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 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! ( )

After reading the mixed reviews of this book, I was hesitant to read it but hopeful I would like it. I usually read historical fiction and avoid modern fiction. So when I found that this book alternated between past history and modern occurences I was not happy and was confident this book would not be one of my favorites. I was so wrong.

This story of Isabelle in the 16th century is interesting and sometimes suspenseful and frightening. Her modern counterpart, Ella, begins searching for information about this family in hopes it will help her feel connected while she's living in France. But what she finds out is surprising and shocking. I didn't see this ending coming.” ( )

I liked it better than Girl with the Pearl Earring. ( )

lovely book. I loved the French history, the characters, and the love story. ( )

I loved the historical sections of this, they were rich in detail. The color was woven through the story nicely, tying the historical with the contemporary. It took a bit more time for me to connect with the contemporary heroine, but in the end I thought it was a satisfying story. I would recommend it. ( )

The precursor to A Girl with a Pearl Earring and the sublime The Lady and the Unicorn may not match them in lyrical fluidity and passion, but it makes up with its quiet intrigue and historical sojourn that traces the disparate lives of Ella and Isabelle, two women (arguably of the same lineage) whose lives intertwine ever so subtly as they live some four centuries apart, but find themselves delicately joined. While The Virgin Blue is gripping enough on its own, it falls a bit short considering the vast talent that Chevalier would exhibit in her subsequent work. Nonetheless, it is clear to the reader that the author’s passion for art and historical narrative springs from this debut novel about religious intolerance. ( )

An easy entertaining read. I found the climax a bit predictable and French stereotype a bit too cloying. I was also irritated by the mixture of science and fantasy, they did not weave together in a way that was believable for me. ( )

Chevalier shows budding writers the correct way parallelism should be used for dramatic and storytelling effect in The Virgin Blue, her debut novel. It is flawlessly carried out. I enjoyed the melodrama of the flawed romantic relationships, although some readers might find that off-putting. The protagonist, Ella, inexplicably leaves her husband, and no adequate reason is given. Many have found this aspect to be a plot hole, but I think a more sophisticated eye would find that there really doesn't need to be a reason for every choice a person makes, that emotion-based logic is a shaky system, used quite often in Chevalier's tome. The author had a penchant for telling, not showing, which is the inevitable downfall of the book. The story is a wonderful idea, and the characters were pretty well developed. Some images got repetitive, and I got tired of seeing some of the same descriptions numerous times. The descriptions of life in a small French town, while a bit stereotypical, are also portrayed well. The climax is expected if you paid enough attention, and the epilogue is beautifully open-ended in just the right amount. ( )

http://bookcrossing.com/journal/33216... ( )

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 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. ( )

16th century and present day - story of 2 women ( )

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 heart-wrenching. ( )

Left me wanting more. The plot is a little more dramatic and contrived, more of the cinematic variety. I actually found myself imaging these scene unfold on screen as I read. The characters were fairly well fleshed out and I wanted to know more about how their lives turned out. That was the gift in this story-- a yearning to know the characters beyond the confines of the novel. ( )

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. ( )

Haunting family story split between the present and the past. ( )

Historical fiction. Love this genre. Found this book in a bathroom at work (yes, I'll read anything). Great read actually! ( )

I started The Virgin Blue yesterday evening. I finished it this afternoon.

In her very kind e-mail, Ms. Chevalier warned me to "keep in mind that it was my first novel and I had a lot to learn about novel-writing!" Would that my first novel could be of this quality!

In it, she introduces readers to those same facets that are found in her other two books: disquieting themes beautifully and truthfully dealt with, complex protagonists dealing with situations like real live women and a story line so haunting that it lives on after the book is finished.

I have no intention of attempting to tell any about the plot, except that it is intricate and still believable, with surreal aspects involving linked past and future. You'll just need to read it for yourself!

I highly recommend all three of Tracy Chevalier's publishied novels. This one might not have been as polished and beautiful as Girl With A Pearl Earring, but it was still a wonderful and well-written book. ( )

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 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. ( )

SO much better than "Girl with a Pearl Earring." ( )

Good atmosphere and an interesting plot line where modern and historical intertwine. Entertaining read but nothing amazing. ( )

The start of this had me wary and reminded me a lot of Joanne Harris's bleak Five Quarters of the Orange, full of unlikeable and unredeemable characters. The likeness was enhanced by its setting in rural France. In the event, I really enjoyed this. I found the modern tale, of an American who has emigrated to France with her husband and her attempts to integrate into French village life and investigate her ancestors, more enjoyable than the 16th century tale, which still erred somewhat on the bleak side for my tastes. The "shock" at the end was disappointingly easy to see coming (and this is from someone who *never* works out what's going to happen!) but I thought the modern resolution was relatively satisfying. It wasn't mind-blowing literature by any means but a relatively enjoyable page-turner with a well-researched and interesting historical background. ( )

Really enjoyed skipping back and forth through time! ( )

http://www.internetbookshop.it/code/9... ( )

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 story. It is one of the best books I read in 2006. ( )

Beautifully written with many twists. ( )