Opinion: Book Recomendation

11/17/2022

Bella Dunn '24

In our minds color is associated with everything and anything. Greens, blues, and reds can come together to form memories and places. Gold and purple can represent a home, such as the one all of us live in every day in these familiar rooms and halls. Color can represent so much; including people.

During our time at Chatham Hall we have gotten exposed to an array of different literature and writing. This is especially true in regards to writing that represents oneself. Earlier this year we listened to our Writer in Residence, Julian Saporiti, who represented himself, his heritage, and his history through songwriting. However, there are many ways to tell one’s story through writing.

Prose, poetry, and essays are the most common forms of this, and the book Bluets by Maggie Nelson utilizes and combines all three. Nelson draws her memories and personal identity into the color blue through philosophical and personal reflection. The book is written and composed as an essay in a stanza form going through her life and connecting it all back to a singular color.

Nelson not only applies this hue to deep personal experience, but she also writes of cultural significance that ties in a more intellectual approach. She draws from different historical quotes and encyclopedias to add a more academic flavor to the book. This abstract and analytical approach is very different from the typical style used in memoirs. Nelson takes the personal aspects used to stir empathy and connection that is usually used in this genre, but attaches it to a larger scale.

Nonfiction, such as Bluets, can use forms to expand on personal identity. Just like we saw with Julian Saporiti, Nelson explores herself and history in this personal narrative. However, this doesn’t mean she always reaches conclusions. The book encapsulates human nature in conclusive statements. This book is a deeply thought-provoking and soul-searching experience that leaves you with questions on how the representation of a color impacts your own life.

Personally, I enjoyed this book because it introduced to me a manner of writing I have never seen before. It is a fresh and modern take on classic ideas, and expands far beyond the bounds of a typical memoir.

I recommend Bluets to you if you want to try something new and different this season. Sit under the autumn leaves and watch the colors change as you read this lovely book. It’s fall: a perfect time to curl up and read from a unique perspective about the colors that play a crucial role in how we see the world and each other.

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