I loved this book a great deal.

It is written in an incredibly simple yet clever way that there are moments when you can't help but be in awe of Fitzgerald. Her use of words is simple yet so subtle, evoking a range of emotions from sadness to intense humour and curiosity.

Each chapter is short, almost like a vignette, consisting of only 3 or 4 pages. Although there is an overall narrative, each short story has its own point, which may or may not be related to the main story. However, each one is utterly charming, written with a dry wit and humour, and depicting a remarkable family life set in Germany in the 1790s.

The portrayal of Fritz and his family, including his parents, brothers, and sisters, is funny, entertaining, and very endearing. In just a few well-chosen words, they come alive in this lovely book, which I will definitely keep and read again in the future.

This book proves that literary effect doesn't always require long and detailed descriptions to touch you or have a profound impact. It shows that simplicity and cleverness can go hand in hand to create a truly remarkable piece of literature.

I just finished reading The Blue Flower this morning. It was a slower read than I had anticipated.

This was due to the numerous German words and the use of more than one name for a single person. The story, however, was truly wonderful, albeit a wonderful sadness.

The times they lived in, at the beginning of a more modern world, were complex. He was a poet, a philosopher, and a civil engineer.

This is the story of Friedrich von Hardenberg, or Fritz, a young man of the late 18th century who was to become one of Germany's great romantic poets.

The book is short, but it is packed full of his remarkable family, including his beautiful but frail betrothed, Sophie.

The country was in turmoil, the economic system was in transition, and medicine was in its infancy. Fitzgerald writes in a style that keeps the reader looking for more and grateful that our lives are so much better than in those times.

I will never forget the first chapter and the description of washday!

The Blue Flower is a magical book - funny, sad, and deeply moving. In Fritz, Fitzgerald has discovered a perfect character through whom to explore the meaning of love, poetry, life, and loss.

In The Blue Flower, readers will find a work of fine prose, fierce intelligence, and perceptive insights.

I'm not saying it is a bad novel.

In fact, it is well written and likely a historically very accurate story.

I didn't dislike it, but there were moments when I felt more inclined to be reading a historical textbook or an essay.

When I read fiction, I prefer it to feel like pure fiction, not something that is in a gray area between fact and fiction.

This might be completely because I had the wrong expectations in the first place.

However, still: as a novel, I felt it didn't meet my expectations.

But as a longer (romanticized!) article about history, it did manage to fulfill that role to some extent.

Perhaps the author was aiming for a unique blend of history and fiction, but for me, it didn't quite hit the mark as a traditional novel.

Nonetheless, it is important to note that others may have a completely different perspective and enjoy it for its historical accuracy and detailed storytelling.

Each reader has their own preferences and what works for one may not work for another.

Overall, while it had its strengths, it just didn't quite meet my personal expectations as a novel.

Why is this a strange and magical book?

One would typically expect a long novel when it comes to a story that involves history, much like a period film. The sentences in this book are not overly decorative, yet they are not too plain either, not in the way that Hemingway's writing is known for being plain.

So, the question remains: how does the author manage to achieve this unique style? At times, the sentences seem modern, which gives the reader a sense of a contemporary feel. However, simultaneously, I also get a distinct sense of another time and place. It's as if the author has masterfully blended the present and the past, creating a literary experience that is both familiar and foreign.

This strange combination of elements makes the book truly magical and captivating, leaving the reader eager to uncover more of its secrets and mysteries.