The Virgin Blue

Rating:
Summary: EllA was A SELFISH WITCH-HATED THIS BOOK
Review: I read Girl with A Pear Earring and couldn't wait to read this book.
I was very disappointed. The main character, Ella, was a selfish and very unlikeable charachter. Really ruined the book for me because I really thought she was a poorly developed, shallow character, who was not well thought out at all. I couldn't really care less about her dreams or her life, I was really hoping she'd drop dead and her nice husband would find someone else.

The historical aspect was interesting but the author tied the lives of these women together in a very halfhazard way. I felt the author was building to a climax that was supposed to be stimulating and exciting but was just confusing and fell very flat. A disappointing read.

Rating:
Summary: An OK book from what i've read,
Review: I love Tracy Chevalier. I have read Girl with a Pearl Earring, Falling Angels and this book, The Virgin Blue. I especially enjoyed the Virgin Blue. I liked the different approach to this book that she took by switching back and forth between times. Will read it again and suggest it to others!

Rating:
Summary: Cute plane read... quite irrealistic though
Review: A nice and quick read. Relaxing and entertaining... the love story is nice.

Unfortunately, I found the book lacking finess: the historical subject is interesting, yet not fully explored (the history note at the end just states a few commonly known facts, but does not goes back to the sorcery and popular magic on which a large part of the book is based on), the approach of an expat life abroad is only brushed, and not lived - it does not have any psychological depth nor realism. Finally, the research done in the book by Ella is based on sheer luck, there is no breakthrough, there is no tension.

While I was looking forward this book, in the end I found it deeply disappointing.

Rating:
Summary: The Virgin Blue by Tracy Chevalier
Review: First of all, if you struggle with the French language, then listen to this book on tape! The beauty of the language inhances the book ten fold! I found my mind being compeled to think of the book often, making it extremely difficult to ignor. Finishing it couldn't happen soon enough, and I mean that in a positive way! After finishing the book, I still found myself thinking on the manner in which it was written, the characters, the intertwining aspects, the love, the sorrow, the struggle. I was constantly drawn to the characters of two life times and loved every minuete of it. Chevalier did an excelent job of captivating the imagination by hypnotically mesmerizing the reading ... urging the reader to proceed. If the reader is not familiar with the history of women and the history of the Reformation, then they may be likely to feel confused at certian areas within the book, but trust me when I say, that Chevalier hit it right on the mark! The historical aspects of the book were very accurate as well as believable! The present day aspect was totally understandable. I gave this book a 5 star rating for it's beauty, it's history, the way it captivated my soul, and for the way it did not disappoint me.

Rating:
Summary: could have been netter
Review: I read this book and was extremly disapointed. The authour writes in french most of the time with the dialodue and such, and i dont speak french and from what i can remember from my high school french i could barely make sense of the story line. Not to mention the ending, what happened to Ella and rick/jean -paul. it is not very clear or what happened to isabella? Its like you only read half a book the ending is so bad. You wonder what happens next........................................................................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: --Fascinating and memorable--
Review: THE VIRGIN BLUE is a hypnotic story that kept me intrigued from start to finish. It's part modern time and part historic fiction. This is the dual story of Ella Turner who lived in the twentieth century and Isabelle du Moulin who lived hundreds of years earlier.

When Ella and Rick Turner move from the United States to France, Ella feels a sense of familiarity to the small quaint town which is now her home. She's tormented by strange dreams and feels that many of the town's people react to her in a negative way. She often dreams of a red haired woman who wears the color blue.

A dual narrative also gives us the story of red haired, Isabelle du Moulin who lived in the seventeenth century at a very difficult time when religious freedom was not an option. The Catholic religion still had some influence, but the Calvinists had become strong and any display of love of the Virgin Mary was punished.

I've read all of Tracy Chevalier's books and have thoroughly enjoyed all of her very rich and imaginative stories. I think this book may be my favorite.




Rating:
Summary: Looking beyond
Review: First and foremost Tracy Chevalier has to be one of the best up and coming writers right now, and when I found out that this was her first novel I was impressed. The historical details are magnificent and the characters are vivid and disincted, and the story all together is wonderful. And for the peolple who complain about the characters and their actions, I believe that the story in itself is much more important(It's depth), unlike Ella's affair. But for the people who say that the ending is a kind of mystery I completly agree with you. I think Chevalier should have given a little more to Isabelle's story. But other than that I completly recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting Book
Review: Many have not enjoyed this book, but I did! I liked reading about two related women and their lives hundreds of years apart. I like the theme of having a connection with ancestors, and it makes me wonder what I do or say that is drawn from my roots.

The main character was self-centered, weak and not particularly likable. Her husband was out of touch with her, but she didn't do much to help him understand what she was going through. He was uncomfortable with her skin condition, which I think was part of why she drew away from him.

The book was an easy read.