By: Cath Crowley
What better book to kick off this blog with than Words in Deep Blue. This book is written word that is a love letter to written word. I chose this book first because it is one of my favorites, and because it speaks to why books, why stories, matter. This book has love, hope and heart-wrenching grief. Give it a try.
So what did you think? Good? Sad? All of the above? As a sibling myself, I found it to be a hard and beautiful read. In the words of Henry, “I wonder how she could forget about it, a thing like that. And I wonder how she can go on living if she doesn’t” (Crowley pg.131). So let’s get into it… We start with a love letter, “My hands shook as I wrote the letter. It was mostly I love you- a little go fuck yourself. The perfect love letter, according to Lola” (Crowley pg.15). I think Lola must be right. Who hasn’t wanted to write a love letter like that? Because if love is anything it is beautiful and mesmerizing, and incredibly scary. The intro sets a precedent of love intermixed with reality. And our main setting, Howling Books. Who doesn’t want to visit there? Our characters are childhood bestfriends, seperated by circumstance and misunderstanding are reunited, but irrevocably changed. Their once comfortable familiarity is gone. Henry, not understanding why, Rachel, unable to stomach explaining. Because the horrific truth is Rachel’s brother has died. Rachel lost her brother, to what she considered once her refuge, the ocean. Henry is newly single, believing his life and future is not enough for his on and off again girlfriend. He agrees to sell the family bookshop. This is where our characters are thrust together, the end of Howling Books. The words inked on the pages and their friendship, helps them start to grow and heal, and do so together. This book is the personification of love and loss intertwined. If loss is somewhat inherent with life, then we can at least be expectant of the love as well. – Mary V
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