Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Raw Blue

3.76 of 5 stars 3.76 · rating details · 1,137 ratings · 236 reviews

Carly has dropped out of uni to spend her days surfing and her nights working as a cook in a Manly café. Surfing is the one thing she loves doing … and the only thing that helps her stop thinking about what happened two years ago at schoolies week.

And then Carly meets Ryan, a local at the break, fresh out of jail. When Ryan learns the truth, Carly has to decide. Will she l...more

Paperback, 274 pages

Published June 29th 2009 by Penguin Books Australia (first published June 28th 2009)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Favourite Aussie YA books

13th out of 199 books — 479 voters

New Adult Literature

52nd out of 603 books — 1,263 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Jun 02, 2011 Flannery rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fine, I'll say it, Melina Marchetta fans

Recommended to Flannery by: The Amazing Bookers

Shelves: aussie-ya-is-the-cats-meow, i-want-to-go-to-there, favorites, read-in-2011, young-adult-teen, reviewed-2011, read-on-tour

Somehow Kirsty Eagar manages to capture the feeling in your gut you get when you are so struck with nature that you stumble over yourself trying to describe it to someone else but even if you can never describe it, you’re happy to have ever seen it. I’ve got a couple of these places in my back pocket* but Carly Lee sees one every single day when she goes down to the beach. I know next to nothing about surfing (I’m pretty sure watching Blue Crush probably deducts knowledge rather than adding any)...more Somehow Kirsty Eagar manages to capture the feeling in your gut you get when you are so struck with nature that you stumble over yourself trying to describe it to someone else but even if you can never describe it, you’re happy to have ever seen it. I’ve got a couple of these places in my back pocket* but Carly Lee sees one every single day when she goes down to the beach. I know next to nothing about surfing (I’m pretty sure watching Blue Crush probably deducts knowledge rather than adding any) but I am still fascinated by the lifestyle and I get the feeling that the only people that will ever truly understand the surfing lifestyle are those living it…which I suppose is true about almost any lifestyle. I don’t really have a desire to go surfing but I still loved the feeling Carly got when she assessed the surf conditions, talked about the reflection off of and the colors of the water, and rode a wave. She loves it and I could feel it.

We all know that Melina Marchetta is the queen of the rounded-out character. (I hear from Nomes that MM mentioned this was one of her favorite reads of 2009) I was happy with most of the characters in Raw Blue, from Carly’s salsa dance-crazy Dutch woman roommate in a midlife crisis to her surf buddy Danny who has synesthesia. And of course, Carly and Ryan. Carly starts this book in a state of desperate loneliness—one where an act of kindness is sometimes unbearable and where, as she puts it, her basic needs are met but there is nothing to work towards or, I hesitate to say, live for…except surfing. Something awful happened to Carly on her school break in uni and after that, she wasn’t herself anymore. She dropped out and has been living on the northern shore, working as a cook and surfing every day, but she is almost completely isolated. She develops several relationships in the book but the primary one is with Ryan, another surfer she meets at her usual spot. This book doesn’t tiptoe around sex, the realistic development of relationships, or the effect sexual abuse can have on the victim and I was happy to see that. Carly is 19 and Ryan is 26—their relationship feels more adult and this book definitely fills that awkward void of literature that exists between YA and adult. And Ryan? Swoon.

I think something I truly enjoyed about this one was that it honestly felt Australian. The language, the personalities, the descriptions, just everything. I want this book published in the US but I want NONE of it changed or adapted. I had to look up with bitumen is and so can you. To change anything would rip the Aussie heart out of this book.

A statement of the obvious, I know, but every reader is different. We all creep around on Goodreads trying to find our book twin—someone with 100% compatibility, someone who likes everything that you like and hates all the same things. (seriously, twin, if you are reading this—I’m looking for you!) Recommending books to people is hard. Anyway, my point is this: This book made me feel like I was reading a Melina Marchetta book. Sometimes the descriptions were painfully beautiful, the characters were delightfully flawed, and the dialogue was almost always spot-on. If you are still reading this, you probably already know we have similar tastes so I recommend this to YOU. I’ll take the blame if you hate it but I really don’t think you will. I hope you can get your hands on a copy!

I am beyond grateful that the lovely Nic shared this book and I will definitely be acquiring a copy soon. Hopefully Penguin USA will get with the program and publish this here.
(less)

65 likes · like · see review

Apr 12, 2012 karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: why-yes-i-ya, distant-lands

thank goodness for goodreads.

without it, i would never have discovered this book, and i would never have been able to get my little hands on it.

because, yeah, i have become quite a fan of the contemporary YA novel, but my tastes generally run to the dystopia/survival sector, not the realistic stuff. and seriously, in what universe do you see me reading and liking a teen novel about surfing? SURFING!

karen does not surf. karen has no interest in surfing, nor even of getting within three miles of...more

61 likes · like · see review

Jul 28, 2011 Tatiana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Tatiana by: Flannery

Shelves: 2011, ya, aus-nz, favorites, b

As seen on The Readventurer

I remember this one surfer guy from 10 years ago. I was working a summer in a beach hotel in San Diego, and so was he. It was always very curious to me, how little ambition he had. He was smart and had opportunities to be promoted, to make more money, be a boss, but he always refused. When asked why, he used to say he didn't care to work more or have more responsibilities. All he wanted was to have his mornings open to surf and just enough money to pay for his beachfro...more

58 likes · like · see review

Feb 23, 2012 Kat Kennedy rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People who like Tatiana

Recommended to Kat Kennedy by: Tatiana

Shelves: kat-s-book-reviews, to-ya-or-not-to-ya

If you've been around Goodreads for a while, you may have noticed that there's this particular reviewer. Let's call her Smarty McSmart-Pants. This reviewer has a reputation for having near impeccable taste in books. Usually, whatever book she gives five stars, we're bound to love as well. Some of the other reviewers and I have a little thing going where we recommend her books because, clearly, whoever can recommend a book she likes is Queen of Goodreads for that short amount of time.

So when Sma...more

47 likes · like · see review

Jul 31, 2012 Sam rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: realistic-or-contemporary, other-favourites, ultimate-favourites, romance

4.5 stars

There is such deep-rooted emotion in Kirsty Eagar’s writing that it is near impossible to read this book without being affected momentously. That is, in any case, what my reading experience came to be. With so much soul and so much raw emotion, whilst somewhat subtle at times, Eagar’s words have a way of reaching the reader on a beautifully personal level. It is quite clear she is a talented writer – one of those writers who can make you feel anguish and shame and happiness in equal qua...more 4.5 stars

There is such deep-rooted emotion in Kirsty Eagar’s writing that it is near impossible to read this book without being affected momentously. That is, in any case, what my reading experience came to be. With so much soul and so much raw emotion, whilst somewhat subtle at times, Eagar’s words have a way of reaching the reader on a beautifully personal level. It is quite clear she is a talented writer – one of those writers who can make you feel anguish and shame and happiness in equal quantities. While Raw Blue happens to be my first Kirsty Eagar book, I will most certainly make sure it is not my last.

