This is the fourth Chevalier book I've read. Because it's her first novel it was interesting to see how her style and formula started and all the trademarks are there, if somewhat muddled. I have to say that I never managed to get into the book. I couldnt get past all those coincidences, the main one being that Tournier is a rather common surname in France and tracking ancestors might have taken a bit more work than what is described in the story. I must confess that as a rule I should keep away from anglo-saxon novels describing 'life in France', because they largely get it wrong and the cliches they carry irritate me! I also found Ella a flimsy character and the modern story of the book is really what lets it down. The 16th century story was a bit more together but didn't really go with enough depth in the huguenot history and situation to my taste. All in all not the best Chevalier but it hasn't put me off reading her books and I'll be tracking the 2-3 I haven't read. ( )

La joven Isabelle du Moulin vive fascinada por el profundo color azul de la hornacina de la Virgen en la iglesia del pueblo. Son malos tiempos para admirar un icono católico: en la Francia del siglo XVI, el protestantismo libra una lucha feroz contra la vieja religión romana... Cuatrocientos años más tarde, Ella Turner llega al mismo pueblo. Guiada por unos extraños sueños con la ayuda del bibliotecario, buscará el rastro del pasado hasta desentrañar el secreto familiar que ha permanecido escondido durante siglos.

Apparently her first book, which I didnt realise.[return][return]Think I preferred the modern day story line, possibly because my 16th century French/Swiss Religious history is a little lacking, and I didnt get all the references to "The Truth" and didnt appreciate how different this religion was from being a Catholic.[return][return]There is some french written here, mainly in speech. Rarely translated word-for-word, people with basic French (me: "C" grade O-level, 1986!) dont suffer too much as there's plenty of context around - I have read reviews where the level of french is complained at, probably written by people who've never bothered to learn any french ever. ( )

Interesting, unpredictable characters. Great setting descriptions put you in late 16th century and modern day southern France and eastern Switzerland. ( )

This story is told by alternating between medieval Europe and modern Europe, more specifically France and Switzerland. It's center is a young American woman drawn to her family history which she uncovers with help from locals and relatives she uncovers. She's a midwife and deals with life and death from a perspective focusing on sexuality and child birth. That's the empowering part. It also takes us through religious persecution, witchcraft and brutality. That's the difficult part. Central issues are red hair, the color blue, and recollections of psalms she hadn't known she knew. Thrown in a marriage that is falling apart, a sympathetic new man and it's an interesting story. As I read it I realized I most have read this book long ago. I had no memory of it but eventually could anticipate a few crucial events. I could not remember how it ended. ( )