Bluets

I found Nelson’s writing and form extremely interesting to read. The space between each number created a natural pause and allotted time for reflection. I think several of her sentences were profound, and that by creating separate propositions, she allowed the reader more time to think about their connection to the overarching problems she introduces along the way.

I personally enjoyed the variations in length of the propositions. I found that a number of the shorter numbers involved merely a sentence or two in question form. As the writer, she accomplishes an open ended kind of discourse and leaves the reader time to ponder those questions without being hurried on to the next sentence in the paragraph. I found it effective. In fact, I noticed that it took me longer to read this than it normally would because I gave myself time to question her thoughts, the propositions, and their connection to one another.

Style-wise, she’s extremely honest. I noted the honestly and frankness of her questions within the first few pages. For example, on page 15 she states, “And what kind of madness is it anyway, to be in love with something constitutionally incapable of loving you back?” She pairs that question with another in proposition 37: “Are you sure—one would like to ask—that it cannot love you back?” She is asking herself a question, then imaging a question as a response to her original. It feels personal and completely open. She’s not claiming to be sure of anything when it comes to the color blue. She’s honest about her doubts and her questions.

As I read the second half of Bluets, I began to see her make more notions of her intense heartache and depression. On page 51, she notes, “I don’t know how the jacarandas will make me feel next year. I don’t know if I will be alive to see them…” Further down on that same page, she says, “I have been going limp in the face of my heartache.” She notions death on page 52, saying, “It calms me to think of blue as the color of death.” Clearly, Nelson is grappling with very serious, very negative feelings. Near the end of the text, I think Nelson begins to point to the reader the ways in which her style of writing facilitates her own journey through these feelings.

In proposition 184, she makes note that her propositions “have been shuffled around countless times (71).” This to me seems intentional; like a very well-thought out maneuvering of thoughts. Perhaps Nelson wanted us as readers to jump from proposition to proposition so that we could mimic her personal battle of understanding her own thoughts and feelings.

Bluets

The organization of Nelson’s book in numbered points give a sense of reading through someone’s notes. It is as if ideas are organized in bullets points which makes it easier to read. The reader is not intimidated but pages of dens paragraphs, well as far as I am concerned it was easy reading bluets. Each page is broken down in short notes for the reader, allowing a mental that makes easy to follow the flow in Nelson’s writing and reasoning. It might feel that Nelson is just mentioning things here and there but while you sense and understand how these ideas and inter related.

This writing style allowed Nelson to easily brake from one idea and jump to another without a transition word or phrase. It also allowed her to talk about so many things in, what I will call a small volume book.

On page 20 Nelson wondered whether colors exist the way we see them. Do they actually look different? This makes me think and Nelson asked herself the question too, whether our view of the world we live in might be wrong. What if the “real” world was actually of different colors but our eyes show us something else. Are we living a lie?

On page 74, she discuss about what writing does to the world. From her point of view, nothing. She also wrote that writing could have occurred in various situations for the author bur after the book is published and many have read it, who actually could tell the circumstances in which passages in the book were written from reading it.

First in writing Bluets, Nelson mentioned how she was talking about writing a book about colors, more particularly the color blue, but she has not actually started writing it. The organization of the book makes me imagine that she will talk to people then go write a paragraph, and come back later to the book after she interacted with other people, repeating this cycle to end up with a collection of facts and experiences about the color blue

Nelson wrote about blue color in a passionate way. She started her book saying how she fell in with this color. On the other hand she also talks about her relationship with another person but not in a passionate way. Each time she mentions that relationship she talks about fucking not love. I can imagine that there is an emptiness in her heart that the color blue fills. It would make more sense if it was a person not a color. She is trying to understand why blue, why a color which is shown by the explorative aspect in her writing, analyzing what other people wrote thought or think about the situation she is in.

While reading Bluets, it felt like a compilation of thoughts that relate to the same subject, the color blue. This seems to represent the way she describes collecting information about the color blue: her friends from all over the world sending her anything they find about blue, even her colleague at work explaining to her how and why Viagra is speculated to help with Acyanoblepsia. I can imagine her going back home very day with a collection of experience and facts about the color blue and sitting down to summarize them into text. And each day will give her a different collection which will not match that of previous day but will be about the same topic.