For a story so heavily centred around the surf culture, it was surprisingly easy to follow. I will be the first to admit that outdoor activities of any sort have a way of making me retreat into my reading den in auto-pilot fashion. While surfing has always looked fun, or as fun as most water-based sports can look these days, I can’t say I have ever felt the urge to try it myself. In fact, I tend to prefer my pigeons and pavements to the spray of the ocean. (Sand is a very different story – I love that stuff). However, it turns out that reading about surfing actually makes it much more appealing. Eagar is appropriately knowledgeable about the sport and managed to capture it in its adrenaline-filled glory. She even managed to make me of all people feel like I knew what duck-diving and cutback-ing was. If surfing is anything as cool as it appears to be in this book, I vow to buy a surfboard one day.

Carly, a dedicated surfer, is our main character in this book. Her story is not uncommon but it is handled incredibly well by Eagar. Getting close to her, even as the reader, is a tough job, but she is not unlikeable. Her passion for surfing was wonderful to read about and almost mesmeric at times. Her relationships and interactions with the secondary characters in this book were varied, some more interesting than others. I particularly enjoyed her budding new friendship with 15-year-old Danny. Danny was in fact one of my favourite things about this book. He has synaesthesia, responsible for his ability to see colours where most people do not, and an uncontested curious mind. As Carly states so herself several times, Danny is precious. I doubt I will be forgetting him anytime soon.

There is a romance in this book, and like everything else crafted together in this story, it is flawed in the most realistic of ways. Ryan is an appealing character, but by no means squeaky-clean. His determination to get to know Carly properly, for seeing something in her in the first place despite her protective shell, is easy to admire. Eagar doesn’t choose to smooth over the sharp edges of a modern-day romance before writing it down. It is what it is, and that I appreciated. However, as some of the sex scenes are quite detailed (more than these things tend to be in young adult novels), this is perhaps a book better suited to a more mature audience.

Overall, Raw Blue proved to be a wonderfully written and touching story, one that is more than capable of leaving a lasting impression. I’m thrilled that this book has finally arrived in the UK. (We really need more Australian wonders to be published here).

(This review also appears on my blog)(less)

32 likes · like · see review

Mar 30, 2012 Emily May rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Emily May by: A lot of awesome GR people

Shelves: ya-na, 2011, contemporary

"Raw Blue" really is an accurate title all round for this book. It is very raw and sad and depressing but not in a way that would make me cry like, say, On the Jellicoe Road. I was worried that I wouldn't connect with the characters or the story because, well, it's not like us Brits are getting in some quality surfing time in the North Sea (just thinking about it makes me feel cold). And, I admit, for a while I was thinking "uh-oh, I'm not really getting this".

In the first 70-80 pages it's all...more

26 likes · like · see review

Jul 10, 2011 Catie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011, ya

4.5 stars

There are times when I look at the world and it seems like a really horrible place. Heck, most of the time. People are just naturally blind and violent. We all move through life, colliding with one another and in general just fucking each other over. But this book made me think about all the small actions and the people that make it bearable. I think that we all have those people in our lives. Maybe they only make brief appearances, and maybe they aren’t even aware of their own impact....more

22 likes · like · see review

Jul 12, 2011 Maja rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, contemporary-fiction, favorites, readalong, books-that-changed-me, amazing-writing, wonders-from-down-under, own-a-dtb, reviewed-in-2011

I wish I could pay someone to write this review for me… I think it will turn out to be one of the hardest I’ve ever written. Or one of the easiest… who knows with these things?

First of all, don't you just love this cover? Maybe you need to read the book to fully appreciate it, so all of you who haven't… what are you waiting for?
There aren’t many authors who can portray emotions and transfer them to the readers like Eagar does. Her writing style is readable and clear, and still it draws you in...more I wish I could pay someone to write this review for me… I think it will turn out to be one of the hardest I’ve ever written. Or one of the easiest… who knows with these things?

First of all, don't you just love this cover? Maybe you need to read the book to fully appreciate it, so all of you who haven't… what are you waiting for?
There aren’t many authors who can portray emotions and transfer them to the readers like Eagar does. Her writing style is readable and clear, and still it draws you in completely, making you feel so many different things. For me, sometimes those feelings were pleasant, but most of the time powerlessness and sense of detachment overwhelmed me, so much so that I feared I would suffocate. That probably sounds like a bad thing, but it depends on what you’re looking for in a novel.

Some of the most beautiful and the most honest moments in Raw Blue are related to surfing, and while I don’t know anything about it, and despite not being a water person at all (terra firma for me, thank you!), I can certainly understand the passion and the single-mindedness behind it.

Carly is one of those characters that crawl under your skin and stay there. And Ryan… he is the perfect person for Carly precisely because he’s not perfect at all. He doesn’t feed her insecurities by having none of his own. He’s a guy with many flaws, but he’s also the one to find all the undamaged parts of Carly’s personality and bring them to the surface.

I thought that the awkwardness of having sex with someone for the first time was amazingly well described. It makes me happy that there are YA authors who write sex scenes the way they should be written, removing any illusions and silly expectations. We’ve all been there: the little insecurities, self-consciousness, fear of not being accepted, of doing something wrong. Carly worries about all that and much more because her mind is not that of a normal 19-year-old.

The value of this book lies partly in the secondary characters: the neighbor Hannah, whose life is so messy that her symmetrical name is the only thing she’s proud of; Danny, the precious 15-year-old with synaesthesia; Emilio the café manager and others that make this story far more real.

I've posted most of my favorite quotes as status updates.

(less)

37 likes · like · see review

Aug 04, 2011 Emily rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: aussie-ya, awesome-title, best-of-ya, favourites, i-want-to-hug-the-author, prose-envy, rainy-day-reads, lost-sleep-over-this, read-in-2011, swoon, books-i-own, need-to-reread

I don't know why I am even bothering to write a review. How can I adequately express my love for this book? How can I write a review when all I can do is sit around with a stupid grin on my face thinking about how fabulous it was? I am going to try though, because that's what I do and this book deserves another rave review.

To those who haven't read Raw Blue yet: Find a copy immediately. I know it's tough, being an Australian release and all. But don't let that get in the way. Spend your savings...more

17 likes · like · see review

Mar 10, 2012 Ariana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: aussie, emotional

Why is it that we can relate so easily to pain, to struggle, to despair instead of happiness and joy?
When you say "emotional story" there's a small possibility for you to be referring to some positive feelings. You always imagine yourself in your bed, with a book in your hand and a lot of tissues around you.. Why do we remember the bad things in our life with such intensity but we forget so easily all the good things that happen to us?

