love every single color that zinnias come in. My favorites are the dirty sooty colored ones (“ antique” “ shabby chic”) when they grow next to neon fuchsia and ombre magenta exuberances. Remember the little white spider friend?
I also love zinnias and all their colors and what they do to a garden or a room. They are just so good. And of course I remember the white spider!
Will give some thought to colors that disgust or repel, but at this moment it seems contextual. Institutional beige, brown, and pink can all be so horrible, but scattered into a landscape I would feel them differently.
This made me smile. I never thought of “falling in love” with a color before. I have always liked blue and always named it my favorite color, ever since I was a kid. But love? I just might try it. I’m sometimes afraid love will lead me to a premature commitment, but I am guessing me and blue will be able to work something out.
Thank you so much for brining this book to my attention! The colour blue is of vital importance to my writing as of late - I chose it for the colour of magical crystals, imbued with a deep blue sea-like glow, or sky-blue brightness. And I think in a way I've deluded myself into giving the colour importance, in my writing and when I then see those things in real life - like the blue of starflower, or the patches on certain birds' plumages. Its something I'm continuing to explore in what will be my fourth novel (I'm on the third at the moment). The chapter of my serialised novella coming out next Friday will actually be the first instance of its significance to my work and now the way I see the world...
Bluets is a gorgeous book & a source of inspiration for many writers. Intrigued by the way you describe blue’s importance to your writing.
I once wrote a short story called ‘What is Red’ in which the protagonist was deeply in love with the colour red. I thought he was a little bit crazy at the time. It’s nice to know he’s not alone.
I’ve been reading Anne Carson’s Autobiography of Red. You might enjoy it too.
Love the creativity of the exercises. And the way that what we read can shape us in so many ways but mostly just by directing our attention in a specific place.
I’ve been trying understand attention and its effects for a long time. I love your framing of the relation of reading and attention. Thanks!!
This got me thinking about what colors send me into paroxysms of joy ecstasy confusion, disgust...
I love every single color that zinnias come in. My favorites are the dirty sooty colored ones (“ antique” “ shabby chic”) when they grow next to neon fuchsia and ombre magenta exuberances. Remember the little white spider friend?
I also love zinnias and all their colors and what they do to a garden or a room. They are just so good. And of course I remember the white spider!
Will give some thought to colors that disgust or repel, but at this moment it seems contextual. Institutional beige, brown, and pink can all be so horrible, but scattered into a landscape I would feel them differently.
I'm teaching BLUETS in a few weeks, so lovely to read you thinking about that wonder of a book, too!
Curious what aspect of it you are teaching! I was re-reading it for its form, but the color caught me again.
This made me smile. I never thought of “falling in love” with a color before. I have always liked blue and always named it my favorite color, ever since I was a kid. But love? I just might try it. I’m sometimes afraid love will lead me to a premature commitment, but I am guessing me and blue will be able to work something out.
I’m afraid Maggie Nelson’s Bluets is a story of heartbreak.
Hmmm...