Basement of Group Health Building aka “The Dungeon”, Seattle, WA
I was perusing the Hawk’s blog and she was listing her most recent reads, which I applaud and welcome. One of her suggestions was “Girl With a Pearl Earring” by Tracy Chevalier which has to do with the artist Vermeer.
This reminded me of a book I just read the other night that I found on my mother’s nightstand. It was called “Girl in Hyacinth Blue” by Susan Vreeland and also has to do with the artist Vermeer. Whereas it seems Chevelier focuses on a girl who lives with Vermeer, Vreeland tells the story of one of Vermeers paintings by starting at it’s present point and following it back through owners. It is told in a collection of short stories really and I believe was originally published individually in a periodical.
It is slightly depressing, but well written and a unique way to look at the history of a painting. Check it out. Quick read. Hawk, you better read this and let me know what you think.
When I took that writing workshop in Paris, the instructor, Speer Morgan, oozed praise for Susan Vreeland and the book. The story he told us is that Vreeland was really sick and had to be hospitalized for a while. She had a lot of time to think while she was ill and in the hospital and while looking through art books, she got the inspiration for the Girl in Hyacinth Blue.
He was telling us about her in order to inspire us – not to get sick, but to realize that a lot of people start writing (or at least publishing) at a later stage in life.
I like-a the book talk 🙂
B
Brenda, I had a friend once tell me that I shouldn’t worry so much about how I’m not writing at the moment because of how many writers get started later in life. It has made me feel less pressure over not just my lack of progress, but also my lack of talent. If you think about it, I bet at age 70, we’ll have a lot more to say and a better view to tell the story. He also promised to marry me when we’re old so we could hole up in some cute cabin and be a couple of old writers, drinking tea, and sitting by the fire. I’m going to hold him to that.