"If I was a sheep, I’d be black."

For Carly life has never be...more

13 likes · like · see review

Aug 07, 2011 Isamlq rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everyone!

Shelves: aaw-yeah, favorites

Reading Raw Blue had me breathing in, then breathing in some more until... him. Carly read honest and real and possible to me. I 'got' her. Am I being redundant in saying I was hooked by her flaws? She's so hard but she's so fearful too and it's all clear why. But she's still sad that way anyway and that's even given her words that were sometimes profound, sometimes heartbreaking but sometimes frustrating too.

It's the characters that impressed me most:

Carly isn't a simple girl rebelling (at all...more

17 likes · like · see review

Aug 28, 2011 oliviasbooks rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to oliviasbooks by: Nic, Nomes, Flannery and others

Shelves: young-adult-fiction, ya-contemporary, e-version, aussie-ya-challenge-2011, author-from-down-under, read-2011, problem-focused, high-expectations, lacks-fluff-or-hope, debut, new-adult-fiction

3.5 personal stars, but deserving more. I honestly do not know how you could deal with the subject - a group rape, which the victim has kept entirely to herself, and its repercussions on her struggle to pretend to live a "normal" life - better than Kristy Eagar does in "Raw Blue". Everything feels so honest, so real, everybody is painted with intrinsical, well-set strokes. There is a lot of old and new pain and hurt and fear and shame and brokenness. Hope glimpses through temporarily like a ray...more

12 likes · like · see review

Aug 16, 2011 Janina rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: from-down-under, titles-i-love, beautiful-writing, let-me-down, read-in-2011, contemporary, older-ya-vibe, young-adult-fiction

Objectively, this novel is worth much more than the three stars I decided to give it. But on a did-I-deeply-care-for-the-characters and were-my-expectations-met level, I just can’t give it any more. This book has received raving reviews from so many of my friends here, it has been described as life-changing and utterly captivating, it has been compared to Melina Marchetta’s novels (which I love with abandon) … but it just wasn’t any of those things for me (which makes me sad). I expected this to...more Objectively, this novel is worth much more than the three stars I decided to give it. But on a did-I-deeply-care-for-the-characters and were-my-expectations-met level, I just can’t give it any more. This book has received raving reviews from so many of my friends here, it has been described as life-changing and utterly captivating, it has been compared to Melina Marchetta’s novels (which I love with abandon) … but it just wasn’t any of those things for me (which makes me sad). I expected this to be my book of the year, and I was craving it so … I was blissful the day our Aussie book fairy Nic offered to share it with us ;).

And my biggest problem is … I can’t even tell you why I did not love this book. It is exactly the type of book I normally love oh so much: Often dark and painful, but with just the right shimmer of hope in between. Fleshed-out secondary characters with lovable quirks and “special abilities” (how cool is the synaesthesia thing??) and a main character whose voice is raw with pain and desperation, but also so distinctly her. The Australian vibe is in every sentence, the writing beautiful – forming an unforgettable setting.

Yet, for some reason, the story did not resonate with me. I did feel with Carly, but not as deeply as I had expected. It wasn’t hard for me to put the book down at all, and sometimes very hard to pick it up again. I was tempted to skim some passages that I felt we had gone through so many times before. I did have problems understanding the surfer lingo and getting into those scenes. And … I couldn't really relate to Ryan. He was wonderfully flawed and I just loved his way around Carly, how he tried to get her to come out of her shell, but he didn't stand out for me as a character ...

All in all, certainly not a book I regret reading, but a book I expected so much more from. I recommend you give it a try as well. It is definitely unique.

Nic, thank you so much for touring this! I really appreciated the possibility to experience all the Aussie-ness it offers ;).

#5 Aussie YA Challenge 2011
(less)

13 likes · like · see review

Aug 01, 2011 Arlene rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Arlene by: Street Corner Bookers - Nic

Shelves: aussie-books, read-2011, young-adult

You just have to see those times for what they are: a chance to look down at your life. And when you do, you see it’s a skin made up of shiny little moments.

~whimpers~
Noooooooooo!!!!! Just one more chapter please!
I mean, I can imagine how that conversation went, or I can hope it went a certain way, but I can’t think it better than Kirsty Eagar can pen it. Absolutely beautiful!

I’ve said this so many times before… Aussie writers have this gift. It’s a magical ability to catapult you into a fiction...more

25 likes · like · see review

Apr 27, 2011 Angie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: good-uns, girls-who-do-things, new-adult

RAW BLUE has been skirting the edges of my consciousness for awhile now. I knew it was a debut novel. I knew it was written by an Australian author. And I vaguely knew that it wasn't really available here in the states. But I wasn't really interested until a few days ago, when for some odd reason I started investigating it seriously. I'm not sure what made me do it. All I can say is, I saw a reference to it somewhere and I got a feeling. You know what I mean. So I went on the hunt. As far as the...more RAW BLUE has been skirting the edges of my consciousness for awhile now. I knew it was a debut novel. I knew it was written by an Australian author. And I vaguely knew that it wasn't really available here in the states. But I wasn't really interested until a few days ago, when for some odd reason I started investigating it seriously. I'm not sure what made me do it. All I can say is, I saw a reference to it somewhere and I got a feeling. You know what I mean. So I went on the hunt. As far as the cover goes, well, I'm not wild about it. I like the title font and color just fine. But nothing about the rest of it reels me in and, having read it, this neither looks like how I picture Carly, nor does it really capture the many complexities of what is going on in this novel. But. As I looked into tracking down a copy, I remembered I'd read very positive reviews on several of my favorite sites, and after checking out Kirsty Eagar's site, it quickly became clear that my best (and fastest and cheapest) shot would be downloading the eBook and going from there. So I did. And, wowzers, am I glad!

Carly is 19. She's on her own. She dropped out of university awhile ago for reasons both complicated and painful. She lives in a messy apartment, which she shares with a Dutch woman named Hannah. She works nights as a cook at a somewhat dicey cafe. She avoids answering calls from her disapproving mother. But most of all--Carly surfs. She lives to surf. Eats, sleeps, and breathes the sport. And she has very carefully arranged everything in her life to accommodate that one pursuit in the hopes that she'll be so absorbed in it, she'll never have to think about what happened to her two years ago. And life is . . . well, if not precisely stimulating, it's her life. And as unbelievably private as she is, Carly is comfortable with the way things are. Until she meets Ryan--another avid surfer who starts showing up at Carly's favorite spot. Ryan is older and seems to have a slightly checkered past. But he seems genuinely interested in Carly. He's quiet and not intimidating. He loves the sport she lives for. And gradually she begins to wonder if it might be worth responding to one of his many offers of friendship. If she might be ready, finally, to not be alone anymore. At the same time, Carly runs into a quirky kid named Danny. Danny is fifteen and has synesthesia, which means he sees people as colors. For reasons passing Carly's understanding, this young kid latches onto her, and suddenly Carly has two people trying to be her friend, to claim pieces of her heart.