Nelson style seem to relate to her profession as teacher in her writing, always taking notes and organizing ideas in bullets points to facilitate comprehension and reading.

Bluets

The series of propositions allows Nelson to introduce slightly unrelated topics in a sequence to the reader. For example, on page nine, Nelson goes from talking about her friend who suffered from a horrible accident to talking about Goethe’s Theory of Colors on page ten. This form also breaks the text into smaller sections making it easier for the audience to read. Rather than having chapters of long text, Nelson compartmentalizes thoughts into small paragraphs or “propositions” giving the reader time to process each snippet individually. Nelson does not only use the style of short propositions to introduce different topics but also to expand on a topic by adding further details. For example on page ten and eleven, Nelson continues on the topic of the writer Goethe. She explains what critics thought of him, his interests, and finally relates it back to her friend’s accident. Furthermore, the use of one-sentence propositions makes that thought extremely impactful. For example proposition number 27 and proposition number 46 become extremely powerful because they are separated from the rest of the text as a single sentence. Nelson is able to transition from a funny or quirky paragraph to a somber or serious one more naturally than a normal style book through her use of short propositions. For instance, propositions numbers 34 and 35 have a humorous tinge while proposition number 36 has a more thoughtful tone. Additionally, the use of short paragraphs enables Nelson to switch from self-reflection to action and to presenting information.

Nelson seems to go through life with a sad and hopeless outlook.

Throughout much of Nelson’s writing it is evident that she experiences pervasive melancholy and feels as though she is alone in a crowd. She writes in a style and form comparable to that of writing a letter. Proposition number 108 conveys this sentiment succinctly; Nelson writes, “… but I have always loved its final line-“Sincerely, L. Cohen”- as it makes me feel less alone in composing almost everything I write as a letter. I would even go so far as to say that I do not know how to compose otherwise, which makes writing in a prism of solitude, as I am here, a somewhat novel and painful experiment”. Nelson parallels her writing style to that of Leonard Cohen because they both recount their stories to a specific audience in a letter format. I believe this writing style gives Nelson purpose in narrating her story because she does not have to tell her intimate story to a large unknown audience, but rather to her past lover. She attempts to appease her fervent desire for human connection through a series of propositions directed mainly toward her ex.

The content of Nelson’s narrative is also reflective of her solitude and depression. She quotes Thoreau as he says, “When our companion fails us we transfer our love instantaneously to a worthy object”. It is significant that she chose this quote because she is trying to rationalize her obsession with the color blue. She is, in essence, attempting to vindicate her mania for the color through a seemingly rational explanation for human solidarity in times of heartache. Thus her desire for camaraderie and her despair in solitude, emotions of her day-to-day life, are manifested in the object of this entire narrative, the color blue.

Bluets

          The unusual style of Maggie Nelson’s Bluets allows the prose to accomplish a lot style- and content-wise which a more hackneyed narrative style would not.  By writing the story as a series of entries, it enables the reader to maintain interest.  Instead of reading a long narrative chain of events, the action is broken up into a variety of sequences.  It provides the reader with time to reflect between sections, a break which a normal story would not provide.  These breaks are equally as thought provoking as the stories themselves are.  They are all very dramatic, poetic, and linked by Nelson’s love for the color blue.

79. For just because one loves blue does not mean that one wishes to spend one’s life in a world made of it. ‘Life is a train of moods like a string of beads, and as we pass through them they prove to be many-colored lenses which paint the world their own hue, and each shows only which lies in its focus.’ wrote Emerson. To find oneself trapped in any one bead, no matter what its hue, can be deadly.

This passage really highlights the creative nature of Nelson’s prose.  By including a quote from Emerson, the author pays homage to a brilliant poet and enables the reader to appreciate the poetic nature of Bluets.  Her sentences are both poetic and profound, and they really make the reader contemplate and meditate on the nature of the passage.  

