Fiction

Nothing But Blue Sky

Nothing But Blue Sky

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  • Create Date：2021-06-03 08:52:08
  • Update Date：2025-09-07
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Kathleen MacMahon
  • ISBN：0241986656
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Summary

Is there such a thing as a perfect marriage？

David thought so。 But when his wife Mary Rose dies suddenly he has to think again。 In reliving their twenty years together David sees that the ground beneath them had shifted and he simply hadn't noticed。 Or had chosen not to。

Figuring out who Mary Rose really was and the secrets that she kept - some of these hidden in plain sight - makes David wonder if he really knew her。 Did he even know himself？

Nothing But Blue Sky is a precise and tender story of love in marriage - a gripping examination of what binds couples together and of what keeps them apart。

______________

'Touching and enthralling' Sunday Times

'What a beautiful novel 。。。 Elegant， understated， subtly powerful， and rings so perfectly true' Donal Ryan

'Heart-rending 。。。 MacMahon's words ring with the honesty of truth， offering genuine insight into the human condition' Business Post

'Skilfully written with a wonderful lightness of touch' Irish Times

'Gentle and triumphant， MacMahon offers us a novel seeped in beautiful prose and poignant tenderness' Anne Griffin

'A beautifully written and powerful tale' Woman & Home

'A tender dissection of a marriage' Independent

'A piece of perfection 。。。 the best book I've read all year' Irish Examiner

'Sure and subtle， MacMahon holds the reader in her spell。 She is a born storyteller' Mike McCormack

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Reviews

Rachel Shanahan ，

I thought this was a beautiful gentle story。 I loved the stories about his marriage to Mary Rose and I felt real joy for him as he starts to forge forward forever changed after her death。

Leah Moyse ，

Nothing But Blue Sky is a beautiful portrayal of love， marriage and bereavement。 Introspective in a lot of ways with a great depth of understanding and emotion。 I found it to be deeply affecting。  The story centres around the marriage of David and Mary Rose。 We hear the story from David's perspective as Mary Rose has died and when we meet David he is just trying to navigate his way through his loss and reflect upon his marriage。 He is trying to learn what to do when the person that is always the Nothing But Blue Sky is a beautiful portrayal of love， marriage and bereavement。 Introspective in a lot of ways with a great depth of understanding and emotion。 I found it to be deeply affecting。  The story centres around the marriage of David and Mary Rose。 We hear the story from David's perspective as Mary Rose has died and when we meet David he is just trying to navigate his way through his loss and reflect upon his marriage。 He is trying to learn what to do when the person that is always there one day isn't。 He has good friends around him who are well meaning and try to help。 David though now lacks that closeness and familiarity and he appears to be just sitting on the periphery。 He struggles to understand how he will go on。 David worries that his memories of Mary Rose are slipping away from him much like sand running through his fingers。 The best times he spent with Mary Rose was on their regular holidays so he embarks on a trip to Aiguaclara in Costa Brava where they spent a great deal of time。 I feel that this is where David begins to heal as it is when he lets his guard down and feels most relaxed。 The reader begins to gain more of an understanding at this point as the character slowly reveals himself。 I loved the way that this book did not paint the characters and their marriage as perfect。 As no marriage surely is all of the time。 It was realistic and drew me in。 If I am honest I found David a little bit unlikeable and set in his ways。 He seemed to rely more on Mary Rose than she would have on him。 The language and vivid way that the author tells the story of a man and memories of his love brought me to tears。 It was a moving portrayal of what is such a unique experience。 We all go through loss and this was a difficult but beautiful read。 This book is not plot driven in any way but the scenery of the Costa Brava and David's voice shone through。  。。。more

Hannah Cox ，

~ buddy read with Sarah and Charlie for 2021 Women's Prize NomineesReview to come。。。 ~ buddy read with Sarah and Charlie for 2021 Women's Prize NomineesReview to come。。。 。。。more

Fiona Berry ，

A beautifully written examination of love & marriage。 David - an RTE reporter lost his wife in a plane crash。 His grief led to him reminiscing on his perfect marriage。。。

Siobhan Fuller ，

This is a quiet and incredibly well-written book， but I felt like the main character’s epiphany did very little for me。 Also， the emotional labour the women in his life endure is blatant and yet I feel like it was brushed over。