I loved this book from start to finish. It dropped me into another world, full of surfing lingo and weather reports, charmingly different speech patterns, and the ubiquitous word "mate." I have absolutely no familiarity with surfing whatsoever, but I love reading about characters who are so passionate about what they do. No matter what it is. The surfers in this book are bonded together by their common passion and, as a result, the detailed descriptions of waves and tides and impending storms fascinated me to no end. But even more than surfing, this book is a love story. And it is an exploration of what happens after. How survivors survive. And just how much it takes to move on and reach out to another human being in the aftermath of violence. A favorite passage from early on (I know it's long, but it's worth it):

We're still sitting there when my mobile starts ringing an hour later. I decide to leave it, thinking it must be Emilio.

'But Cookie, your phone is ringing.'

So I get up and run inside--leaving a phone ringing is the sort of thing that messes with Hannah's mind.

The phone dies as I pick it up and I check the menu for missed calls. It wasn't Emilio who called, it was Ryan.

I wait to see if the message icon comes up, but it doesn't.

What to do? Maybe my board's ready. Maybe he wants Hard Cut back. Maybe curiosity is killing me.

He answers on the first ring, which sort of jolts me.

'Ryan?'

'Carly, how're you going, mate? Mark's rung to say the boards are done.'

'Oh, okay. Thanks.'

There's a pause long enough to be filled in with static.

'Been getting out much?' he asks.

I clear my throat. 'Yeah, a bit.'

'Haven't seen you down there for awhile.'

'Um, I've been going different times. Because of work. Different shifts and stuff.'

'Yeah? What do you do?'

'I'm a chef. Sort of.'

'Like a cook?'

'Yep.'

'Right.'

Another long pause. The air feels heavy.

I make myself say it. 'I'm sorry for being rude to you the other day.'

'No biggie, mate.'

'And thanks for getting me a board to use.'

'How is it, all right?'

'Yeah. Bit harder to duck dive through, and turn.'

'Don't tell Mark that. He fancies himself a gun shaper.'

I laugh.
'So anyway, when you're ready to pick it up they're down in Harbord Road,' he says, sounding like he wants to wind this up. 'You know it? I've forgotten what number, but just drive along slow and you can't miss it.'

'I can find it.'

'Big Hard Cut sign out the front. I've told Mark if you try and give him money not to take it. He did it as a favour.'

'Are you sure?'

'Yeah, no worries. All right then, catch you later.'

I put the mobile down and rub my face. I feel like my stomach's dropping away. And that's that, then, I think, walking towards the deck. Before I get there my mobile rings again.

'So, it's me again--Ryan.' His voice is different this time, not as brisk.

'Hi.'

'So, ah, there's supposed to be a big swell building for the weekend, from the south. They reckon it's going to hit Sydney on Sunday. Biggest swell in twenty years or something. Hear about it?'

'Um, yeah.' Coastalwatch has been going on about nothing else all week, sounding like the voice of doom: If you want to live, do not venture out on Sunday.

'So I'll be down at the break, 'bout eight or so. They'll be towing in for sure. And probably off the Long Reef Bombie, too. Be worth a look if you're interested.'

He stops talking as though he's waiting for something. I'm quiet because I'm not sure if he means I should go with him. I'm not sure what he means at all.

'That's if you wanted to--ah shit, this is hard.' He blows out some air. 'I've been thinking about you, Carly. If you want to come down, come down. And if you don't want to come down, don't come down. It's up to you.'

'Okay.' I would like to ask for some clarification, but I don't have the guts.

'So--yeah. I'll leave it there. All right?'

'Okay.'

'Might see you Sunday.'

He hangs up before I can say okay again.

Hannah doesn't look up when I come back outside, and she doesn't ask me who called either. But when I'm sitting down, flexing my feet and pointing them, eyes shut and face raised up to the sun, she says, 'But you're happy, eh?'

I blink at her, surprised. She's right.

My happiness is crunchy. Snapping, crackling and popping in the sun.

I think that passage gives you a feel for Carly and Ryan and the halting way their relationship begins and progresses throughout the novel. I fell for them both immediately. Kirsty Eagar does such a fine job of pacing the story and allowing the reader to really take the time to get to know Carly, her past, and what makes her tick, before introducing new characters and new elements. The result was that I was thoroughly on her side for the long haul. And it should be pointed out that this is not an easy story to read. It is definitely for the more mature reader of YA, as the language, tone, and subject matter are all quite gritty and not for the faint of heart. I, for one, loved it because the characters were a bit older, definitely more in the New Adult region. Carly's out of high school, done a stint at college, and is living on her own and holding down a job. Ryan is a few years older at 26, and he has seen his share of life as well. It's refreshing to read about characters in this particular stage of life. RAW BLUE is painful, dangerous, beautiful, and wonderfully romantic all at the same time. For the space of time I was reading it, I, too ate, slept, and breathed surfing. I was with Carly every step of the way, and I was incredibly satisfied with the ending she carved out for herself by the skin of her teeth. Definitely one of the best reads of my year so far.(less)

8 likes · like · see review

Apr 14, 2011 ~Tina~ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, contemporary, read-2011, bookers-tour, aussie-read-2011

Aussie Book challenge 2011 #5

Raw Blue is such a powerful and haunting story about a girl named Carly who went through a traumatic experience and channels cooking and surfing to her every single day routine to stop the memories from over powering her life. When she meets Ryan, she doesn't know if she can let him into her heart because of her past. This is a raw and emotional read about letting go, trust and healing the human soul.

I love Australian books. I love how different it feels every time I...more Aussie Book challenge 2011 #5

Raw Blue is such a powerful and haunting story about a girl named Carly who went through a traumatic experience and channels cooking and surfing to her every single day routine to stop the memories from over powering her life. When she meets Ryan, she doesn't know if she can let him into her heart because of her past. This is a raw and emotional read about letting go, trust and healing the human soul.

I love Australian books. I love how different it feels every time I get the chance to pick one up. I love how different the slang and language is, it always feels like I'm being transported there. I don't know about this book being 'very Australian' but I do know I love the way it writes.
Kirsty Eagar doesn't hold back the emotional punches and pain that this character is going through, but she doesn't do it in an obvious way. When I realized what this book is about, what really happened to Carly, it hit me pretty hard, not being very comfortable with this topic to begin with, but then again, who is? It really breaks me just even thinking about it and what it must have felt like to have that much weight and shame and power hanging over you. How do you trust again or even let go?