The passage also echoes the narrative style of the book; Bluets is a compilation of a series of stories which can stand alone, but when combined they effectively illustrate her life story, just like the string of beads analogy.  Anyone’s life story is a series of different small stories strung together to make up a bigger story, and hers is no exception to this.  The form of the stories is broken up and almost stream of consciousness, which shows how she lives her life moment by moment.

Furthermore, blue is the archetypal color to demonstrate sadness and loneliness, two themes which pervade Bluets.  They are not only present in her symbolism and thematic elements, but in the way she writes and what she writes.  In number 215, Nelson describes how “it often happens that we treat pain as if it were the only real thing, or at least the most real thing when it comes round, everything before it, around it, and, perhaps, in front of it, tends to seem fleeting, delusional” (87).  This passage clearly exemplifies how much her emotional pain influences what she writes and the way she views the world.  The dramatic style of Bluets shows how she lives her life passionately, which is also conveyed through the content of the stories.

Bluets Discussion

Nelson’s writing style is characteristics of racing thoughts written down on paper. Her style is ‘in your face,’ her writing is loud and attention grabbing. Additionally, Nelson’s poetry is thought provoking and gripping. The story composes of short, sometimes disjointed vignettes and short exerts which introduce new objects. While reading Bluets these elements struck me because often time’s stories are filled with 'fluff,' however Nelson's style is void of 'fluff.' These elements keep the reader engaged in the story and introduces several different emotions and objects to the reader. I think that Nelson does a fantastic job of conveying a sense of struggle and perseverance. Her style gives the reader a window into her through.

As I read through Bluets I could not help but wonder what message she was trying to convey to her readers. In bluets the reader gets unabridged access to the writer’s thoughts in a way that is beautifully written, deeply felt, compelling, and believable. Although, Nelson’s style can be seen as abrasive it is foremost honest. The honesty in Nelson’s writing is brought about by the fact that she does not attempt to refine or sugarcoat her writing. It is left seemingly untouched for us which to me felt unnatural. In a way this style is natural, it reflects the thoughts that race through our head daily, but there is something so provocative about it being written down on paper for the world to read. Nelson proclaims that she wanted the book to be a comprehensive encyclopedia of blue, instead we get a mourning, hopeful tale of her relationship with the emotional aftermath of an ended relationship. The power in this style is Nelson’s ability to bring truth into a story about something otherwise uninteresting, blue. Her style gives the topic life and develops the character of blue into a complex, intricate reflection of her own emotions.

At its core Bluets is deeply personal. While reading Bluets I got the sense that Nelson finds writing to be a therapy. I could not help but think about my approach to personal struggles and how Nelson created an encyclopedia of her struggle to let go. I got the sense that Nelson was not writing with the intention of selling millions of copies of her book, but rather to cope with letting go of a lover. This makes the story even more personal in my opinion and gives light to Nelson’s true style. Often times I wonder while reader how the state one is in may affect the quality of their work. To me it seems to be no coincidence that those who live seemingly perfect lives tend to produce uninspired art. Nelson’s art however is inspired, it is raw and provoking. The elements of her style compliment her story very well and give the reader a true window into Nelson’s thoughts.

Nelson's Bluets

The form, a series of propositions, allows Nelson to accomplish drama. The space and separate numbers between each proposition induce the reader to pause and recollect his thoughts. Then, the reader prepares himself for the next proposition, which he now can understand better. The author also does not have to waste her time using transition devices. She can freely and more broadly express her thoughts on the color blue without being tied down by the more annoying parts of the English language. Nelson completely breaks the structure of a novel, with their paragraphs and chapters. Instead, she offers a series of brief propositions, which also makes the writing sound more casual in tone. This probably entices the reader to read more. Perhaps this style issue will even help a reader to remember more of the story. Sometimes when people need to read whole pages of text, their mind wanders, thinking that they may have to sift through it to glean what is important. Because she breaks up her work so well, Nelson gives her readers information in easily digestible segments. The style of the work may even reflect the author’s own conflicting feelings about the color blue. It is a very mysterious color, and the concept of talking about a color can be hard to pin down in one work. Jumping around from subject to subject can help readers understand how conflicted the author really is on her color of choice. She goes from talking about her friend, whose pain looks blue, to how blue is precocious (page 42). These are different emotions that reflect distinct feelings – feelings as distinct as the separate propositions.

