Status
Available
Call number
Publication
HarperCollins (1997), Edition: paperback / softback, 312 pages
Description
Meet Ella Turner and Isabelle du Moulin-two women born centuries apart, yet tied together by a haunting family legacy. When Ella and her husband move to a small town in France, Ella hopes to brush up on her French, qualify to practice as a midwife, and start working on a family of her own. Village life turns out to be less idyllic than she expected, however, and a strange series of events propels her on a quest to uncover her family's French ancestry. As the novel unfolds-alternating between Ella's story and that of Isabelle du Moulin four hundred years earlier-a common thread emerges that pulls the lives of the two women together in a most mysterious way. Part detective story, part historical fiction, The Virgin Blue is a novel of passion and intrigue that compels readers to the very last page.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member elliepotten
Simply put, this book is like an interesting fusion of 'Labyrinth' and 'Practical Magic'. Isabelle is a young woman in rural France who finds herself increasingly despised by those around her. Her bright red hair links her to the Virgin Mary, and whispers of witchcraft float around her as the
The book began disastrously for me. It was clunky, irritating, confusing and disjointed. In fact, if it hadn't been for a fellow LT-er mentioning having a similar experience but really liking it in the end, I might have given up before the end of the first chapter. I'm glad I took that advice and persevered! I enjoyed seeing the parallels between Isabelle and Ella building, wondering if anyone else in the 'modern' chapters might be descendants of those in the 'old' sections, and how the tangle of characters around these women fitted together. The ties between women, in friendship as well as through the generations of a family, is nicely explored, with the whispering echoes of Isabelle and her red hair reminding me of the mysterious family curse at the centre of 'Practical Magic'. The chapters alternate between Isabelle and Ella, between the third and first person voice, and between narrative styles, until the climactic chapters where both alternate ever more quickly, building suspense and a horrible sickly sense of dread and fear. That said, I worked out what was coming a little too early, which meant that I was waiting more for the WHY than the WHAT - and was therefore disappointed when the truth was revealed but never explained.
All in all, I'm really glad I carried on reading it - but I was a bit distracted by it's similarity to the later 'Labyrinth', which I read (and loved) a few years ago now. It was evocative and exciting and suspenseful, but the anticlimactic ending let it down to some extent. I think the story will stay with me so I'll hang on to it a while and let the reflection run its course before I decide whether it's a keeper or not!
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Calvinist 'Truth' spreads through the people and the Catholics turn to persecution to fight back. Marrying into the wealthy but arrogant Tourniers, she is still marginalised and life becomes ever more difficult. Several hundred years later, Ella Turner moves from America to France with her husband, to a little provincial town that doesn't take kindly to strangers. Increasingly miserable and lonely there, she takes up the search for her ancestors as a project to pass the time, enlisting Jean-Paul, a local librarian, to help her. Tormented by a smothering nightmare of billowing blue and chanted words, she moves ever closer to discovering the fate of Isabelle and her children.The book began disastrously for me. It was clunky, irritating, confusing and disjointed. In fact, if it hadn't been for a fellow LT-er mentioning having a similar experience but really liking it in the end, I might have given up before the end of the first chapter. I'm glad I took that advice and persevered! I enjoyed seeing the parallels between Isabelle and Ella building, wondering if anyone else in the 'modern' chapters might be descendants of those in the 'old' sections, and how the tangle of characters around these women fitted together. The ties between women, in friendship as well as through the generations of a family, is nicely explored, with the whispering echoes of Isabelle and her red hair reminding me of the mysterious family curse at the centre of 'Practical Magic'. The chapters alternate between Isabelle and Ella, between the third and first person voice, and between narrative styles, until the climactic chapters where both alternate ever more quickly, building suspense and a horrible sickly sense of dread and fear. That said, I worked out what was coming a little too early, which meant that I was waiting more for the WHY than the WHAT - and was therefore disappointed when the truth was revealed but never explained.
