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Summary: Nice idea! Too bad about the execution...
Review: Tracy Chevalier had a terrific idea when she thought of the plot of this book. The concept of a modern woman who investigates an ancestress, and has her life forever changed by the mysterious story of that long-dead woman, is truly a brilliant and compelling one -- a plot that makes for an amazing, hauntingly well-written book which everyone should read. Unfortunately for Chevalier, that book is A.S. Byatt's _Possession_. Comparisons may be odious, but _The Virgin Blue_ tries to do something so similar to Possession, that its failures are painfully glaring next to Byatt's success.Nice story concept, not bad writing, creative twists - but the characters (particularly in the modern time) are ill-drawn, their motivations (particularly the narrator's) are murky, and the end leaves you with a stale taste in your mouth. Try Possession instead; you won't be disappointed.
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Summary: Talented Author, Well Crafted Story
Review: Chevalier has a gift. She can literally weave a story as if it were a tapestry. One set of strings is Ella Tournier and the other is Isabelle de Moulin. Throughout the story, she weaves first one set and then the other and the finished work - when you are able to look back and see what the weaving has wrought - is truly a work of art. Sorry to be cryptic but this book does not lend itself to delineating a plot and spotlighting the cliffhanger. Fantastic book - great story and lots of talent.
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Summary: Utter failure
Review: After enjoying Girl with the Pearl Earring this was an anticipated read, but the more I read the worse this book became. It was totally implausable; Ella was a bore. I found all the dreams and linking present day to 16th century by dreams & "gut feelings" on Ella's part as completely unbelievable. HATED IT!!!
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Summary: Tracy Chevalier, you've done it again!!!!!
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a relaxing read and although nothing in my opinion could ever top Pearl Earring, this came very close! Now if she would write some more, I would be very happy!
Rating: 
Summary: Good to the last drop!
Review: I agree with some other reviews who felt that The Girl with a Pearl Earring was a more sophisticated read, yet I would hardly call this a drab attempt. Mrs. Chevalier has created some very interesting and origional stories. I would suspect that nasty reviews may come from John Grisham hounds.......who want a quick and easy read.
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Summary: A Page-turner!
Review: THE VIRGIN BLUE was a real page turner. The author alternated chapters between Ella's story and Isabelle's. This method could be frustrating, because I'd be engrossed in Isabelle's story and the chapter would end. It would take a little time to get into Ella's story, then that chapter would end. Fortunately, both stories were very good. There is some French used in the book, and my high school French got me through it just fine. You can figure out what is being said from the context. I truly enjoyed this book and recommend it. Also recommended: THE LOSERS' CLUB by Richard Perez
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Summary: First efforts are sometimes best forgotten
Review: This is one of the worst books I've read in a very long time - I only finished it because I was on a business trip and had nothing else to read (and had just spent $12 in the airport bookstore, so I wanted to plow through it). I enjoyed "Girl with a Pearl Earring," but this book was ridiculous. Everything felt forced, from the shallow characterizations to the contrived plot. None of the characters made sense. The modern protagonist was downright shrewdish - she was harsh, self-obsessed, and utterly unsympathetic. She was unrealistically cavalier about her marriage, which is odd since she took nothing ELSE (her changing hair color, her dreams, her skin ailments, the way the women in town look at her crossways, etc.) lightly. The historical protagonist fared a bit better - while she seemed to actually have some depth, she was surrounded by two-dimensional family members who, again, acted in completely unrealistic ways. I won't give away the big "twist," but ancient tradition or not, I just don't believe that most fathers would act in such a manner toward their children, nor do I think it's even remotely plausible that so many people (the rest of the family, neighbors and friends) would comply with such a barbaric request. One of my main criticisms of "Girl with a Pearl Earring" is that most of the characters are fundamentally mean, selfish, or downright evil. This is even more the case in this book - Chevalier's writing would be much better if she allowed her characters to be more multi-faceted and complex. Simple black and white characterizations quickly become boring. Chevalier tries so hard to infuse meaning into every little thing - instead of feeling weighty and symbolic, the storyline and characters just felt forced and implausible. American publishers obviously knew what they were doing when they passed on this book the first time - it's a shame that Chevalier's success with "Girl with a Pearl Earring" would cause them to re-think that decision.
Rating:
Summary: The Virgin Blue
Review: Wow. This was a book I couldn't put down. Compared to Chevalier's Girl with a Pearl Earing, The Virgin Blue does seem less tightly written. But, I was amazed that it was her first novel. While reading the book, I felt like I had actually visited both contemporary and 16th century French settings. The characters are not discribed in pages of detail, but rather their personalities unfold through their actions. The plot, characters and their surroundings are all very detailed, but Chevielier wastes no words on describing what is not needed. Her writting is detailed, but direct and to the point. She leads the reader cleanly and steadily through two separate plots gradually weaving both stories together in mounting suspense. This book is sensitive and graceful, interspersed with a touch of magical realizm. The book left me feeling like I had just finished a journey and that I had come to know each of the characters personally.
Rating:
Summary: ugh!
Review: The novel started off on a promising note, but quickly went downhill. Chevalier doesn't develop her characters, inserts plenty of coincidences that are never explained and are unbelieveable, and does not provide any eloquent details to keep the reader engaged. To top it off, halfway through the novel, Ella, the protagonist, does something totally out of character ... and it all goes down from there. I understand why this novel was so poorly written when I heard that this is actually Chevalier's first novel. However, there's something to be said for good writing, and editors shouldn't push drivel like this out the door just to make a buck.
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Summary: Blue used to be my favorite color!
Review: Must admit that the book is a fast read and there are parts that are very beautifully written, but it took me awhile to figure out the relationship between La Rousse and the modern heroine's hair turning color,why she suddenly seemed to find her husband so unappealing when he didn't seem to be very well defined and had none of the characteristics of her forebear's overbearing and boorish husband. I think had Ms Chevalier stayed in the present and focused on the modern woman's isolation and loneliness in a foreign country without the outlet of her own profession the book would have appealed to me more; on the other hand the story of the medieval woman who allows herself to become involved with the more highly placed neighbor's boy may have been worth exploring more deeply. The combination of the two left me perplexed and I still haven't figured out the ending. Am going to try Fallen Angels though, because I loved Girl with a Pearl Earring.
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