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This luminous story begins in the present day, when a professor invites a colleague to his home to see a painting that he has kept secret for decades. The professor swears it is a Vermeer—but why has he hidden this important work for so long? The reasons unfold in a series of events that trace ...
This luminous story begins in the present day, when a professor invites a colleague to his home to see a painting that he has kept secret for decades. The professor swears it is a Vermeer—but why has he hidden this important work for so long? The reasons unfold in a series of events that trace the ownership of the painting back to World War II and Amsterdam, and still further back to the moment of the work's inspiration. As the painting moves through each owner's hands, what was long hidden quietly surfaces, illuminating poignant moments in multiple lives. Susan Vreeland's characters remind us, through their love of this mysterious painting, how beauty transforms and why we reach for it, what lasts and what in our lives is singular and unforgettable.
For our book club meeting, we were fortunate to have a guest speaker who was a native of Holland. He was able to give us some insight about flooding, the dike systems, the geography and customs of Holland that really added alot to our experience.
"Girl in Hyacinth Blue"by Melba G. (see profile)03/25/11
Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland is the story of a painting. Suspected to be an undiscovered work by Dutch master Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675), the painting has a long, if uncelebrate... (read more)
"Girl in Hyacinth Blue"by Carolyn H. (see profile)03/16/11
This is really more like a series of short stories than a novel. Just when you start to understand and follow a character, they disappear, never to be heard from again. Overall, I liked the idea of the... (read more)
"Short Stories with a Common Thread"by Jill H. (see profile)03/16/11
The book is a series of 8 short stories about various families who have owned the same piece of art and the effect the painting has on each of them. It's a study on the effect that art has on one and how... (read more)
Girl in Hyacinth Blue is a beautiful story about a painting, it's owners and what the painting meant to all of them. The story takes begins with the most current owner and takes you back all the way to... (read more)
"Quick Read - Interesting Premise"by Beth B. (see profile)05/16/08
Interesting premise - the experience of owning an undocumented Vemeer over the centuries told by the various individuals that were fortunate enough to have snagged it for a time. And a very quick read.... (read more)
