Girl in Hyacinth Blue

I read this book years ago and never forgot it. These stories tell us some of the life of a beautiful work of art and the people who loved it. Each story will move you...some to tears.

This book was recommended to me by my mother and typically, I adore the books that she suggests. However, this book left me wanting more and was not as good as I was expecting.The story follows the path of a Vermeer painting from present time to when the picture was created several hundred years ago. Through the story, it passes through 7 owners. The painting is described as a beautiful young girl, who is looking out a window day dreaming. She has sewing materials as well. Each owner relates to the painting and has a philosophy of what the girl is thinking; and for some, it also reminds them of loves lost. Most of their stories were sad, but all felt a connection to the painting. Each chapter shares the story of a different owner as well as what was going on in their lives. The last 2 chapters is Vermeer painting the girl and his story and the girl's story 20 or so years later.Vermeer only painted 30 or so paintings and most of the owners recognized its great value.While the premise of the book (hearing the story of each of the 7 owners) is interesting, the beginning 2 chapters were so intriguing that I wished that the author would have continued further with this line rather than jumping to the next owner. The next 2 owners didn't feel connected to the rest of the story as the other 5 owners. For those middle owners I felt that there were details missing in how they came about owning the painting so it felt disjointed at times. The last 4 chapters the story felt connected. However, after 2 chapters of somewhat a disconnect, I felt the book lost much of its momentum.While I thought the book was good, I would have rated it 4 or 5 stars if chapters 3-4 had more details so that the reader could more easily follow the path of the painting.

A page turner that you will reread, as each chapter is a gem; a short story in its own right. They are entirely linked through the painting, the view and the Girl in Hyacinth blue, Vermeer’s daughter.One of eleven children, a soul so sublime, you will be enthralled.! Worth twice as much !

Girl in Hyacinth Blue is a lovely historical fiction with a twist~the tale is told backwards starting from the present and working its way back in time. The main character is a painting~supposedly a rare original by Vermeer. Knowing nothing about art history, this means little to me. Luckily, you don't have to know art history to enjoy the book. You just need to enjoy reading.The painting currently hangs in the home of a man whose father willed him the painting. The man anguishes over the idea that his father got the during a Nazi raid on a Jewish home. I thought that was going to be the story line, but that is not really what the book is about. The plot follows the history of the painting back in time to when the artist painted the portrait of his daughter.The brief glimpse into each family's lives is just enough to make you wanting to learn more about that group of people. The idea of a painting (or any object for that matter) touching so many people throughout history makes me even more intrigued by the idea.The characters are gentle and endearing. The story kept me reading~I finished the book in two days. The setting (Holland) makes the novel a bit exotic.I think you will enjoy the beauty and gentleness of this unusual historical fiction.Melissa

“But the question of how Cornelius’s father obtained the painting, he deftly avoided. I did not know him well enough to press further without being pushy. Not knowing this which he so carefully kept private, I could not believe it to be genuine. I finished the brandy and extricated myself, politely enough, thinking, so what if it is isn’t a Vermeer? The painting’s exquisite. Let the fellow enjoy it.”At the opening of the novel, Cornelius, a college professor has a secret. It’s a secret he’s never shared with anyone outside of his own family. Finally, he decides to trust a colleague and shows him into a special room inside his house where his treasure lies. His secret treasure is a painting so valuable and rare – it’s a Vermeer. How the painting came to be in Cornelius’s possession is the plot of the book, each chapter taking us back into time to walk alongside the Vermeer masterpiece and hear it’s story.I was impressed with Vreeland’s superb research and storytelling talents. This was a wonderful book that is not only an excellent work of historical fiction, but also presents an intriguing mystery that makes for an enjoyable read.

It is a bumper season for Vermeer books. The book sketches in the provenance of a fictitious Vermeer painting, chapter by chapter, which work like brief glances into a Vermeer moment in our lives. Tracy Chevalier in her "Girl with a Pearl Earring" achieves a better result overall in terms of characterization and atmosphere - her Griet is flesh and blood, her Jan Vermeer convincingly elusive. However, notwithstanding her wooden prose, Susan Vreeland does manage to make a point: why are we drawn into Vermeer scenes? Why do we impart our own longing and solitude into his canvases, more than those of any other artist? Why do we care? The book is not only about a Dutch painter and his mystery, but about beautiful things we cherish, the moments that render an ordinary life memorable, the truth that all too often goes buried beneath the years.

This book was praised in a book review by a tv personality and as it sounded like a good read I tried it myself. It was entertaining but didn't ring many bells for me. I can't really believe in the characters and their feelings about the painting.

I am so glad that I didn't read the reviews. I didn't even read the back of the jacket, so the story unravelled itself gradually, without me having any idea of what it was about (apart from a painting,)or what was coming.What a clever idea. When I got to the end, I read it backwards, chapter by chapter.Brilliant.

Quite a good book in my view, started in the present & traced the origin back. It wasn't the sort of book I couldn't put down but it was enjoyable & it had a beginning, middle & an interesting end.

ordered this as it said UK14/5 it arrived 13/6 !! hmm

i read this book some years ago. A friend has just read “The Girl with the Pearl Earring”. I thought she would like this book too.