Carly is a very sharp and strong character with a very hard shell around her. The moment you meet her you just know that something is very much dead inside. You will not help be completely invested right from minute one till the very last page, hoping against hope that this character will eventually find the peace she so desperately needs. I'm very grateful to Ryan's character and was glad to see him fighting for her even though she pushes him away and even though we don't know exactly how it ends up, it lingers on hope and that's good enough for me. I also really loved Danny, he's funny and sweet and a very cool kid.

Overall, I thought this book was simply amazing. It's intense and touching and heartbreaking and even though I usually tend to stay away from this type of heartbreak-reads, since it takes days to get over it, I'm still very happy to have had a chance to experience this outstanding gem.

Special thanks to Nic (twinie) for sharing and sending this copy. You really are the best girl. xo

(less)

18 likes · like · see review

Aug 26, 2011 Giselle rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook, contemporary

3.5 stars
Well apparently I'm the only one in the world who didn't absolutely love this book. It's not bad by any means. I still genuinely enjoyed it, I just didn't completely fall in love with it.

Raw Blue is a deep and dark story about a girl who went through a traumatic ordeal and she's taken up surfing as an outlet to take her mind off of it all and, in a way, punishing herself for having been a victim. Like the title says, this is a raw story. It's dark. It's deeply impassioned and very frag...more 3.5 stars
Well apparently I'm the only one in the world who didn't absolutely love this book. It's not bad by any means. I still genuinely enjoyed it, I just didn't completely fall in love with it.

Raw Blue is a deep and dark story about a girl who went through a traumatic ordeal and she's taken up surfing as an outlet to take her mind off of it all and, in a way, punishing herself for having been a victim. Like the title says, this is a raw story. It's dark. It's deeply impassioned and very fragile. Though it never becomes overwhelming; you can feel Carly's anguish throughout the whole story, but it's more than pointless teenage angst, it just feels true. You feel sympathetic and not just towards her, but the side characters as well. They all give Carly reason and esteem to help her move forward.

The protagonist, Carly, has a very strong voice in this story. She hides behind surfing and cooking, just trying to hold everything together. I loved how real she was. She wasn't reckless or superficial, she just was. I loved her way with people and her thought process throughout the story. She's anti-social but she still cares very deeply for the few people she lets in her life - even if she doesn't realize it.

Ryan, the love interest, is also perfect because he's so imperfect. He's got flaws. He's a human being. Not a perfect guy with a perfect life. How refreshing! I also like the way he spoke. It was very Australian-ey (or so I'm presuming anyways).

I did however have a hard time with the surf speak and local slang. I know next to zero in the subject of surfing. I live in Canada - says it all. So all the parts when she was in the water pretty much all went over my head. The story was not affected by it though. Surfing is a big part of the book, yes, but those parts were still not relevant except for demonstrating how surfing is a way of life for some people; An escape; A craving. There was some non-surf jargon that was also new to me, though I found it more endearing than troublesome. It gave it Australian charm.

When I went into this I was expecting a lighter read. A romance of some sort. Not really chick-lit but definitely not this deep. I think it's the main reason I didn't love it. I wasn't prepared and I kept waiting for the story to progress. But overall, this book definitely is a great work and Kirsty is amazing with words. If you haven't, I suggest you give it a try.(less)

11 likes · like · see review

Sep 01, 2011 Jo rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: good-grief, down-under, gorgeous-prose, just-been-cutting-onions, my-favourites, of-epic-proportions, ya, you-got-a-friend-in-me, soul-sister-heroine, heart-skipped-a-beat, e

“Even though the world looks grey and gloomy, the water’s warmer than you’d think.”

Initial Final Page Thoughts.
My entire body aches.

High Points.
Secrets. Honesty. Brutal. Raw. Glitter skin. Seeing colours. The ocean. Salsa dancing. Strength. Delicious treats. Accidental best friends. Tattoos. Board shorts. Sex. Love. Forgiveness. Understanding. Her. Him.

Low Points.
The entirety of my knowledge of surfing comes from this song and that one time I got stuck on a train from Manchester to Bangor with...more

21 likes · like · see review

Oct 14, 2012 April rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, highly-recommended, contemporary

Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar is very much a quiet, character driven novel – and kind of puts me on the bring of joining an Aussie YA fan club. Main character Carly is 19, but doesn’t go to college. Instead, she has her own apartment in Sydney. She works nights as a cook so that her days are free to surf. As idyllic as Carly’s life may seem, she’s carrying a lot of pain inside.

Read the rest of my review here

4 likes · like · see review

Sep 07, 2011 Aly (Fantasy4eva) rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: what-happened-to-you, its-complicated

RAW BLUE is one of the many Aussie books that I have bought on a whim after reading lovely reviews. And although books like THE PIPERS SON AND JELLICOE ROAD were amazing, I was quite underwhelmed by this novel. I think the gushing reviews gave me high expectations, but that's my fault, I got a little carried away there.

Carly is a 19 year old girl who two years ago after "it" happened - dropped out of University and was kicked out by her father. So with nowhere to go and with nothing making any s...more RAW BLUE is one of the many Aussie books that I have bought on a whim after reading lovely reviews. And although books like THE PIPERS SON AND JELLICOE ROAD were amazing, I was quite underwhelmed by this novel. I think the gushing reviews gave me high expectations, but that's my fault, I got a little carried away there.

Carly is a 19 year old girl who two years ago after "it" happened - dropped out of University and was kicked out by her father. So with nowhere to go and with nothing making any sense any more - she heads for the things that are a second home to her. The beach, the waves and most of all, surfing. Surfing makes her forget for a little while, it gives her a thrill and although it hardly keeps the nightmares at bay, it gives her something else to do and look forward to after she comes back from work. Now I have next to nothing experience when it comes to surfing, but through the book I found myself enjoying how the author was able to make me feel like I was riding the waves right alongside her. I was able to see how and why she found it to be an escape.

For the past few years she's lived a life where she has never let anyone come too close. And the minute they even show a hint of compassion she has walked away, but when she comes across Ryan he doesn't push her. He waits for her, is patient with her because he understands without knowing. And then there is Hannah - the women she is living with, and 15 year old Danny who seems to see through her and who she finds herself become protective and caring towards as she would for a little brother. These three characters play a pivotal role in trying to break through the barriers that our MC has built up for so long.

RAW BLUE is achingly realistic. There are countless cringe - worthy and awkward moments when Ryan and Clary are getting to know each other, and the more intimate moments are even worse. I seriously wanted to hide in a corner and wait for it all to be over. Heck I can read about sex, but damn, some of their conversations were even more painful than the two of them doing the deed.