All in all, I'm really glad I carried on reading it - but I was a bit distracted by it's similarity to the later 'Labyrinth', which I read (and loved) a few years ago now. It was evocative and exciting and suspenseful, but the anticlimactic ending let it down to some extent. I think the story will stay with me so I'll hang on to it a while and let the reflection run its course before I decide whether it's a keeper or not!
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LibraryThing member BookAddict
The storyline incorporated a touch of unrealistic science fiction which was completely unbelievable.
The writing was choppy, the thoughts didn't flow together as they should.
The romance was unconvincing.
The characters made immature life choices.
There isn't much to recommend about this book. Well,
If this were the only book by Tracy Chevalier that I had ever read, I would not pick up another one by her. I am not sure how it was ever published.
The writing was choppy, the thoughts didn't flow together as they should.
The romance was unconvincing.
The characters made immature life choices.
There isn't much to recommend about this book. Well,
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the cover is pretty, that's about it :)If this were the only book by Tracy Chevalier that I had ever read, I would not pick up another one by her. I am not sure how it was ever published.
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LibraryThing member wiremonkey
Elizabeth, a midwife from the U.S. follows her husband to France when he lands a job in an architectural firm. Unable to speak the language and alienated by the cold, comtemptuous silence of her neighbours, she decides to distract herself by looking into her family history. Thus begins a voyage led
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mostly by intuition and deeply embedded ancestral ties, but also by the hands of a cute and able librarian. Although the plot seems to have been hammered together with some plywood and a couple of nails the manipulation was so obvious, I somehow didn't mind. I guess it is because it is interesting to think that we have some sort of connection to our ancestors and that their story still lives inside us. Show Less
LibraryThing member herebedragons
A solidly interesting read, kept my attention, and I mostly liked the characters. This is Chevalier's first novel, one in which she writes two stories which eventually merge at the end to become one. An American woman and her husband move to a small village in France, and she soon becomes
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interested in finding out more about the history of her family, who lived in the area centuries before. At the same time, we learn about a woman who lived in the area four hundred years earlier, and as the two stories progress, we find that these women are connected. As the back of the book states, this is "part detective story, part historical fiction." A good book, not breath-taking, but worth the read. Show Less
LibraryThing member Kyniska
The intense climax of this book overshadowed, for me, any faults I may have found leading up to it. Again, I am biased when it comes to this author, since her voice speaks very well to me and I have little to no trouble reading her meaning or intent in a way that is personally appealing to me and I
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don't know why. I love her imagery and diction, but it's not just that. At any rate, I recommend this title to any Chevalier fan, though I must state that the ending is a bit of a shock and not in keeping with the slow-moving, domestic action in the rest of the book. Show Less
LibraryThing member mimosapudica
The setting of the story goes back and forth from long past century and the present. I like the Chimney, Chap 9. Very creative...and vividly descriptive.
LibraryThing member Bookmarque
Overall I didn’t find this very compelling or original. The ancient secret that is pried loose is one of child sacrifice. Partly because she has red hair and partly to punish her mother, Isabelle’s child is killed and buried under the new hearth of their new home. They had to run because of
I didn’t much like Ella. She seemed selfish and petulant to me. Like a little girl more than a woman. She got her man and her fancy wedding and now she wasn’t satisfied with that and wanted something else. Her affair with the local Frenchman isn’t romantic, although Chevalier tries to make it seem pre-ordained somehow. I just saw her as a lying, cheat and nothing more. In the end she’s pregnant and knows the brat will be a girl with red hair. Bah!
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trumped-up witchcraft charges that might have caught up with Isabelle. In modern times, Ella traces this house and has some bogus psychic vibrations that lead her to pry up some stones in this shack preserved as history. She finds a skull and a remnant of blue cloth. Immediately she concludes that this is the girl in her dreams and is also her ancestor. Now she knows why she was haunted and now the spirit can rest. Bah. I didn’t much like Ella. She seemed selfish and petulant to me. Like a little girl more than a woman. She got her man and her fancy wedding and now she wasn’t satisfied with that and wanted something else. Her affair with the local Frenchman isn’t romantic, although Chevalier tries to make it seem pre-ordained somehow. I just saw her as a lying, cheat and nothing more. In the end she’s pregnant and knows the brat will be a girl with red hair. Bah!