Helen Gibson ，

Moving， insightful， beautifully written。。。 My favourite book so far this year！

Sarah ，

“[。。。] just like I was a different person now to the happy husband who was once married to Mary Rose， some new， half-living creature that had climbed out of the husk of that husband， someone I hardly even recognised as myself。”“I was neither dead nor alive， but doomed to wander a desolate space between the two。”2021 Women's Prize for Fiction longlist Buddy read with Hannah and Charlie！ What a wonderful little book。 Kathleen MacMahon has written a gorgeous， ponderous story about life after the de “[。。。] just like I was a different person now to the happy husband who was once married to Mary Rose， some new， half-living creature that had climbed out of the husk of that husband， someone I hardly even recognised as myself。”“I was neither dead nor alive， but doomed to wander a desolate space between the two。”2021 Women's Prize for Fiction longlist Buddy read with Hannah and Charlie！ What a wonderful little book。 Kathleen MacMahon has written a gorgeous， ponderous story about life after the death of a loved one， and how grief never really goes away; it just becomes more manageable over time。 Grief follows you， haunts you， hovers over you at all times， a dark cloud over an otherwise sunny day。 Oftentimes， it feels inescapable， incurable; when you are grieving， it is easy to convince yourself that you will never be happy again。 But life， fickle little life， has a way of filling the holes that tragedy leaves behind， and this book captures that lifecycle in quiet， intimate detail。 Although I'm not grieving anything quite as serious as a death， I am currently grieving something personal and painful， and this book made me feel as if my pain had been plagiarised and reworded better than I could ever hope to articulate it。 It's quiet， contemplative， and hesitantly hopeful， and I would have loved to see it on the shortlist。 。。。more

charlie ，

A surprising hit in the Women's Prize list for me。 This story is a quiet and contemplative examination of grief that I was completely invested in。 On paper， David is not a likable character; still， I found myself so invested in his story， and pleased with the tentative happy ending it came to。 This was an incredibly meaningful and insightful book and I very much enjoyed it。 A surprising hit in the Women's Prize list for me。 This story is a quiet and contemplative examination of grief that I was completely invested in。 On paper， David is not a likable character; still， I found myself so invested in his story， and pleased with the tentative happy ending it came to。 This was an incredibly meaningful and insightful book and I very much enjoyed it。 。。。more

Ellie Beagley ，

A quietly sad and suprisingly calm story looking retrospectively at the details of a marriage。 Sometimes only with space and time （to set aside self absorption） can you recognise the truths of a relationship。 I wish there had been fewer unlikely coincidences in the book but otherwise I really enjoyed。

Kirsten Mackie ，

4。5 rounded to 5*

Eleanor ，

I really enjoyed this light （despite the subject matter） read。 Had one of the best descriptions of grief that I’ve ever come across。

Cathie ，

This was a gentle yet moving novel about grief， love and regret。 I particularly liked the way she explored the different ways people are effected by grief and also the slow adjusting to life。

Sarah AF ，

I was struck by the sense of how wonderful life is， and how sad， and how strange that it can even be both of these things at the very same time。I can’t remember ever reading a more poignant， tender and honest depiction of grief before。 So beautifully this book captures the sense of a life where another person has become so intricately woven into the fabric of your being and then having that person suddenly gone from your life。 David’s journey of drifting through his memories， his perspective shi I was struck by the sense of how wonderful life is， and how sad， and how strange that it can even be both of these things at the very same time。I can’t remember ever reading a more poignant， tender and honest depiction of grief before。 So beautifully this book captures the sense of a life where another person has become so intricately woven into the fabric of your being and then having that person suddenly gone from your life。 David’s journey of drifting through his memories， his perspective shifting， as he tries to hold onto that fabric with the sudden loss of those strands that held it together resonated on so many levels。 Not a book for people who are looking for distinct plot developments throughout the book， but a genuinely incredible study of how the loss of a person who is so intrinsic to your being lingers and the emotional journey that it takes you on。 。。。more

Susan Wood ，

Kathleen MacMahon is a wonderful writer。 This was a thought provoking book about a marriage and a complex couple， as all couples are， I dare say！ I hope to read more of her novels。