It was actually Danny, and interestingly enough Shane who held my attention. Although many characters could have been explored in more depth, it was these two that really had me intrigued

Although RAW BLUE flowed at a steady pace, what knocks it down a few stars is that I just could not care for the characters. I found Carly very annoying and her tendency to push Ryan away - as much as I understood her reasons - just pissed me off. My thoughts were that if she wasn't ready, then fine, walk away. But to spend the majority of the novel - moaning, self - pitying and then hating herself over the whole situation, just made me want to shake her and tell her to shut up! I lost patience with her real fast. I'd had enough of her by the end. Ryan also didn't do anything for me. There was nothing to him that stood out to me. He had a past that wasn't exactly earth - shattering as it was made out to be, and then him and Carly just spent the remainder of the novel meeting up and sleeping together, riding some waves and going at it all over again. I didn't see a couple who was in love, they hardly knew each other for gods sake. He just happened to be someone who was patient and listened, but I can't imagine it being long - term. I don't think either of them are mature enough for that.

Although I can appreciate what the author was trying to do, I just wasn't all that impressed. I kept waiting for things to change to prove me wrong but it never happened. Yes there's a girl who has been through something traumatic, she's hurting, she has a hobby which helps her heal her through that, she has a crap family - which by the way majorly sucked, she meets the nice guy = pretty much the whole book.

I know some wonderful bloggers who have a very different opinion. Those that really connected with the book and MC and adored Ryan, so I wouldn't just take my word for it, as you might find yourself enjoying it a whole lot more than I did.

Do watch out for the lovely quotes. I spent way too much time bookmarking them! (You can see the ones I bookmarked underneath)(less)

8 likes · like · see review

Dec 31, 2011 Rhiannon rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: lady-writer, ya-realistic-times, goodreads-told-me-to, omg-aussie-ya, yikes, teabs, read-in-2011

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

3 likes · like · see review

Oct 06, 2011 Rebecca rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: aussie-ya, best-of-ya, aussie-ya-bk-chal

I loved how AUSSIE this book is, the language (Ryan and his use of mate), the setting, the characters and the surfing!

Kirsty Eagar's writing is so visual and doesn't miss a beat descibing each scene perfectly, like were apart of the audience.
Her prose of writing, was fresh, light, entertaining, enjoyable and easy to read. Need I go on?

The way Eagar wrote about the ocean was brilliant! It made me feel like I was at the beach, on the warm sand watching the rippling, emerald waves roll in.

The chara...more

3 likes · like · see review

May 12, 2011 Holly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, aussie, young-adult

Nineteen-year-old Carly is simply surviving. Having dropped out of uni and working as a thankless cook in a local café, there’s not much to live for. Her brother has his own life and her parents barely acknowledge her existence, but she could care less. As long as she has her day to spend surfing, nothing else matters. But the day she meets assured, carefree surfing local Ryan she realizes she can’t coast forever. He’s kind to her without expecting reciprocation and his patience for her open awk...more Nineteen-year-old Carly is simply surviving. Having dropped out of uni and working as a thankless cook in a local café, there’s not much to live for. Her brother has his own life and her parents barely acknowledge her existence, but she could care less. As long as she has her day to spend surfing, nothing else matters. But the day she meets assured, carefree surfing local Ryan she realizes she can’t coast forever. He’s kind to her without expecting reciprocation and his patience for her open awkwardness is remarkable. Add that to the young surfer Danny, who sees something in her, and her bohemian but caring neighbor Hannah, and she may have more than surfing as a legitimate reason to live. But in the face of dealing with her painful past will she decide to sink or swim?

I’ve been serious in my intent to read this Aussie novel for the past few months after it seemed to be unavoidably popping up everywhere, from best of 2010 blogger lists and definitive author recommendations in the likes of Melina Marchetta. Not only was it hyped but it was unavailable internationally. Intrigued, I uncharacteristically bought the pricey ebook, and it was worth every penny.

Raw Blue held me captive from the beginning. With only the subtlest of hints, it’s clear that Carly is severely hurting, an emotional brokenness that doesn’t come without extraordinary circumstances. Her voice is raw and real; you feel for her, so that when Ryan shows up like a life raft you can’t help but be right on edge with her. Barely breathing or blinking at times, I sat completely still, desperately hoping and waiting for Carly to take the raft she’s offered even if it’s only by the skin of her teeth. It was quite the absorbing reading experience. A favorite passage from early on when Carly first meets Ryan:

“The air around him is snap frozen. He’s in his mid-twenties, his face so shut off and wary I wonder what’s happened to him. His skin is the sort that burns easily. The ridges of his ears are pink and freckled. They stick out a bit through his hair, which is light brown and lank. It’s scraggy, seventies style; he hasn’t had a cut for a while. He’s wearing old jeans, thongs and a white T-shirt, and he wouldn’t be out of place in a pub or a TAB.

After he’s walked off towards the car park, I take his place on the seat. Finally I have a clear view of the surf and I feel an electric charge. It’s a glitter skin day. The ocean is a vivid emerald colour and the wind ruffles the wave faces so that they shatter the sunlight like glass. Seeing that glittering skin always tightens my throat with joy. It’s stupid, but that’s hoe I feel: joyous. I forget about the underbelly of things, my secrets, and I feel easy and free. I know that I’m meant to stay on the surface and be happy. Just enjoy being alive.

Glitter skin days are my favourite kind of surf conditions.”

I love how this passage and the opening chapter as a whole capture the essence of Raw Blue , which is part immersion in surf culture and part the charged dynamic of Ryan and Carly’s relationship. To Carly, surfing is like breathing, and Kirsty Eagar's given justice to her way of life in the dominance the conditions and descriptions of the ocean plays in the book. While I didn't understand most of the surfing lingo I was fascinated nonetheless by the paddling, taking a left or right, and falling of the surfing sets as well as being equally dazzled by the palpable descriptions of the ever-changing blue surf. Even though I don't know what makes something Aussie, it felt Aussie, it felt authentic. It was as if I’d been granted permission into this secret subculture I didn't even know existed but felt a part of by the end of the novel. With its clear, evocative prose, distinctive characterization, and unforgettable imagery, Raw Blue hooked me from its portentous beginning to it’s chillingly perfect and poignant ending. Highly, highly recommended. Now if I could only buy a hard copy.(less)

5 likes · like · see review

Jun 06, 2012 Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity by: Isamlq

Shelves: new-adult-college

3.5 stars, although the book deserves more stars than this. I'll explain my rating later.

I wonder if that's true, if he'd still want me knowing who'd been there before him and what they did.

