A Blue So Dark

A Blue So Dark

Author: Holliy Schindler

Publisher: Flux (2010)

ISBN: 9780738719269

4 (out of 5) STARS

Summary: Auro alone cares for her increasingly deranged mother after her parent’s divorce three years ago. All Auro wants is to be normal, but is that possible with a schizophrenic mother?

Review: Auro has been the sole caretaker of her mother for three years now. Auro’s mother has schizophrenia and it is increasingly getting worse. “Schizophrenia is a disease that is greatly feared and not well understood. Most of what people think they know about schizophrenia is wrong” (pg. 237). At the beginning of each chapter is a small tidbit about schizophrenia written most likely by Auro, but it does not say for sure.

Although caring for her mother is difficult what truly, deeply scares Auro is that she will turn out just like her mother. Auro feels like she can make a case for her fear. Auro’s mother is a painter and schizophrenic. Auro’s grandfather was a writer and schizophrenic. Many famous creative people were schizophrenic, one example being Vincent Van Gogh. Auro is a painter and a writer of poetry. She is scared to death that she will turn out like her grandfather and mother.

The descriptions and the poetry in the book are very descriptive and thought provoking. One such passage that spoke to me was after Auro’s mother went catatonic. “Let me tell you something-the inside of an ambulance is one thing you never want to see for yourself. It means that the whole world has just gone to shit. It means that death is dancing at your door” (pg. 199).