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Summary: The "provenance" of a great painting
Review: Susan Vreeland's novel begins on a simple note: an art teacher is invited into the home of a colleague, and is shown a breathtaking painting of a young girl staring out a window, her sewing forever arrested in oil on her lap. The colleague claims the painting is an original Vermeer. The art teacher cannot quite accept this as truth, despite the erudite proof of the colleague, because the painting has no provenance, or line of succession, to prove its origins. Its existence is undocumented and therefore suspect. Thus the novel is launched. Vreeland takes her readers back in time to each of the painting's owners and their heartbreaking stories that lead to their surrendering it. The line leads back to Vermeer himself, with the girl who posed for the painting having the final word.I read this brief novel in one sitting and yet felt completely satisfied upon its finish. The comparison to Tracey Chevalier's GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING is inevitable given the subject matter, though in my opinion, Vreeland's book has greater depth and is told more skillfully. Because she weaves a history of the Netherlands into her tale, one gets the feeling of the sweeping changes that accompanied the eternally wistful expression of the young girl with "an eye like a blue pearl." I highly recommend this book for general readers, particular those interested in fine writing, art, and historical fiction.
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Summary: FANTASTIC!
Review: As I began this book in my ninth grade English class I though to myself "Uhhhh, another boring art book." As I read further I began to relate to the problems in he paiting more and more. I loved the way Susan Vreeland uses the painting as the proaganist of the story! I recomend this book to anyone who is in search of a diffent yet expressive novel!
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Summary: Girl In Hyacinth Blue
Review: Walking through the bookstore, I came across a book called "Girl in Hyacinth Blue" with the look of its cover, and the passage on the back of the book, I thought that this would be a pretty good book to read. So I then decided to purchase this book to read for my class. It was eight short stores about Vermeer masterpiece. Her painting was very artful and with descriptive thoughts. The book is basically about the historical backgrounds about a painting, having it passed down to different people with different meanings. It shows that in each different chapter, it tells a different perspective from a different person point of view. She also takes you back in time in an adventure that gives its own beauty and how it had touched their lives. One of the most fascinating things about this lovely little book is the details of family life and the history. It is a little confusing in the beginning but once you get use to the writer's style, then you'll have a better understanding. If you like to read about a detective story trying and out the true meaning of a painting, then I recommend this book for you. If you're not into the whole detective stuff, then maybe this might not be the book for you. Overall, I had a chance to see a different style of writing.
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Summary: Vermeer's Artistic Genius Still Inspires Us Today!
Review: It amazes me that after hundreds of years, Vermeer's art is so inspirational that 2 wonderful pieces of fiction about his paintings were published the same year (1999) ! After thoroughly enjoying GIRL WITH a PEARL EARRING (Tracy Chevalier), I was intrigued by this book by Ms. Vreeland. Despite their major similarities, the general plot idea and structure was quite different and unique. While Ms. Chevalier's novel dealt with the life story of Greit, the fictional subject of Girl with a Pearl Earring, GIRL IN HYACINTH BLUE begins in modern times with the current owner of the painting. Each chapter is a short story unto itself and yet they are all connected by ownership of the painting as we travel back in time to the time when Vermeer actually painted the masterpiece. Throughout the story, the power that the painting had over the emotions and actions of its owners is explored. Therefore, it is ironic when Vermeer's painting subject doubts her own self-worth and her ultimate importance in the world. A very helpful companion to both this novel and Ms. Chevalier's novel is VERMEER: THE COMPLETE WORKS (Arthur K. Wheelock, Jr., 1997) because it features all the Vermeer painting discussed in these tales. This was a very entertaining short novel and I would highly recommend it, especially if you truly appreciate the power of art!
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Summary: I couldn't put this book down!
Review: This book is a must-read for anyone who loves historical novels. It was wonderful to follow the painting back through time and see how it affected all it's owners and finally see how the painting began and how it affected the painter and the girl in the painting.
Vreeland is a superb writer. I was a little confused in the beginning because I wasn't sure where she was going with it, but once I realized what was happening, I couldn't put it down.
I was sorry to see it end.
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Summary: ¿Ne malorum memineris¿
Review: "Ne malorum memineris"
"Remember no wrongs" One of the thinly drawn characters of this unsatisfying book embroiders this into her little bit of cloth. And if the reader heeds this advice, this book will soon be put out of mind.
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Summary: Interesting concept and overall, a pleasing read
Review: The concept of this book fascinated me from the beginning. However, the telling fell short of my expectations to be amazed. It's worth the read for the history involved in the handing down of an unknown masterpiece-just don't expect too much.
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Summary: went too quickly!
Review: I liked it very much, but I blew though it so fast, it left me wanting more!
great job, buy the book.
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Summary: overrated
Review: This book was not nearly as good as I'd hoped it would be. The chapters are jumpy, skipping several decades at a time. The author does not seem to really know anything about art history. Her descriptions of the artwork are superficial and "fluffy." If you like a good fictional book about art read "The girl with a pearl earring" instead!
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Summary: A quick diversion...
Review: Susan Vreeland's novel, *Girl in Hyacinth Blue*, had been sitting on my book shelf for over a year when I finally decided to read it with an online buddy. It only took me three evenings to read, and I have to admit I wasn't captured by the novel, though the idea was really interesting. A Vermeer painting travels back in time and shares its experiences with its owners through the years. Each chapter belongs to a different owner. Some of the stories, the Jewish family struggling during the Nazi regime, the family who finds an abandoned baby and the painting during a tremendous flood, and the story of the painting's origins, were extremely well-written. Others didn't have enough information to keep my interest. If you enjoyed *Tulip Fever* by Deborah Moggach, I think you'll hit the jackpot with *Girl in Hyacinth Blue*. Otherwise, I'd suggest *Corelli's Mandolin* as an alternative, which is similar in tone and much more intriguing.
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