Susan Vreeland

Eight linked stories tracing the history of a painting by the 17th century Dutch artist, Vermeer. In one, he paints his daughter to pay off debts, a second story describes the loss of the ownership papers, a third takes place on the eve of its theft by the Nazis. By the author of What Love Sees.

Girl in hyacinth blue

Sarah Sammis

The Girl in Hyacinth blue is a classic example of Susan Vreeland's favorite type of story telling--where an object inspires and determines a course of story. One writing assignment we had in high school was to write a story based on an object that we randomly chose out of a box. In the case of this novel, the Girl in Hyacinth blue is the object and in some regards, the protagonist. I love how the story unwinds itself back to its origins, to see just how it is that the painting arrived at its final owner. The theme of an objects life melds perfectly with the mission of Book Crossing.

On a side note, I found it fascinating that Ms Vreeland is still teaching creative writing. When I took her class back in 1990-1, her career as a writer had only just started. She had gotten "What Loves Sees" published and was working to get a second book published. It wasn't until joining Book Crossing that I learned that she had done well for herself as a writer. I'm very pleased that she has because she was one of the best teachers I ever had.

Missy Zuber 

Slow and dull. One of the hand full of books I never actually finished.

Girl in Hyacinth Blue tells the story of an imaginary painting by Vermeer, and the aspirations and longings of those whose lives it illuminates, and darkens. From a proud father regretting his lost love to a compromised French noblewoman, from a hanged girl to Vermeer's own gifted daughter, Susan Vreeland's beautiful and luminous tales link to form an evocative jewel.

Girl in Hyacinth Blue

Rose Stanley

Loved how the stories connected in this. Not quite in the same league as Cloud Atlas but still vg.

Sheila Goicea

This book has been sitting in my Kindle library for over 2 years, just waiting to be read. I finally got to it and was pleasantly surprised that it was about a piece of artwork by a famous artist!

Girl in hyacinth blue

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