This is a book about the aftereffects of rape and abuse. It's not pretty, it's not fluffy, there's no "feel good" romance to soften the blow.

This book is a prime example of just how hard it is to heal after going through sexual assault. I recently read another book dealing with a similar subject (Easy) an...more

16 likes · like · see review

May 03, 2011 Alexa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: aussie, tour, 2011-reads, favorites, own, new-adult

My mini-review can also be found on my blog Collections.

I give up. I really wanted to write a review, but it's been MONTHS. And I think I have finally accepted that a review just ain't gonna happen. It's always so hard writing reviews for books I loved. I tried though. Here's what I had when I started a review:

There were a lot of things I loved about this book. The writing and the characters, especially. I don't know anything about surfing, so I admit I wasn't always able to visualize what was h...more

3 likes · like · see review

Mar 20, 2011 Audrey (holes In My brain) rated it 5 of 5 stars

full review can be found on my blog, holes In My brain

RAW BLUE was amazing. I’m not even sure to start off this review, but how about just saying that it is So. Australian. Which is just cruel because it makes me want to go to Australia SO BAD and watch hot boys surf. The diction and slang is so lovely and different, but it doesn’t end there. The descriptions of the waves and the breaks were exquisite and might I also add: the surf culture in this novel is excitingly awesome.

This novel is an ex...more full review can be found on my blog, holes In My brain

RAW BLUE was amazing. I’m not even sure to start off this review, but how about just saying that it is So. Australian. Which is just cruel because it makes me want to go to Australia SO BAD and watch hot boys surf. The diction and slang is so lovely and different, but it doesn’t end there. The descriptions of the waves and the breaks were exquisite and might I also add: the surf culture in this novel is excitingly awesome.

This novel is an example of a perfectly executed character-driven story. Carly is a rape survivor, there really isn’t a euphemism for that. She’s broken and fragile, and spends her days surfing and cooking and little else, scared of the world and hating people. Her narration easily drew me into her lonely world, yet the way she juxtaposed the darkness with the beauty of the waves kept me from sinking into despair. Her innate strength isn’t obvious at the beginning, but what I loved most was her subtle growth and development throughout the novel. It wasn’t boom-realization-instant-change, it was small things and small actions that built up, without you even realizing it. Carly’s characterization is the biggest strength of RAW BLUE, and I couldn’t help but fall completely in love with her.

Eagar manages to keep Carly’s voice raw and honest, which quite frankly is always preferable in my mind. The author doesn’t shelter us from Carly’s pain and emotional turmoil, but the feelings are also not overdone; everything is balanced. The writing in the novel is extremely strong as Eagar writes with a defined, confident, and haunting style.

And of course, how can I not talk about Ryan? This is a boy worthy of a thousand swoons, he has his moments yes, he’s kinda realistic. There isn’t an instant smouldering connection between him and Carly, but rather a simple curiosity that blossoms into something else. I adored the fact that Ryan wasn’t the most eloquent with words, yet when he says something like “how good is this” my heart just melts. *sigh* And he’s all mine ;-)

As Carly’s voice carries a raw energy, Eagar’s secondary characters bring colour and sparkle. Seriously, they are gorgeously well-rounded; from the d-bag Shane and the old crows at the break, to the quirky, Dutch, salsa-dancing roommate… Marty, Emilio, the crew at the Café…. and of course, Danny, the precious boy with synaesthesia (he relates things to colours) who was my third favourite character… Danny, you rock. I wish I could just squeeze him. I adored Carly’s endearing friendship with the younger boy.

RAW BLUE is on the mature side of the YA spectrum, but don’t let this fact stop you from giving it a go. It truly is a powerful and intensely beautiful story of a girl, set on the crystalline beaches of Australia.

a fully deserving 5/5 stars(less)

5 likes · like · see review

Dec 08, 2011 Donna The Happy Booker rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Donna by: bibliophile brouhaha

Shelves: giveaway-win, signed, contemporary, recommended, favorites, read-in-2011, ya

I was so incredibly excited to win a copy of Raw Blue from Linds over at Bibliophile Brouhaha. (thanks Linds!!) She had raved about this book so much that I knew that I simply had to read it! Once I had read it though, I found that it is quite difficult to write a review about a book that feels like such an intimate, personal story. Its almost like reviewing someone’s journey to recovery, because that’s kind of what Raw Blue is.

After surviving a traumatic event at school, Carly, the main charac...more I was so incredibly excited to win a copy of Raw Blue from Linds over at Bibliophile Brouhaha. (thanks Linds!!) She had raved about this book so much that I knew that I simply had to read it! Once I had read it though, I found that it is quite difficult to write a review about a book that feels like such an intimate, personal story. Its almost like reviewing someone’s journey to recovery, because that’s kind of what Raw Blue is.

After surviving a traumatic event at school, Carly, the main character, had completely disengaged from her life, quit going to University against her parents demands, moved away from everyone she knows, and began working an evening job as a cook simply to pay her bills so she could spend her days surfing along the beautiful Australian coast where she could lose herself and calm her mind and spirit. Despite her best efforts to keep everyone out, she finds herself with several unconventional friends, Danny a teenage boy who sees everything in colors, Hannah her Dutch salsa dancing neighbor, and Ryan a sexy surfer who was recently released from prison. Each plays a part as Carly slowly begins to put the pieces back together.

Raw Blue explores Carly’s journey as she tries to rebuild her life in the aftermath of a brutal assault. Kirsty Eagar unflinchingly recounts each painful moment in such an uncomfortably insightful way that I almost felt as if I was riding this emotional roller coaster alongside Carly. The details of the incident itself were shocking and disturbing, but not overdone in a way that was too much. The beauty of Raw Blue was in the depth of emotion that the author was able to convey with a simple and straightforward writing style, the incredible characters, and the relationship building and interaction between the characters. I loved each of the secondary characters, each one had their own interesting background that made me want to know more about them outside of their place in Carly’s world.

The story felt genuine and relatable with a definite “Aussie” tone. There were many purely Australian words and phrases that I wasn’t sure about the meaning, but it didn’t affect my overall enjoyment of the story. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys books that are intense and emotional and fans of YA Contemporary as well as Adult Contemporary. I definitely don’t see this as a purely Young Adult book. (less)

4 likes · like · see review

Jan 30, 2012 Wendy rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Melina Marchetta fans

Shelves: 2012-for-sure, aussie, ya-loved

Update: edited for typos, yeesh! ... say Hi, Vicodin! (recovering from foot surgery .. )
** Possible spoilers ahead, ye be warned...**

I don't really know where books like this belong. Yes, I realize they're 'realistic fiction', 'contemporary fiction', etc.