                I would imagine Nelson lives a very free-spirited existence, not living by any conventional means. Her book contains a lot of sheer passion as well. She talks of love-making numerous times, including a mention of a night where her and a partner do it for six hours (treatise 116). She also seems like she has a great eye for detail, which definitely manifests itself in her writing. For instance, she remembers the pale blue button-down shirt her partner was wearing on the day they went for six hours straight. She brings this attention to detail into her writing in her form, I think. Her “observations,” if you will, are laid out like propositions in a scientific document. Each one of them is packed with much detail and descriptive language. It seems the author not only has an eye for detail but also has a wild imagination. This imagination allows her to relate things in her life to other elements in her imagination. In treatise number 119, she compares a friend’s immobile state to that of an oracle. It seems like she has an ability to look at life from a different angle, perhaps an artist’s angle, as she sees other representations of people very often. She also seems to have a fascination with life in general, which allows her to talk about so many different varied topics in her writing – sex, literature, debilitation, nature and even faith. The form of her writing is both intriguing and perplexing. I like to imagine that the author lives her life in short bursts of emotion, rather than keeping an even keel throughout the day. This lifestyle would certainly justify the form her writing takes. These bursts of emotion are probably when the author is most on the lookout for color and its meaning.

Bluets by Maggie Nelson

            The form of this story is many numbered propositions. While some connect to the next one, others take on a completely new subject. However, the overall theme of the story is Nelson’s love of the color blue. By using this form, Nelson is able to alternate between sharing relatively objective quotes and facts, and telling the reader something very personal about herself. The style makes the story very readable, because it is like you’re reading small little chapters, which makes it easier to read many in one sitting. In terms of the content, I believe that Nelson’s exploration of the color blue is deeply personal, despite the fact that she sometimes writes about something that doesn’t directly relate to her.

            Nelson expresses her depression and how she lost someone she loves, among other topics. The moments when she talked about her depression were the most affecting for me, such as these lines: “Mostly I have felt myself becoming a servant of sadness. I am still looking for beauty in that” (Nelson 29). I think the form allows many instances for Nelson to talk about emotions and color, particularly if this involves scientific research or definitions. One of my favorite objective moments comes when Nelson talks about crying: “Blue-eye, archaic: ‘a blueness or dark circle around the eye, from weeping or other cause” (Nelson 35). Though this is the definition of a phrase, it also reveals a lot about Nelson and her love of blue. Making the story personal even when it does not seem to be is an achievement of storytelling, in my opinion.

            I found that Nelson’s life, and the way she lives it, are inextricably linked to the book. As I mentioned earlier, the book is deeply personal, and every quote or fact she gives expresses something about her. I got the impression that writing the book was cathartic for her, helping her work out her love of the color blue and the loss of “the prince of blue.” There were other very affecting personal explorations throughout the book. The most powerful for me was Nelson’s paraplegic friend. Nelson writes: “I have seen the bright pith of her soul” (Nelson 89). To me, this was an expression of the beautiful friendship that the two have, one that can clearly withstand any obstacle. Writing about everything she does for her friend, and vice versa, expressed an important element of her character.

            I think that writing this book helped Nelson let go of her love for the blue prince, and move on to working on herself. Nelson expresses her relationship to him perfectly in these lines: “I never meant to give you a talisman…I wrote it because I had something to say to you” (Nelson 71). Her longing for the blue prince is expressed by her love for the color blue. By realizing this connection, she is able to accept her loneliness. The form of the story allows Nelson to explore these and other avenues into understanding herself. Though each proposition could stand on its own, it is only by combining them all that we are able to see a complete picture of who she is.