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LibraryThing member towncalledmalice
Could not put this book down. It alternates between the lives of 2 woman 400 years apart. Found the character of Rick irritating; ditto the constant descriptions of Ella's horrible linen outfits BUT these are minor quibbles this is a great read and the plight of the 16th century characters is
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heart-wrenching. Show Less
LibraryThing member Niecierpek
A double plot unfolding in France in the 16th and 20th century. The 16th century story involves a family of Hugenots running away from persecution and settling down in Switzerland, and a woman in this family for whom "virgin blue" is very dear. The 20th century protagonist is a descendant of the
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family who comes to live to France from the States. The old family history takes over her life more than she expects immediately after she settles down. The book is very well researched and very well written until the last two- three chapters, which are weak. Show Less
LibraryThing member mbergman
The first novel by the author of the bestselling Girl with a Pearl Earring, rereleased to take advantage of its success. For my money, this one is more satisfying than the more popular one. I listened to much of it, but read the last couple of chapters. It alternates between the story of a woman in
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a Protestant family in 16th-century France who flee to Switzerland (the woman has a lingering devotion to Mary that causes her much grief) and a descendant, an American woman who accompanies her husband to France & decides to trace her family's history with the help of a local librarian. Occasionally melodramatic, it's nonetheless pretty satisfying. Show Less
LibraryThing member ethelmertz
I liked it--not as good as Pearl, but I stayed up too late reading.
LibraryThing member krsball
My favorite book by Tracy Chevalier. Evocative and stunning.
LibraryThing member bibliophile26
Part of it takes place in late 16th century France where a Hugenot family is on the run from Catholic persecutors. The rest takes place in modern time where an American living in France is researching her family history. I must say that I liked the historical fiction story better than the modern
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story. It is one of the best books I read in 2006. Show Less
LibraryThing member tjsjohanna
Good atmosphere and an interesting plot line where modern and historical intertwine. Entertaining read but nothing amazing.
LibraryThing member Amzzz
When Ella Tournier starts looking into her family history, her story becomes bound with that of Isabelle Tournier, her ancestor . Although the two women live in entirely different times, their stories are linked in many ways. As Ella tries to find out what happened to Isabelle's family, she
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discovers some things she didn't want to know, not only about her family but also about herself. It took me a while to get into this book but towards the end it was too chilling to put down. Really well written, especially the parts from Isabelle. Show Less
LibraryThing member spreckles
I like Tracy Chevalier's writing style a lot. She was able to flip from character to character well without it being annoying. I think the ending is so sad and definitely didn't see it coming at the beginning of the book.
LibraryThing member Marliesd
Good but disturbing!
LibraryThing member brsquilt
16th century and present day - story of 2 women
LibraryThing member stacyinthecity
Tracy Chevalier is a very frustrating author for me. I liked the first one I read (The Lady and the Unicorn), I adored the second one I read (Falling Angels) and was disappointed with the third (The Girl in the Pearl Earrings). This is the 4th, and once again, disappointed. The thing that
Instead, one of the protagonists I really didn't care for (the modern Ella). I did like the way the author showed how it was difficult to adjust to life in small town France. The book described that well, in a way I could understand. But the character herself, I didn't much care for.
The way the magical elements were woven into the story also didn't make sense to me. I found the blue dream hokey, the hair that grew mysteriously red overnight unbelievable, and so forth. I've read a lot of books with magical elements to them so that as a plot device or aspect of the story doesn't bother me. But it didn't fit well here.
There were also lose ends that were never tied up and things that were never explained. I'm not referring to an open ended ending, which can be excellent sometimes. I'm referring to the painter that ended up being a dead end. Why was he even in the story? It did not move the plot forward or contribute in any way. It was frustrating.
Finally, the sections taking place in the 1500s were confusing and hard for me to follow. I find the French way of writing dialog difficult to read. They never sound like characters speaking in my head. I also thought there were too many names and the action was difficult to follow. I ended up confused and had to read back a few pages to get the characters straight.
