This is the debut book from the writer of "Girl with a Pearl Earring" which was everywhere, and with just cause! I loved "Girl" and have read all of Tracy Chevalier's published books (according to her website, she has just finished her next one which is based on the writings/art of William Blake - very exciting).

My favourite though is "Falling Angels" - for me that is by far her best to date.

However, "Virgin Blue" is not too shabby either. It is the "woman in present day/ancester in the distant past" format, and focuses on Ella, an ex-pat who has moved to France and the ups and downs of her life there... and... a woman called Isabelle who is shunned in her village because she is suspected of witch craft.

This book is not as good as Tracy Chevalier's others, but I think that is no bad thing (surely it's the right way around when the books that come later are better, not when author fails to meet the expectations set by their first novel?). However, it does have its moments of sheer inspiration, especially the story set in the past. No wonder she has chosen to focus on historicals ever since.

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RELEASE NOTES:

11am local time, at Ipswich Meet

Picked up at the Ipswich OBCZ meeting today. 'The Girl with the Pearl Earring' is on my to-be-acquired list but I like to read an author chronologically if possible. Looking forward to giving this one a whirl.

I had no preconceptions about this book, so was pleasantly surprised to find how much I enjoyed it. I preferred the modern ‘Ella chapters’ to the alternating 400 years before ‘Isabelle chapters’. This is probably because I don’t ‘do’ religion – so the worship of the Virgin Mary by Isabelle, etc etc, was way over my head.

It started out as my bedtime book but after a few chapters things got a little too spicy for that (I was going to say chilling – how odd to think of two opposites!). I ended up finishing it in a couple of long sessions.

Will definitely read some more Chevalier, which is good because I was given ‘Girl’ for my birthday :-)

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Selected this at the Chelmsford BC Meet several weeks ago. I enjoyed 'The Girl with the Pearl Earring' so I'm curious to read more. The story line sounds a little like Kate Mosse's Labyrinth which it predates but I'm assured that it is superior.

Bit too romantic and incredulous for an old cynic like me, more of a teenager's read I would say. Having said that, I had to know what happened! There seemed to be a few loose ends but that could be me not paying attention as I was not immersed. Chevalier has a previous reader has said, certainly come a long was since writing this novel.

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Tuesday 9th Jan 2007 19:00 at Riverside Inn Victoria Rd Chelmsford at Monthly Bookcrossing Meet.

RELEASE NOTES:

One of several surplus books from the Chelmsford meeting.

Dear Finder of this book,

I'm so glad it has found a home with you. I hope you enjoy reading it and that you might take a few moments to jot down here what you thought about the book, or about finding it, or about bookcrossing.

If you decide to join bookcrossing, now that you have discovered the site, I'd be delighted if you would mention me - WistfulDragon - as the person who introduced you to the site.

Happy reading

WistfulDragon

Picked it up from the meetup. Seems like the book has been around for quite some time now! I've read the girl with the pearl earring, which I liked. So hopefully I'll enjoy this too.

Left this book on a bench in Ravenscourt Park.