Blue Calhoun

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"This starts with the happiest I ever was, though it brought down suffering on everybody near me. Short as it lasted and long ago, I've never laid it all out yet, not start to finish. But if I try and half succeed, you may wind up understanding things, choosing a better road for yourself and maybe not blaming the dead past but living for the here and now, each day a clean page."
April 28, 1956, was the day Blue Calhoun met a sixteen-year-old girl named Luna. And for the next three decades, their love has borne consequences of the most shattering -- and ultimately, perhaps healing -- kind for everyone they know. As Blue recounts the years and their events for us -- fervently, tenderly, knowing full well his own deep responsibility -- we are made witnesses to a story of classic dimensions, a story of love and suffering, family and friendship, death and redemption.

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Scribner |
384 pages |
ISBN 9780684867823 |
April 2000

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Praise

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“Chicago Sun Times A powerful novel that magically combines symbolism, lyrical poetry and astonishing insight into the human soul. ”

“Pat Conroy His masterpiece...a spectacular wonderful novel. ”

“The Atlanta Constitution This fine novel...carries along those of us who like richly spoken, well-textured, old-fashioned fiction about people and places, fiction that takes us right to the heart of the mystery. ”

“The Village Voice Blue Calhoun is one of Reynolds Price's finest achievements. Price's novel might best be understood as Southern Gothic transfigured into joy and thanksgiving. It's a remarkable book. ”

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Read an Excerpt

Chapter 1

This starts with the happiest I ever was, though it brought down suffering on everybody near me. Short as it lasted and long ago, I've never laid it all out yet, not start to finish. But if I try and half succeed, you may wind up understanding things, choosing a better road for yourself and maybe not blaming the dead past but living for the here and now, each day a clean page. At least you'll see how certain things in my long life have gone down fast as one of those Japanese domino shows where two million pieces trip each other in hot succession and set off the unexpected jackpot -- an exploding mountain or a rocket...