Once again, highly disappointing since I love the idea behind it.
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disappoints me most is that the subject material is so rich, I can see how the book could be so good. I know nothing about the Huguenots in France and would love to read more. I love history, I love genealogy and so forth. This could have been a really great story.Instead, one of the protagonists I really didn't care for (the modern Ella). I did like the way the author showed how it was difficult to adjust to life in small town France. The book described that well, in a way I could understand. But the character herself, I didn't much care for.
The way the magical elements were woven into the story also didn't make sense to me. I found the blue dream hokey, the hair that grew mysteriously red overnight unbelievable, and so forth. I've read a lot of books with magical elements to them so that as a plot device or aspect of the story doesn't bother me. But it didn't fit well here.
There were also lose ends that were never tied up and things that were never explained. I'm not referring to an open ended ending, which can be excellent sometimes. I'm referring to the painter that ended up being a dead end. Why was he even in the story? It did not move the plot forward or contribute in any way. It was frustrating.
Finally, the sections taking place in the 1500s were confusing and hard for me to follow. I find the French way of writing dialog difficult to read. They never sound like characters speaking in my head. I also thought there were too many names and the action was difficult to follow. I ended up confused and had to read back a few pages to get the characters straight.
Once again, highly disappointing since I love the idea behind it.
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LibraryThing member jehara
this book goes back and forth from the present to the sixteenth century. each chapter alternates between the time periods and with it the two main characters. Isabella du Moulin or La Rousse as she is called in sixteenth century huguenot france and Ella Tournier in present day france. ella and her
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husband have moved to france because of her husband's job. ella decides to investigate her family history as a way to feel more at home. isabella and her family are on the run from the catholics after a rebellion has broken out. isabella is secretly fascinated with the virgin and her special blue color since she was a child. ella has unknowingly moved to the part of france that isabella inhabited. the secrets slowly unfold as the two stories weave perfectly into each other towards a thrilling conclusion. Show Less
LibraryThing member bgherman
A story that gives a bit of history thrown in. I loved the way the author devoloped the story flipping from present time (Ella) to the 16 century (Isabelle). The family connection between the two women and how Ella comes to know her French roots are very presented. Please read this book. It is
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wonderful Show Less
LibraryThing member RachelPenso
It was definitely hard to put this book down. The story jumps back and forth between two women. Ella Turner is a recent transplant in a small town in France. She decides to research her family's French ancestry. Isabelle du Moulin Tournier lived 400 years earlier, and yet they have a common
I enjoyed Isabelle's story more than Ella's story. But the ending left me unsure as to what happened to Isabelle.
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thread.I enjoyed Isabelle's story more than Ella's story. But the ending left me unsure as to what happened to Isabelle.
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LibraryThing member Gilmore53
Brilliant. Just the right book for a summer evening, I so like Tracy Chevaliers historical novels and this book did not disappoint me.
LibraryThing member TessCL
I enjoy the book. I like the way the two stories, about Isabelle and Ella, are put together. And I like how the story is linked to historical events. However, I find the revelation of Ella's identity not very convincing. The story, especially the last chapter, also seems to imply that the part
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about Isabelle only exists in Ella's writing. A bit of an anti-climax. The use of French is ok. Actually the meaning of those French words can be translated on the internet - and I'd rather they are put in the way it is in the book, i.e., no need to use translation - allowing more guessing and hence greater fun during the reading. Show Less
LibraryThing member judithrs
The Virgin Blue. Tracy Chevalier.1997. The lives of a young American woman who has moved to France and the life of her distant ancestor, a young French Huguenot are intertwined in this novel that promises more than it delivers just like her novel, Burning Bright did. I felt like the depiction of
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life in a French village in this century was not depicted fairly. In my limited experience, the French people are much warmer and generally a lot nicer that the ones that are described in this book. I had hoped for much more detail on the life of French Huguenots. Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1997
Physical description
312 p.; 5.12 inches
ISBN
0007108273 / 9780007108275