_Readerwhy ，

Ehkä juuri MacMahonin romaanin tasapainoisuutta on kiittäminen siitä， että se tuntuu niin todelliselta。 Fiktion viitta leijuu päähenkilö Davidin elämän yllä， mutta se mitä David kokee ja miten hän tässä maailmassa on， on totta ja tapahtuu juuri sillä hetkellä， kun minä hänestä luen。

David ja Mary Rose ovat olleet onnellinen aviopari。 Luonteiltaan he ovat vastakkaisia: David ärtyvä ja negatiivinen， Mary Rose iloa löytävä ja hyvään uskova。 He ovat täydentäneet toisiaan tavalla， joka on tehnyt hei Ehkä juuri MacMahonin romaanin tasapainoisuutta on kiittäminen siitä， että se tuntuu niin todelliselta。 Fiktion viitta leijuu päähenkilö Davidin elämän yllä， mutta se mitä David kokee ja miten hän tässä maailmassa on， on totta ja tapahtuu juuri sillä hetkellä， kun minä hänestä luen。

David ja Mary Rose ovat olleet onnellinen aviopari。 Luonteiltaan he ovat vastakkaisia: David ärtyvä ja negatiivinen， Mary Rose iloa löytävä ja hyvään uskova。 He ovat täydentäneet toisiaan tavalla， joka on tehnyt heidän tarinastaan rakkaustarinan mitä suuremmassa määrin。

Kunnes。Kunnes Mary Rose matkustaa Egyptiin ja lentokone putoaa。 Äkkiä David on yksin valtavan surun ympäröimänä。 Hän matkustaa ystäviensä kanssa lomamatkalle， mutta ilman Mary Rosea kaikki on vain kalpeaa heijastusta entisestä。“I understood for the first time how correct it was to say that she was 'survived by her husband'。 I had seen that expression used in obituaries without ever giving it a thought， but it turned out to be a term of great precision。 I had survived Mary Rose only barely。 I was struggling to survive her。” Nothing but blue sky on ensimmäinen lukemani romaani， jossa viitataan suoraan myös niin Pariisin kuin Nizzankin terrori-iskuihin。 Davidin yksityisen surun vierellä häälyy kollektiivinen suru。Jotain isoa on myös siinä， että David unelmoi nuorena lentäjän urasta， kun taas Mary Rose pelkäsi lentämistä。 MacMahonin teksti tunkeutuu minuun pikkuhiljaa。 Se välttää rytinää。 Tutustun Davidiin， jonka tunteettomuus ja kylmyys muita ihmisiä kohtaan päättyy vaimon kuolemaan。 Tuntuu kuin vaimo jättäisi valonsa Davidille。 Se ei tarkoita， että Davidin surusta tulisi helpompaa， mutta elämän sinnikkyydellä se alkaa muuttaa Davidia。
Teoksen alussa Mary Rose on hirmuisen läsnä， vaikka onkin kuollut。 Hän on jokaisessa lauseessa， jokaisessa Davidin katseessa ja hänen murtumisensa hetkessä。

Nothing but blue sky kuvaa， miten lapsuudenperhe vaikuttaa ihmiseen。 Minkälaiset eväät se hänelle antaa。 Davidin kohdalla kotoa saatu perintö tiivistyy lauseeseen ”I had no template for happiness。” Jo hänen lapsenmielensä on imenyt pessimistisen tavan nähdä maailma， häneen on juurrutettu ajatus siitä， että itsestään ei pidä kuvitella liikoja。
Mary Rosen perhe on välittänyt tyttärelleen hyvin erilaisen henkisen perinnön。 Valoa， iloa， uskoa itseen ja omiin kykyihin。

Nothing but Blue Skyn alussa David on tiukalla surusta kudotulla kerällä， mutta sivu sivun jälkeen se alkaa - toki usein tuskallisen hitaasti - purkautua。 Kun yllättävät käänteet saavat otteen Davidin elämästä hän rupeaa hahmottumaan kukkana， joka oltuaan vuosia nupulla alkaa vihdoin avata terälehtiään。 Ja niin， äkkiä läsnäolevin on se outouden tunne， joka syntyy siitä， että elämä on ihmeellistä ja surullista samaan aikaan。 。。。more

