The good: This book made me want to move to 18th century Germany and contract consumption, because it was that good. The writing was some of the most crisp and refreshing I can remember reading. That’s right: The Blue Flower is the cucumber of books. It’s a perfect summer read. Also, on one level, it’s about romantic love, and People Like That.
The bad: It ends.
Well…fine, it’s not really a book for people who enjoy heavy plotting, or consistent point-of-view, or who dislike a little high-brow, old-fashioned philosophizing about the nature of reality. But it’s only a little bit!