Rating: 
Summary: A Beautifully Written and Inspiring Story
Review: ..."I am working, Juanico," was his answer. "Working, by looking." I did not understand and so I held my tongue, thinking that this was what he meant me to do with his cryptic answer. But a week or more later, he spoke to me as if I had put my question but a moment before, answering, "When I sit and look at something I am feeling its shape, so that I shall have it in my fingers when I start to draw the outline. I am analyzing the colors, too. For example, do you see that piece of brocade on the chair? What color is it? "Blue," I answered promptly. "No, Juanico. There is a faint underlay of blue, but there is violet in that blue, the faintest touch of rose, and the highlights are red and bright green. Look again." It was magical, for suddenly I could see them, the other colors, just as he said. "The eye is complicated. It mixes the colors for you," explained Master. "The painter must unmix them and lay them on again shade by shade, and then the eye of the beholder takes over and mixes them again." "I should like to paint!" I cried out in my joy at this revelation...This is the book my 3rd and 4th grade students are reading. It is an inspiring story about relationships. Truth and fiction are intertwined...Velazquez is a famous Spanish painter, Juan de Pareja was a slave Velazquez inherited from his aunt's estate. The reader is taken on a profound journey through the 17th century, and introduced to many colorful and intriguing characters--characters who are very real in their familiar human qualities. The story is beautifully and vividly written. You can't help but come to love, appreciate, and admire Juan de Pareja and Diego Velazquez. Every sentence is full of rich language taking you step by step down a path of adventure and discovery. The inspiration from this book has brought forth "oooh's" and "aaah's" as we look forward to viewing the paintings by Velazquez and Rubens at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
Rating:
Summary: Supremely Intelligent and Well-Done
Review: Based on "thin threads" of truth, "I, Juan de Pareja" explores the relationship between famous 17th-century Spanish painter Diego Velazquez and his black slave, Juan de Pareja. Written in first person as if Juan is really telling his story, it is the chronicle of much of Juan's life and and his colorful experiences as apprentice to a master painter. There are many excellent aspects of this book, yet I think that the "strength" of the character of Juan is the book's biggest asset. Many books that are simply first person narratives are dry and boring, yet one could never complain of boredom while reading "I, Juan de Pareja." Juan's intelligence shines through in every page and his intuitiveness fills the book with detail. Also, his struggle to paint (because Spanish slaves at the time were forbidden to practice the arts) is fascinating, suspenseful, and ultimately inspiring. This book would not be a 5-star read without a strong character like Juan. Historical detail also adds great richness to the book. Author de Trevino has captured the mood of 17th century Spain perfectly, and her accounts of Juan's Italian travels fascinate the reader as well. Art facts and descriptions are well-placed, and the reader will find themselves interested in the rich history presented in the book, rather than bored by it. Furthermore, supporting characters are excellent! The portrayal of Diego Velazquez was well-imagined by the author, and the master painter's comments ring with insight and truth. The nobles, the painter's family, the Spanish king, Dutch painter Ruebens...they all come to life in "I, Juan de Pareja." Finally, the end of the book is triumphant and fitting. I can't say much more without spoiling the book, but trust me, it's one of the most well-done endings you could find. It is hard to find a single flaw in this book. Vibrant history, excellent characters...why aren't more people reading this book?
Rating:
Summary: Not To Be Missed
Review: Here I am, 27 years old and writing about a book I read when I was 11 or so. Juan de Pareja was a slave, a man of courage and devotion to his painter master who takes up painting itself. As a historical novel for youngsters, it just doesn't get any better. I remember reading it and wondering how my peers couldn't also be into this kind of writing.
Rating: 
Summary: Very nice
Review: I credit this book with starting my interest in painting. It also opened my eyes to the cruelty of slavery. I read this when I was 10, and my memories are few, but I do remember that this book was very sad, and beautifully written. As a child, however, I had a very short attention span, and at times this book lost my interest. I remember it as being very long. I would recommend it to artistic and intelligent children.
Rating:
Summary: I, Juan De Pareja in Review
Review: I found Elizabeth Borton De Trevino's book very compelling. It has an interesting plot and a great slew of characters. It has all the elements of historical ficton that compell young readers to enjoy a book: intruige, conflict and hidden goings-ons. A definite winner, if you like the 1500s.
Rating: 
Summary: I was not hooked to the book.
Review: I never really got hooked on the book. Some parts were interesting but most of it was boring. The plot is OK and it is also developed OK. The plot was a good idea, but the way the author wrote the book was boring to me. To much detail can become boring. To little makes the book to hard to understand. The author put too much detail.
Rating: 
Summary: Review of "I, Juan de Pareja"
Review: I read "I, Juan de Pareja" for school. This book was not necessarily the type of book that I would read in my own free time, however, I did begin to enjoy it once I had been reading it for a while. The cover of the book also somewhat gives away the book after the reader gets about half way through it. Overall, this book was somewhat satisfactory, and I would not read it again, however, I thought the book was educational in describing life in the 16th century. I would recommend this book to anyone willing to learn while you read.
Rating:
Summary: satisfactory, but not great
Review: I read I Juan de Pareja for school and I thought it was somewhat uninteresting. It is about a Spanish slave and there weren't very many action scenes. The book talks about Juan, the spanish slave, working for the Famous Painter Don diego Valascuez. I would have enjoyed this book more if it were more interesting.
Rating:
Summary: Everyone, this is truely a wonderful book
Review: I read this book in the sixth grade, and I thought I should just read it because my teacher, Ms. Aperribay, had us and I didn't want to get a "F" for this work. So I read it, bored with it in the first chapter. Then... I thought it was wonderful! Juan de Pareja is a true story of a slave of the famous painter, Diego de Silva y Velazquez, and he studies, just by watching, the arts of true painting. Secretly, he does his own pieces, and they are beautiful! He wishes he could share it with someone, but if he tells, he will be sinned because slaves aren't supposed to paint! This book disserves a 100 thumbs up, but I guess there is no such thing. I read this in spanish, and even though I didn't understand it well, I loved it.
Rating:
Summary: Everyone, this is truely a wonderful book
Review: I read this book in the sixth grade, and I thought I should just read it because my teacher, Ms. Aperribay, had us and I didn't want to get a "F" for this work. So I read it, bored with it in the first chapter. Then... I thought it was wonderful! Juan de Pareja is a true story of a slave of the famous painter, Diego de Silva y Velazquez, and he studies, just by watching, the arts of true painting. Secretly, he does his own pieces, and they are beautiful! He wishes he could share it with someone, but if he tells, he will be sinned because slaves aren't supposed to paint! This book disserves a 100 thumbs up, but I guess there is no such thing. I read this in spanish, and even though I didn't understand it well, I loved it.
|
