Up from the Blue

A Novel

By: Susan Henderson

Narrated by: Emily Durante

“Elegant and engrossing….Henderson is a talent to watch.”

—Danielle Trussoni, author of Angelology

“This is not a book you’ll soon forget.”

—Sara Gruen, author of Water for Elephants

The gripping debut novel from Litpark.com founder and Pushcart Prize-nominee Susan Henderson, Up From the Blue is a dazzling tour de force that unfolds against the backdrop of 1970s America—a tumultuous era of desegregation, school busing, and the early rise of modern-day feminism. The story of an imaginative young girl struggling to make sense of her mother’s mysterious disappearance, Up From the Blue is enthralling fiction that delves into complex family relationships, in the vein of Jennifer McMahon, Katrina Kittle, and Laura Kasischke.

Beautifully written book

A powerfully written story told mostly memoir style by the adult Tillie about a year in the life of the young Tillie; the year her mother went away. I had a very hard time putting it down.

Trigger warning / spoiler alert:
This is a book about mental illness, it contains a sensitive but graphic description of death by drowning.

Who is the intended audience?

Is this a young readers novel, or an adult novel? I thought this was going to be a look at the complex mental health issues that can push a family to, and beyond, their limits. It is, but the entire story is told through the eyes of an 8 year old trying to "fix" her mother's depression and anxiety, while Colonel Dad runs the household. She did not understand enough to make it psycologically interesting. Yep, it rocked her world and left her confused and lonley. This would have been a nice novella, but it was entirely too long with too little adult insight to be an interesting adult read. It would have been interesting to have each family tell a part of the story, rather than an 8 year old's interpretation of the adult motives and emotions.

Depressing

I wanted to love this book, it had so much going for it in the beginning..but I did not love it. There was too much sadness. It was well written overall, but it felt too heavy and dark with the topic of mental illness. I know mental illness is a weighty topic, but the reader should have been shown something positive in the story. It felt as if I was slogging through mud to get through the middle of the book! I liked the first part of the book, and the very end the best; the middle, however, could have used a few more bright spots.

A Glimpse Into Other Worlds Can be Uncomfortable

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would, with the caveat that this is not a happy, shiny story. It is gritty, and real, and at times very painful, so not for the casual listener or reader.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Up from the Blue?

The moment we find out the secret of the ruby cup. Any more would be a spoiler.

Which scene was your favorite?

The ending, because it was complete and satisfying.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Keeping Secrets can more dangerous than letting go.

Any additional comments?

This is a deeply insightful novel, dark and bleak. It's not escapist fiction - but the opposite. It removes layers from the real world surrounding us and a glimpse of what lies beneath the veneer we call normalcy.