Reviews for Mr. Blue

The average rating for Mr. Blue based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2010-01-04 00:00:00 Graham Wrigley Written in the 1920's, published at the same time as Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, Mr. Blue was the anti-thesis of Jay Gatsby, the self-made millionaire. Blue was a radical Christian, a modern-day St. Francis of Assisi, who decided to live the Gospel message come what may. His story's devotedly told by his staunch friend, the book's narrator, who I found to be as sympathetic a character in his way as Blue was in his. We don't learn very much about either of the book's only real personalities, but somehow it doesn't seem to matter. Belief is what matters. Belief and how we act on those beliefs. Blue believed money is to be spent or given away immediately and nothing held back; think of the widow's mite. (Mark 12:41-44, Luke 21:1-4) Blue's attitude toward finances and social responsibility would recognize a kindred spirit in St. Basil the Great when he wrote: "The bread you do not use is the bread of the hungry. The garment hanging in your wardrobe is the garment of the person who is naked. The shoes you do not wear are the shoes of the one who is barefoot. The money you keep locked away is the money of the poor. The acts of charity you do not perform are the injustices you commit." As it was, the narrator admired his friend but didn't quite understand him. Throughout the book, he kept urging J. Blue (blue-jay? as in the bird?) to take care of himself, look ahead, save, and plan for contingencies ... all sound enough advice ... for anyone else. A most memorable read. November 22, 2020: It has been 10 years since my last read of this book, but I have never forgotten it, nor has the memory of this remarkable character dimmed. A few details needed refreshing, but for someone who reads as much as I do, I reread few books and have STRONG memories of only a few. This is one of those. I love you Mr. Blue! Don't ever change!

Review # 2 was written on 2021-01-18 00:00:00 Allan Glass Christmas Eve, I ask my sister, "What's a book you would recommend to everyone?" "Hmm not sure. Oh, there's one called Mr. Blue. It's about a modern-day St. Francis, written as a response to the Great Gatsby. My professor wrote an introduction to it." "Wow, that sounds great! I wish I could read it over break." "I know, but it's basically out of print." "Well, shoot." Christmas Day, I open her gift to me. "Oh my gosh, it's MR. BLUE! How did you - -? ...Well played, sis. Well played." It's a great book. The seeming impossibility of Blue himself is made possible by the down-to-earth cynicism of his friend, the narrator and unlikely biographer. One of those books you finish quickly, but it's not finished with you.