Claire Fuller ，

I loved this slow unfolding of the history of a marriage。 Nothing but Blue Sky is quiet and thoughtful and very moving。 I listened to the audio version， beautifully narrated by the Irish actor， Stephen Hogan。 In the slight present-day story David has returned to Aiguaclara， a small Catalonian resort where he has holidayed for the past twenty years with his wife Mary Rose。 Except that Mary Rose died in a plane crash about a year ago， and David has decided to return to this place - so familiar and I loved this slow unfolding of the history of a marriage。 Nothing but Blue Sky is quiet and thoughtful and very moving。 I listened to the audio version， beautifully narrated by the Irish actor， Stephen Hogan。 In the slight present-day story David has returned to Aiguaclara， a small Catalonian resort where he has holidayed for the past twenty years with his wife Mary Rose。 Except that Mary Rose died in a plane crash about a year ago， and David has decided to return to this place - so familiar and yet now， without her， so different。 David remembers his marriage， examines his and Mary Rose's differences， what they each hoped for， and what they both loved。 He recalls his own difficult childhood and Mary Rose's family。 There is nothing here that is surprising or terribly shocking， and I loved it。 。。。more

Karen ，

'You，' she said， accusingly， 'have lived a life of splendid isolation。 You were married to an angel， who heartbreakingly for all of us was taken too soon， and now you find yourself unexpectedly alone in middle age and drowning in self-pity'。Long listed for the Women's Prize 2021， Nothing But Blue Sky is largely an internal monologue about marriage， relationships， grief， lives lived and opportunities and emotions both missed and experienced。 Told through the retrospective and introspective narrat 'You，' she said， accusingly， 'have lived a life of splendid isolation。 You were married to an angel， who heartbreakingly for all of us was taken too soon， and now you find yourself unexpectedly alone in middle age and drowning in self-pity'。Long listed for the Women's Prize 2021， Nothing But Blue Sky is largely an internal monologue about marriage， relationships， grief， lives lived and opportunities and emotions both missed and experienced。 Told through the retrospective and introspective narrative of David， a journalist， after the surprise death of his wife， neo-natal nurse Mary Rose。 There was a lot I loved about this quiet， beautifully written book。 The character of David was so well drawn that at times I wanted to shout at him for his often selfish， unemotional behavior。 As the novel progresses David， and we as readers， learn more about his past， including some possible reasons for his attitudes and past actions。 As the novel ended I found myself hoping that this introspection resulted in a better man， capable of living a better， more giving life as his wife had tried to encourage。 3。5 stars 。。。more

Barbara ，

This novel was one of two by Irish writers on the 2021 Women's Prize for Fiction longlist。 Although one of my favorite book bloggers gave it a rather blah review， I ordered it。I loved this book。 It is the story of a man in his early 50's whose wife of 20-some years suddenly dies。 It is an exploration of grief， and his summing up of each of their lives。 David is a journalist， working as a correspondent for a major Irish news outlet。 His wife Mary Rose was a neonatal nurse。 They never had children This novel was one of two by Irish writers on the 2021 Women's Prize for Fiction longlist。 Although one of my favorite book bloggers gave it a rather blah review， I ordered it。I loved this book。 It is the story of a man in his early 50's whose wife of 20-some years suddenly dies。 It is an exploration of grief， and his summing up of each of their lives。 David is a journalist， working as a correspondent for a major Irish news outlet。 His wife Mary Rose was a neonatal nurse。 They never had children。 Their annual vacation spot was a small sea village in Costa Brava， Spain， that fortunately has escaped the plague of retirees from England and Ireland who seem to have overtaken much of the area。 The second summer after Mary Rose's death， he returns to their Spanish vacation spot。 He develops a friendship （non romantic） with another long time visitor， and they bond in their grief over losses。 This is probably not a novel of anyone who has experienced recent loss， but it might be。 It is a novel of deep reflection on the meaning of a life， as well as relationships。 。。。more

