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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This only took me so long to read (considering its length) because I got into a reading slump, not because I wasn't enjoying it. It was such a sweet (for the most part) and simple story, with a predictable ending but I really liked it.
A brilliant work by Dumas of romantic love, jealousy and obsession over the cultivation of a black tulip (in order to win a money prize).
"You don’t know, sir, what I suffer. You don’t know the struggle going on in my heart and mind." - The Black Tulip, Alexandre Dumas
Tulips are a BIG deal in The Netherlands. I discovered that when I visited a few months ago. So when I started reading this book, I felt like I'd been in some of these places before.
The story within the pages are more succinctly crafted than some of the author's more well known works (The Count of Monte Cristo, The Three Musketeers). But don't for one moment be fooled into thinking it doesn't contain a historical backdrop, suspense, love and jealousy.
The Black Tulip is set in The Netherlands (how I regret the missed photo opportunity in the Hague a few months ago) surrounding the 1672 lynching of John DeWitt and his brother Cornelius. I felt carried along in the mobs uproar, not fully understanding why these two men lost their lives. But the stage is set for another story is cultivated, takes root and blossoms, eventually coinciding with the opening scenes.
Cornelius Van Baerle, dedicated tulip-fancier, is determined to grow a black tulip, to win a monetary prize, but more importantly, to have a tulip named after him. Unbeknownst to Van Baerle, his rival, Boxtel, plots and schemes to steal the tulip bulbs, even laying false accusations against Van Baerle leading to imprisonment. Will the hero of this story, the black tulip triumph?
Tulips are a BIG deal in The Netherlands. I discovered that when I visited a few months ago. So when I started reading this book, I felt like I'd been in some of these places before.
The story within the pages are more succinctly crafted than some of the author's more well known works (The Count of Monte Cristo, The Three Musketeers). But don't for one moment be fooled into thinking it doesn't contain a historical backdrop, suspense, love and jealousy.
The Black Tulip is set in The Netherlands (how I regret the missed photo opportunity in the Hague a few months ago) surrounding the 1672 lynching of John DeWitt and his brother Cornelius. I felt carried along in the mobs uproar, not fully understanding why these two men lost their lives. But the stage is set for another story is cultivated, takes root and blossoms, eventually coinciding with the opening scenes.
Cornelius Van Baerle, dedicated tulip-fancier, is determined to grow a black tulip, to win a monetary prize, but more importantly, to have a tulip named after him. Unbeknownst to Van Baerle, his rival, Boxtel, plots and schemes to steal the tulip bulbs, even laying false accusations against Van Baerle leading to imprisonment. Will the hero of this story, the black tulip triumph?
Slow to start, but it was important to build up the commitment and obsession of growing and cultivating the black tulip. It was also important to showcase Rosa's dedication and love for Cornelius, which is heartwarming and devastating at times. Her love for him is magical throughout the book, and has a fairytale feel where she is the hero. Really loved that. Overall the second half of the book really picks up in pace and action, which kept me engaged right up until the end.
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Similar to The Count of Monte Cristo, but with a prisoner of a very different attitude. I honestly love the way the story is completely engulfed by tulips, and, as always, I love Dumas' strange way of writing dialog.
adventurous
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is the first of Dumas’ works that I’ve read and I can’t wait to read more. His writing style and word choices are so enjoyable and fun. The characters and descriptions were very easy to love. The classic twists and turn in the plot had me hooked on every page. A truly wonderful piece of work. Also such a fitting was to move from my sunny august reads into the comfy autumn ones. I never knew I could admire tulips as much as I do now!
For fans of Dumas, this isn't a swashbuckling adventure that you'll read on the edge of your seat. However, it is filled with good guys, bad guys, a(n eventually) strong heroine, tulips, prison, intrigue, betrayal, violence (oh the mob murder scene...yikes), despair, hope and above all else, this is a love story.