COF Bookworms Discussion: BLUE

CHAPTER 1---Becky is on the video with a kerchiefed head at her sixth birthday party and reference us made to her "new hair" returning once treatments were over. What is the significance of this?---------------------------What impression do you have of Chris and his ex-wife, Polly's, relationship?-------------------------------------Why does Chris miss his daughter?---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------What kind of relationship does Becky have with her stepfather?----------------------------------------------------Why do you think Becky isn't honest with her mother about how she's feeling?-----------------------------------------Miea remembers the blight of the crops and trouble in her parents marriage as being intertwined. Why would the health of the crops affect her parents marriage?--------------------------------------------------------------

Sorry about the format. My iPhone runs everything together when I post. Now, for the discussion!

Has anyone started reading this book yet? I started a few days ago. Easy reading style, but confusing at first. I went to Amamzon and read a few reviews as I thought one might clue me in and it did without giving any of the story away.

So when the story changes to Tamarisk - that is the fantasy world father and daughter created. You will find this out fairly quickly - it will be explained, so I don't think this is a spoiler. Other than that, whew I am trying to figure out where this book is going. I have an idea - but feel like it is out there, I am reading it on iPad and haven't made notes - so I really should go back and make notes before I get too much farther.

I am finding what I feel are a lot of metaphors and feel like I am out on a limb with this - I am reading too much into it? On the other hand how can the two stories come together?

How's everyone else doing with it?

Amy how many chapters into the book can we talk?

Andrea

Andrea, I have read just to we learn about Tamarisk.  I was like you--wondering where in the world the story was going and I was totally unable to get my head around all the strange action in the fantasy.  I will probably finish the book this weekend (I hope so anyway).  I am thinking we were to read a chapter a day?  Or did I just make that one up?  I too wonder who else is reading with us.

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Paula - I am not sure but think maybe freesstyling it. I am going to go make notes now or I won't have anything to say! LOL.

It's like going to a workshop and at the end you have a hard time filling out the evaluation because...well you know!

Andrea

Yes, I know that feeling for sure!  I will make notes as well.  

Ok this is YOUR discussion so talk as far ahead and use the format you want. This is a re-read for me, so I can tell you that the stories do come together really well. Did you pick up on the fact that the day Miea's parents died was the same day Becky was told about the divorce? There are "clues" like that throughout the book but you will have to look for them. Let me know how you want this discussion to flow. Do you want more questions? Amy Marie

Amy - thanks for that clue! I finished reading the book last week and I missed that. What I did pick up one was a paragraph describing the disease of the plants - and the way it was described made my medical mind pull the two together immediately. I will look for the paragraph and be back.

OK - I am going to talk about the relationships between Chris, Polly, and Becky.

The story is told from from Becky and Chris's point of view - so it is easy to dislike Polly based on what they say. There are always two sides to every tale. Yet at the same time, with Polly and Chris there seems to have been a breakdown in communication that appears to have started after Becky first became ill. They could not even agree on her recovery status - why? Why did not not share hope?

Polly has anger issues - as evidenced by this (page 21) told from Chris's point of view:

Polly: "Who are we kidding Chris? If you can honestly tell me you're happy with us, then I'll check myself into an insane asylum."

Chris: " I'm not happy with us, Polly."

Polly: "Then why are you still here?"

Polly has passive aggresive behaviors. She is throwing it on Chris - when she could have moved out as well - but didn't.

Chris's  background leads me to believe he had to be able to understand the medical case. We are given no information about Polly's education or background. But later she is willing to go out on a limb with regards to a treatment not proven and is unable to let go of it when it is clear it will not be successful.

Both daughter and ex-husband have difficulty dealing with Polly. Through the conversations it appears that she is not reasonable on many fronts. Is she jealous of their relationship? When it is obvious that Chris and Becky have such a close relationship why did Polly not encourage this? It seemed that she wanted division and it does not appear that there is a reasonable reason - unfit parent, etc.

This was disturbing to me.

Finally Becky put her foot down with her mother and her mother conceded. Once the division of care was more appropriate I felt for sure that Becky would die at Chris's home to bring Polly back in. If Becky's death at been at Polly's home Chris would not have been able to have the involvement that he had.

Also, I was disappointed that Chris did not step up and explain why he was leaving. This leaves anyone, particularly a child, in a state of confusion. Becky had been so close to her dad and all of the sudden it was over without an explanation. That leads me to think that Chris had his own issues with communication - passive. I think Chris had many opportunities to reconnect with Becky and was not able to do so much of the time. To me that indicates deeper problems. Several times he was treated poorly by Polly and yet he seemedc unable to communicate about it to create any changes.

Another sample of Polly and Chris's behavior - when Polly decided to go out on a limb with treatment - and there is no response from Chris - he was not asked - it appears - and no information is given as to how he felt. Again - very passive. And when Becky and Chris want to do their thing with the fantasy story - Polly is very much against. Another demonstration of consistent behaviors from both parents - nicely represented.

On a 'real' level - many marriages do not survive a child's illness or death - so this scenario was very believable - we just didn't have everyone's story.

One reason Polly may have had difficulty dealing with her mother may be related to the dominant personality of Polly. Perhaps it just took to much energy to fight it and her dad hadn't stepped up to the plate in terms of communication - so Becky really didn't know where she stood.

Just some thoughts for discussion.

Andrea

Andrea, you bring up some great points. Clearly, the adults in this story have a lot of growing up to do and are holding onto some grudges. There is a total breakdown in communication and you can't blame Becky for not going to them when she starts having symptoms again or for not being mote communicative. Amy Marie

Well, I finished Blue tonight.  When I started reading, I wasn't sure at all that I would be able to "get into" the book because the fantasy sections were very confusing to me.  But as I kept reading, and realized what Tamarisk was, The story pulled together quickly. 

The dysfunction between Becky's parents is sad, especially when we realize the impact it has on her.  Her mother, while not willing to be fair as far as Becky's relationship with her dad is concerned (not wanting her to spend extra time with him, etc) really does love her daughter.   Polly finds it so difficult to believe in Tamarisk--I probably would be the same way.  It is hard to believe in a fantasy--we are taught to believe in scientific things, not fantasy. 

I especially liked the way that Chris was there for Becky in her travels back and forth, even though he didn't believe at the very beginning.  His belief and support helped solidify Becky's relationship with him.  And Polly's reaction at the end was comforting.  Al's support of Becky's relationship with both her mother and her father was amazing.  It isn't surprising that Becky loved her step-father as well.  He certainly knew when to be there for her and when to step back a bit and let her parents step forward.

I am wondering if any others are reading this book with us this time.  Amy Marie, thanks for picking this one.  It isn't a book I wold have chosen on my own, but I will definitely read more by this author. 

Paula, I am so glad you enjoyed this book. It's not my usual style either, but I thought it was very thought-provoking! Amy Marie