LindaJ^ ，

This is one of the 16 books on the 2021 Women's Prize longlist。 It is far more conventional than most of the others。 I enjoyed it。 3。5 stars rounded up to 4。The narrator of the story is David。 After 19 years of marriage， he is widowed when his wife dies in a plan crash on her way to Egypt for the wedding of a friend's daughter。 David is devastated。 He does not know how to live without Mary Rose。 Most of the book is David looking back at their marriage as he finds himself very slowly moving on。 D This is one of the 16 books on the 2021 Women's Prize longlist。 It is far more conventional than most of the others。 I enjoyed it。 3。5 stars rounded up to 4。The narrator of the story is David。 After 19 years of marriage， he is widowed when his wife dies in a plan crash on her way to Egypt for the wedding of a friend's daughter。 David is devastated。 He does not know how to live without Mary Rose。 Most of the book is David looking back at their marriage as he finds himself very slowly moving on。 David begins finds that he was not the most perceptive husband or friend。 Over a year later， he returns to the town in Costa Brava where they always vacationed since finding it on their honeymoon。 He repeats the things they always did and begins moves forward with his new life。 One of the issues addressed was Mary Rose's unfulfilled desire for a child and David's reluctance to be a father。 It is quite skillfully done。 。。。more

Jill Schroeder ，

A well written story， I was happily engrossed but thought the ending saccharine。 We are a product of our upbringing， we may be part of a couple where we can safely take an opposing stance to our partner: but who are we if we suddenly find ourself on our own。

Kim Barber ，

Nothing But Blue Sky‘We live life forwards， we learn it backwards。’ I liked this book， not everybody will。 If you like fast paced， plot driven narratives only， you’ll not get along with it。 If you appreciate slow paced， character focused， reflective pieces then you will probably enjoy it。 It’s perfect for fans of Elizabeth Strout。It is primarily a story of grief and love。 Our narrator is David， a man in his early fifties， who we meet roughly a year after the sudden death of his wife Mary Rose。 D Nothing But Blue Sky‘We live life forwards， we learn it backwards。’ I liked this book， not everybody will。 If you like fast paced， plot driven narratives only， you’ll not get along with it。 If you appreciate slow paced， character focused， reflective pieces then you will probably enjoy it。 It’s perfect for fans of Elizabeth Strout。It is primarily a story of grief and love。 Our narrator is David， a man in his early fifties， who we meet roughly a year after the sudden death of his wife Mary Rose。 David speaks to us from Aiguaclara， where he and Mary Rose travelled year after year for their annual holiday。 This year， David has travelled alone， accompanied by his thoughts。 He reflects on his life with Mary Rose， remembering how they met， the things they struggled through together， enjoyed together， lost together and hid fromeach other。 This is a simple but beautifully written work。 It is delicate and touching and handled with the utmost sensitivity。 There are also elements of humour woven in， which strikes just the right balance。 The descriptions of Aiguaclara bring it to life， I was so intrigued about this place I found myself searching for it online and it really does look as beautiful as Kathleen McMahon has described， I want to visit！The only criticism I have is with the plot development toward the end of the book。 I can’t say much as I don’t want to spoil， but it felt unrealistic， a turn introduced to give a certain outcome when that is not the experience for most bereaved people。 ‘“That's what I feel like now，” I told him。 “I feel like there's a low hanging wooden beam， right in front of me， and I keep walking slap bang into it。 A hundred times a day I walk into that beam， and the pain hits me， right here， between the eyes。”In time I could have told him that I never did learn to duck to avoid the pain of losing her。 What happened was that I found myself stumbling into it less and less often。 Imperceptibly at first: whereas at the start it happened to me a hundred times a day， by the time a month had gone by I was struck by the blow of it perhaps only ninety-five times a day。 Another month and it hit me only ninety times in a twenty-four-hour period， and by the time a year had passed， there was sometimes a whole hour when I did not collide with the pain of it。 It wasn't that it was any less painful when I did， just that the intervals in between got longer and longer。 That's how I came to understand that I was healing。’ 。。。more

Megan ，

Read for Women's Prize Longlist '21。 To sum this up in one quote from the book: "We live life forwards， we learn it backwards。" This is one you read if you're longing for something with a good ache。 It's a story about grief and love and， what I think is， a really honest portrait of the ache even a happy marriage can have⁠。 And， man， did it give me a serious travel itch！ Read for Women's Prize Longlist '21。 To sum this up in one quote from the book: "We live life forwards， we learn it backwards。" This is one you read if you're longing for something with a good ache。 It's a story about grief and love and， what I think is， a really honest portrait of the ache even a happy marriage can have⁠。 And， man， did it give me a serious travel itch！ 。。。more

