constantine2020 's review for:

Woman in Blue by Douglas Bruton

5.0

emotional reflective 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: Yes

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Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Genre: Literary Fiction + Novella

This was a surprisingly brilliant novella. I loved it a lot. A really great surprise, especially since this one is just a novella. The story takes inspiration from Johannes Vermeer’s painting "Woman in Blue Reading a Letter" and is set in Amsterdam. The story revolves around a man who becomes deeply engrossed in the painting, making it a daily ritual to visit it at the Rijksmuseum. The story also shares the perspective of the Woman in Blue herself. She opens up about her own story of love, creativity, and the way she’s been captured in art forever.

The novel creates an imaginative story behind a famous painting, giving readers a fresh and interesting way to look at Vermeer’s Woman in Blue Reading a Letter. The concept of the book is truly brilliant. It was really nice to see the woman in blue’s perspective too. 

The dual narration made the reading much more interesting, as we could understand exactly what both main characters were thinking and how they felt about each other. I greatly enjoyed the author’s writing, and his beautiful prose enhanced the story even more. The main characters are well-developed and can be relatable, too.

"Woman in Blue" is a book I think will really connect with people who are into art, history, and thinking about what it means to be human. It's a must-read if you've ever just stood looking at a painting and felt drawn to it. I highly recommend it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC of this book.