Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Girl in Hyacinth Blue
Book Review: A Vermeer through time...
Summary: 4 Stars
A collection of short stories told in reverse chronological order and held together by the presence of one painting. The earlier vignettes, or the later chapters of the book, are captivating as the Dutch lowlands and windmills take center stage in Vreeland's narratives. Characters have short-lived moments in the book, but that is okay once it becomes clear that the central character is the painting. The book is not long and it is easy to complete in a short time. An enjoyable result from reading the book, is that I found myself constantly looking at objects that have been around for a while, old coins, old buildings, and reflecting about the connections and stories these objects could tell about earlier times and people that have long departed. I found the book worthy of recommending to my middle school age kid, so it is fine for young teenagers.Book Review: A beautiful and well told tale
Summary: 5 Stars
If you have time for only one book this season, make it this one. It is beautifully written and soothing to the mind and senses. The manner in which Vreeland tells this lovely tale is a new approach, one which works quite well. Reading Girl in Hyachinth Blue paints a picture in the mind as lovely as the art described in various chapters. This is a remarkable experience. Now go get the book and read it.Book Review: A decent read, but not spectacular
Summary: 3 Stars
Susan Vreeland's novel "Girl in Hyacinth Blue" is a short, entertaining read, but I found it to be slightly disappointing and very lacking in character development. The dialogue that the characters used with one another sometimes seemed to be on an elementary level, and I didn't feel that Vreeland fully developed the feelings of awe and adoration that her characters supposedly had for the mysterious Vermeer painting that touched their lives. In fact, the painting's beauty was glorified much more than the reactions to it, which were sometimes hollow, empty and cliched. While the idea of going back in time to observe the lives that the painting has touched was indeed an interesting one, I felt that Vreeland did not do enough with this concept - she seemed so overeager to group a bunch of lukewarm short stories together into a novel that she missed the greater and more rewarding challenge of expanding on the storylines that she created. There were characters in this novel whom I wanted to get to know, but never did! It was as if I was being hurried along toward an ending that had no particular purpose. However, Vreeland had some great storylines in this novel, but she just didn't go anywhere with them, and this reader was left feeling a little shortchanged. I have to admit, the glowing reviews that this book had received both from critics and avid readers surprised me in the end, but nevertheless I give it three stars for the potential it had, and the occasional stirring images it drew.Book Review: A delight to read
Summary: 5 Stars
I was in a reading rut before I picked this book up. You know how it is, sometimes nothing on your usual book menu really works for you. I had turned to biographies and historical novels to break me of the rut. I picked this up last week on a whim, having passed it by many times before. I read it in exactly two sittings, and just highly recommended it to two of my closest bibliophile friends. This was just a delight to read!Vreeland has designed the book as a series of short-stories which all trace back the history of a 36th Vermeer painting. (It is held that Vermeer painted only 35, and this 36th is of Vreeland's creation). What I found most interesting about the individual stories is how well Vreeland depicted the difference in value, both emotional and monetary, the painting had for its different owners over the years. For some, the painting was priceless and something to be coveted or hidden or cherished for familial or emotional reasons. For others, including the painter and his family, the painting was worth food and survival.
In addition, I came to "see" the painting more clearly with each passing chapter, as I came to know how the painting was seen by its owners and how their feelings towards it affected me. I have much to think about now that I can digest the painting's chain of ownership in total.
I was entranced by the atmosphere of the Dutch regions in which Vreeland set the stories. This book has a definite feel to it, and it is mesmerizing; you will have trouble putting the book down. Not a bad way to break out of my rut!
Book Review: A gentle writer with a good story
Summary: 4 Stars
Susan Vreeland puts words to paper as visually as a painter puts color on canvas. There are no fireworks or attention getting crises to hook you into the book, but you are drawn in, nonetheless. This is a very discussible book for book club groups. This book has the quality of true art, that is, each time you read you see something new in it.