Chloe ，

‘I was struck by the sense of how wonderful life is， and how sad， and how strange that it can even be both of these things at the very same time’。 This was a meditative， considered book that examined bereavement in an interesting way。 The blurb isn’t accurate at all， though， as Mary Rose’s feelings on her marriage are much more subtle and insignificant than it makes out。 I liked the setting of Aiguaclara， and its role both in David’s relationship with Mary Rose and his healing。 I did feel， howev ‘I was struck by the sense of how wonderful life is， and how sad， and how strange that it can even be both of these things at the very same time’。 This was a meditative， considered book that examined bereavement in an interesting way。 The blurb isn’t accurate at all， though， as Mary Rose’s feelings on her marriage are much more subtle and insignificant than it makes out。 I liked the setting of Aiguaclara， and its role both in David’s relationship with Mary Rose and his healing。 I did feel， however， that it would have been more effective had MacMahon decided to take on a little less， perhaps focusing on fewer characters， plot points， and current affairs， in favour of something more incremental in its unfolding。 The book’s structure also wasn’t wholly effective。 。。。more

Felicity ，

Wasn’t sure at first。 To my slight irritation the narrator so overplayed the cynical， negative voice that I fully expected the perfect Mary Rose not to be tragically dead but to have scarpered。 But then David’s tone changed and I found the last third of the book gentle， wistful and rather touching。

Sylvia ，

Chosen for the long list for the Women’s Prize， this novel is a quiet character study of a man who has tragically lost his wife in a plane crash。 It’s honest and well written and peopled with characters that seem very real。 The blurb makes it sound a little trashy and chick lit but it’s totally not。

Samar Nasseri ，

The cover and blurb are very misleading。 This book is basically about grief and it's a very real and honest representation of it。 Kathleen's writing is beautiful。 The cover and blurb are very misleading。 This book is basically about grief and it's a very real and honest representation of it。 Kathleen's writing is beautiful。 。。。more

Kate ，

A very Irish and Catalonian novelA slow medative story about what it is like to rebuild yourself after sudden and tragic bereavement。 How some rituals should change and some remain untouched。 How differing attitudes to parenthood can shape a relationship。 How childhood can shape adulthood。 How hindsight is indeed the proverbial 'wonderful thing '。 How life isn't always as it seems。 How we should appreciate the landscape around us at every moment in case it should change on a sixpence。 A very Irish and Catalonian novelA slow medative story about what it is like to rebuild yourself after sudden and tragic bereavement。 How some rituals should change and some remain untouched。 How differing attitudes to parenthood can shape a relationship。 How childhood can shape adulthood。 How hindsight is indeed the proverbial 'wonderful thing '。 How life isn't always as it seems。 How we should appreciate the landscape around us at every moment in case it should change on a sixpence。 。。。more

