Friday Flashback Reviews are a weekly feature here on The Introverted Reader. Basically, I have hundreds of reviews on GoodReads and I want to post them over here as well. Every Friday I will post one of those old reviews. Thanks to Angieville and her Retro Friday Reviews for the inspiration and encouragement! Be sure to check out her fantastic blog!
Girl in Hyacinth Blue follows the path of a painting, possibly by Vermeer, from an aloof math professor backwards to the painter and the subject. Each owner has a different story to tell, and even a little bit of a different relationship to the painting, but they all love it and find echoes of something they feel inside themselves inside the painting. And isn't that sort of the point of truly great art?
The novel itself has the feel of a short story collection. Each chapter is about a different owner and is a complete story unto itself. The novel never feels choppy though. But--the writing. Beautiful. It lived up to the painting that I painted inside my head. I truly saw the landscapes Susan Vreeland paints with her words and I truly felt involved with each character's story.
If you love beautiful language, or you love beautiful art, read this book. It's just gorgeous.
Reviewed December 19, 2007
Read an excerpt.
Author Susan Vreeland's website
Buy it on IndieBound or Better World Books.
I have an affiliate relationship with IndieBound and Better World Books and will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site.
I LOVED this book. It was a 5 star review for me, and I never read another book by this author since...weird huh?
ReplyDeleteI have this book on my wishlist and I so love your positive review. I think I will just have to place this novel to the front of my wishlist. I really love to read novels takings place amidst art.
ReplyDeleteI read this something like five years ago and I still think back on it today. Lovely book and a lovely review!
ReplyDelete+JMJ+
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about the "short story" structure of the chapters in the book. How appropriate, I think, for this sort of story.
This book has been on my wishlist for so long. I think I should buy it already. thank you for the review!
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Misha
http://books-love-affair.blogspot.com/
I never read the book but i kind of like it. I'll get it to my TBR list. Thanks for the review =)
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ReplyDelete-Ana @ Addicted To Books
This is definitely on my list of MUST read books. I have absolutely fallen in love with Susan Vreeland's writing style. I have read Luncheon of the Boating Party and Life Studies this summer and know that I will re-read them one day.
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ReplyDeleteDanya
http://atapestryofwords.blogspot.com