Rating: 
Summary: Reads like someone's senior English project
Review: Very disappointing book. The story never resolves with the introductory chapter, which seemed to be the most logical and interesting step to take. It's nothing but a collection of flat short stories, each predictable and hurried. Only one or twice did I care what happened to anyone, as the writing style rushed along -- I understood that the painting was supposed to be the "main character," but I found myself not empathizing with why the human characters would risk so much for this object. I suspect that the movie "The Red Violin" did a better job accomplishing what this author set out to do.
Rating: 
Summary: Unusual
Review: Unusual story traces a suspected Vermeer painting back through time into the hands of each of it's owners until you find out whether it actually is the real item. Of course, if you've read some of the other reviews the secret is out, unfortunately because that spoils the mystery of it.
Rating:
Summary: Not of note
Review: I had high hopes, but I expected more of a literary quality in this book. I found the sentences obvios and the emotion planned. It seemed too simple to be authentic. It didn't draw me in at all.
Rating: 
Summary: Quiet, unassuming & thoughtful read
Review: Wonderful look at a piece of art and its history. Makes one wonder about the "history" of any particular piece of art or antique. If you enjoy this book, check out the movie "The Red Violin" - another "history". Loved the writing style.
Rating:
Summary: Illuminating
Review: I was touched to tears. Haven't read a novel in one day in a long time. I was captivated by each chapter. The book has it all: love, longing, anger, fear, joy, wisdom, and beauty. Of the eight chapters, "Hyacinth Blues" topped them all.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating journey
Review: What really threw me at first was that this book travels backward through time -- it really is like unpeeling an onion to get to the inner layers. The first chapter starts in the present, with a painting that may or may not be a Vermeer. How did its present owner come by it? Why does he hide it from view? These questions are answered in the next chapter, which is about the previous owners. And so it goes, each chapter moving backwards through the painting's parade of ownership. Some owners believe it a Vermeer, but most believe it's a copy by one of his contemporaries. It is not until the last two chapters that you learn not only the origin, but the inspiration for the mysterious painting and how it came to start on its journey. I thought this book was marvelously written. Each chapter was like a short story in itself, connecting with all the other short stories until the final product was a very complete and fascinating view of the history behind a single painting. Each chapter was very much its own little world, painstakingly drawn to be different from every other place. You will never be able to look at your simple objects again without wondering what stories they might tell, if only they could!
Rating:
Summary: A HISTORY OF NON-NOTE
Review: One amateur critic thought this story mesmerizing. This amateur critic disagrees. I read this aloud to my wife and both of us agree that about 3 chapters were really interesting and the rest was not "of note." The only data I really wanted to know was if this was a Vermeer or not. I will let the reader discover the answer.
Rating:
Summary: For the book lover and art lover out there
Review: If you love books and art you will love this novel it is a great combination of the two worlds. I am not just saying that because Susan Vreeland was my 12th grade english teacher
Rating:
Summary: Artfully written, a gem of a novel.
Review: All I did was open the book. From the first page I couldn't put it down. Never have I appreciated Vermeer so, until I saw his work through Susan Vreeland's eyes. Novels that transport the reader to another time and place are rare these days. This one does. I loved it!
Rating:
Summary: A mesmerizing story. Very imaginative.
Review: I bought this book as a Christmas present for my daughter and ended up stealing it myself. It is a small book in a beautiful package, yet the content is large, complex and serious. I learned about history, art, and writing as I read. I travelled in time as I followed the painting back to its origins. This was a perfect book to escape into, and a lovely book to own.
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