Erlesenes。Zerlesenes [Berit] ，

Women's Prize Longlist 2021Ist es euch auch schonmal passiert， dass euch ein Buch， das euch anfangs gar nicht gefallen hat， am Ende total überzeugen konnte？Mein Nichtwarmwerden mit Nothing But Blue Sky lag in erster Linie an MacMahons Protagonist David （Ire， 51， Journalist）， der mir einfach nicht sympathisch war。"Don't be an arsehole"， sagt seine Frau Mary Rose in zahlreichen Situationen。 Und ich stimme ihr zu。 Auf jeder zweiten Seite ertönt es in meinem Kopf: Ja， David， sei kein Arschloch。 Davi Women's Prize Longlist 2021Ist es euch auch schonmal passiert， dass euch ein Buch， das euch anfangs gar nicht gefallen hat， am Ende total überzeugen konnte？Mein Nichtwarmwerden mit Nothing But Blue Sky lag in erster Linie an MacMahons Protagonist David （Ire， 51， Journalist）， der mir einfach nicht sympathisch war。"Don't be an arsehole"， sagt seine Frau Mary Rose in zahlreichen Situationen。 Und ich stimme ihr zu。 Auf jeder zweiten Seite ertönt es in meinem Kopf: Ja， David， sei kein Arschloch。 David ist selbstgerecht， geizig， zynisch， ekelt sich vor Mehrgewichtigen， wechselt im Gym sogar das Sportgerät， wenn jemand mit etwas mehr Hüftgold neben ihm trainieren will。 Er sieht absichtlich das Schlechte in Menschen， ist kaum zu Mitleid fähig und hat diese Journalisten-Arroganz verinnerlicht， die ihn auf andere， vor allem handwerkliche， Jobs herabsehen lässt。Seine Frau Mary Rose scheint das komplette Gegenteil zu sein: eine Heilige im Kostüm einer Kinderkrankenschwester。 Als sie ohne Vorwarnung bei einem tragischen Unfall ums Leben kommt， gibt es niemanden mehr， der David daran erinnert， kein Arschloch zu sein。Allein fährt er noch einmal an ihren Urlaubsort an der spanischen Costa Brava und lässt die gemeinsamen Ehejahre Revue passieren。 Kathleen MacMahons Protagonist ist so authentisch， dass ich teilweise vergaß， dass eine Frau dieses Buch geschrieben hat。 Ihre Beobachtungsgabe für die allersubtilsten menschlichen Zwischentöne ist beachtlich。 Die Beleuchtung einer Ehe voller Kompromisse und ungleicher Erwartungshaltungen （der Kinderwunsch ist bspw ein großes Thema） gelingt beeindruckend glaubwürdig und frei von jedem Kitsch。Und als David sich selbst， seinen Beruf und seine Ehe immer intensiver und kritischer reflektiert， passiert ES plötzlich: Ich habe einen Draht zu ihm gefunden， empfinde das erste Mal Empathie und Mitgefühl。 Im Englischen würde ich sagen: I didn't like him at first， but he started to grow on me。Und genau deswegen ist MacMahon so ein Genie。 Und ihr Buch so gut。 Auf Englisch übrigens sehr anspruchsvoll und daher eher geübten Lesern zu empfehlen。 Ich drücke die Daumen für eine Übersetzung 👌 。。。more

LindyLouMac ，

This is the first time I have read any of this author’s novels。 ‘Nothing but blue sky’ appears on the 2021 Women’s Prize for Fiction Longlist from which I have recently selected a few titles to read。Narrated by David a widower of two years who takes a retrospective look at the life and marriage he enjoyed with his late wife， Mary Rose for twenty years。 Her death has made him realise that there was so much more to their relationship than he ever really appreciated when she was alive。 The author i This is the first time I have read any of this author’s novels。 ‘Nothing but blue sky’ appears on the 2021 Women’s Prize for Fiction Longlist from which I have recently selected a few titles to read。Narrated by David a widower of two years who takes a retrospective look at the life and marriage he enjoyed with his late wife， Mary Rose for twenty years。 Her death has made him realise that there was so much more to their relationship than he ever really appreciated when she was alive。 The author is impressive in how she manages to get inside the head of the protagonist and relate to us the reader a very credible oration， from a male point of view。This novel may tug at your heart strings if you have yourself suffered such personal grief。 Yet it is such a hopeful portrayal of grief written in an engaging style that I can recommend to anyone， but especially those that have loved and lost in death。 。。。more

Monika ，

Although it took me some time to get into the novel and find the protagonist interesting， I ended up completely loving it。 The story is told through the lens of a widower， David， mourning his wife， Mary Rose。 Even though in the blurb we read about the secrets that will be unfolding in the book， the reader shouldn’t expect a plot-driven page-turner from this book。 It’s a slow and ruminative meditation that tackles a lot of themes – growing up in a dysfunctional family， discovering love， planning Although it took me some time to get into the novel and find the protagonist interesting， I ended up completely loving it。 The story is told through the lens of a widower， David， mourning his wife， Mary Rose。 Even though in the blurb we read about the secrets that will be unfolding in the book， the reader shouldn’t expect a plot-driven page-turner from this book。 It’s a slow and ruminative meditation that tackles a lot of themes – growing up in a dysfunctional family， discovering love， planning a family， learning how to accept loss and carry on， etc。 I’m aware that those books that are dealing with grief are always emotionally charged， but Nothing But Blue Sky， infused with some bits of sharp humor and hope， didn’t feel too heavy on an emotional level。 Although always having a soft spot for original and refreshing and experimental narratives， I fell for this clever and perceptive book – it’s a sort of classic example of a novel on grieving， but it beautifully enfolds kindness in the presence of tragedy。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Nothing But Blue Sky

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Nothing But Blue Sky&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Nothing But Blue Sky&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0