I love books like this more for what they don't have: winky winks, smirky smirks, over-wrought emotion, stalking paranormal boyfriends that take over a vapid, useless girl, the stuck up beautiful girl who causes trouble and the faithful best fr...more

3 likes · like · see review

Nov 11, 2011 Alyssa Udall rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, teen-fiction

Originally Posted at Redhead Heroines!

This book is terribly difficult to review.

While I was instantly drawn in to Carly's world as a part-time chef and surfing-addict, I wish that I would have been warned about how intense this book is. As you can probably infer from the summary, Carly was viciously and brutally raped two years before the events of this book take place.

This is learned pretty early on in the novel, as well as the fact that Carly has not told a single soul that this happened to he...more

4 likes · like · see review

May 08, 2011 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: australia, best-of-ya, my-epic-ya-binge, true-book-love, ya, own-the-ebook-need-a-paper-copy

Note: A revised version of this review appears on Clear Eyes, Full Shelves.

I'm not even sure how to start a review of this Raw Blue--this is the kind of novel that makes me feel like I should start a book blog to tell the world about the amazing books they're missing (MIndi Scott's Freefall was another). Given that it was a tremendous pain in the ass to acquire this book, the bar had been set pretty pretty high--and it certainly met those standards, and will be permanently filed under "Awesome."...more Note: A revised version of this review appears on Clear Eyes, Full Shelves.

I'm not even sure how to start a review of this Raw Blue--this is the kind of novel that makes me feel like I should start a book blog to tell the world about the amazing books they're missing (MIndi Scott's Freefall was another). Given that it was a tremendous pain in the ass to acquire this book, the bar had been set pretty pretty high--and it certainly met those standards, and will be permanently filed under "Awesome."

Why Raw Blue = Awesome

-This could be an "issue book," but this isn't at all. It's a novel of someone who's had a bad thing happen and is dealing with it in the best way she knows.
-The juxtaposition between the bad stuff that happened to Ryan and the bad stuff that happened to Carly is extremely well done. She's letting the past eat away at her--he's moving on from it.
-The surfing, oh the surfing. So freaking gorgeous Kirsty Eagar is a surfer and her love for the water and the sport shines.
-The secondary characters! Especially Hannah (her half-crazy Dutch neighbor) and Danny (the 15-year old with a unique condition she meets surfing)! Love them so much. This quotation just says it all:

What did he say? You can’t always pick your friends. Well, he’s damn right there. I have two friends here: a fifteen year old who sees people in colours and a salsa-mad Dutch woman. I didn’t pick them, they just turned up in my life, and I’m really glad.

-Okay, Ryan is wonderful. I love that he's so open and that Carly (the narrator) is the elusive, mysterious one, bunking a common trope that drives me nuts.
-Speaking of Ryan, this book is listed as YA (I think in Australia, they include up to early 20s main characters as YA), but it does not "fade to black" as most YA novels do. I'm going to be controversial and say this is a good thing. Sex happens and it's handled very well--more sensitively and appropriately than in most novels for adults. Frankly, this is the kind of thing that teens/young adults should read, in my opinion.
-More on Ryan: Eagar could've written Ryan as slightly stalkerish, but he never ventures into that territory--I had a moment of panic 3/4 of the way into the book, thinking that'd be the direction he headed, but nope--no typical stalkerish YA male in sight!*
-GAWD, the writing. I mean, THE WRITING. It's just so flipping good. First person, present tense can be a tough read, but not in Raw Blue.
-There's actually not a ton of dialog in Raw Blue, which usually bugs me, but it makes sense--most of the action takes place in Carly's head. Yet, it never veers into the dreaded "telling not showing" territory. Like this is just perfect:

The whole time he’s been away I’ve been longing for him. Longing’s unbearable, something that can’t be endured but has to be. It’s the worst of all; I didn’t know that. It’s sweet and it kills at the same time, an ache eating away at your heart so that air gets in and you don’t know if what you feel is pain or pleasure.

-I'm sad Kirsty Eagar's next novel is a paranormal, because I love, love, love quality contemporary YA--and we desperately need more excellent contemporaries. I'm sure Saltwater Vampires is good, but geez, please, please, please, Ms. Eagar, please write more contemporary YA.
-Dear Penguin: Please publish this more widely in the US than the Kobo store (who had a flipping Kobo?). Please--more people need to read it. And, please don't Americanize the Australian slang. xoxox, Sarah

*How sad is it that I assume boys will become stalkers in most YA novels? Can we just stop with that already? (less)

2 likes · like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Book cover	5	20	Aug 03, 2012 02:13am
Raw Blue now available for pre-order at TBD	1	9	Jun 20, 2012 09:17am
Your Book Giveaways: Win Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar	1	2	Oct 10, 2011 07:52am
Book Giveaways: Win Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar	1	8	Oct 10, 2011 07:51am
Book Giveaways: Win Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar	1	4	Oct 10, 2011 07:44am
For US and Canada: Raw Blue Giveaway!	1	13	Jan 07, 2011 05:18pm

combine
Other Editions (2)

Videos About This Book

Add a comment

Genres

Young Adult

124 users

Contemporary

79 users

Romance

49 users

New Adult

34 users

Realistic Fiction

22 users

Young Adult > Young Adult Contemporary

11 users

Cultural > Australia

9 users

Sociology > Abuse

6 users

Young Adult > Coming Of Age

4 users

Adult

4 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Kirsty Eagar

Kirsty Eagar grew up on a central Queensland cattle property and spent her school holidays at the beach. After studying economics, she worked on trading desks in Sydney and London before changing careers, wanting a life where she could surf every day. She travelled around Australia for a couple of years, worked a variety of jobs and began writing fiction. Her debut novel, Raw Blue, was published b...more

More about Kirsty Eagar...

Books by Kirsty Eagar

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Raw Blue

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

Quotes from Raw Blue

“I let myself feel good for no reason. I let joy happen right there and then, and it's inside me and around me, it's the lights on the road ahead, the clean black of the night, the cold air coming through the window. It's like hearing a song for the first time and being struck by it, haunted by it, wanting to hunt it down and catch it, because the song sums up something you didn't know you wanted to say, giving you chills and goose bumps. But even as you find out what it's called, and you're thinking you'll download it, you've already lost. Because the feeling was right then and there and it's already fading like a dream.

You just have to see those times for what they are: a chance to look down at your life. And when you do, you see it's a skin made up of shiny little moments.” — 35 people liked it

“Once they know they've got a hold of your shame, they can shake it out and hold it up for the all world to see. And you become less than it. You become something disgusting.” — 31 people liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: Raw Blue
avg rating	preview: Raw Blue Goodreads rating: 3.76 (1137 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6989576-raw-blue?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1266111020l/6989576.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6989576-raw-blue?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar[/url]

Raw Blue

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website