Synopsis: Willful, dreamy, not-beautiful Carelina Vermeer is a trial to her wealthy Grandmother Thins, whose efforts to make her into a proper young lady are a constant source of tension in a large, loving, but quarrelsome family. Then, early one summer morning, she follows her father to a house on the harbor where he is preparing to paint his masterpiece, View of Delft, and her real life begins.Barbara Shoup presents an interesting way of viewing Vermeer's life: through the eyes of one of his daughters, who is herself an artist at heart. Though this is entirely a work of fiction, it still brings to life one of the most famous painters in history, and the Reader is left feeling like they actually know Vermeer.
Review: Beautifully written, Vermeer's Daughter is an intriguing novel which focuses on some of Vermeer's most famous works. The mammoth-load of Dutch names can make it difficult to get through (there is, unfortunately, no pronunciation key in the back), but once you have worked that out to a satisfactory degree, the story is easy to become immersed in. It is a very fast read, being only 160 pages long, but it is a story which all ages would enjoy.
Overall Rating: JJJ
Thanks for this! (I just came upon it looking for something else.) I'm glad you liked the book and, you're right, a pronunciation guide would have been a good idea. Wish I'd thought of it.
ReplyDeleteIt was still a very enjoyable read, and I admit I had fun googling pronunciations afterward.
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