One of my favourite genres in litterature is historical fiction. So when I pick up a Tracy Chevalier novel, I am over the moon. I came across her long before The Girl with a pearl earing movie histeria, and as a teenager, it was refreshing to discover a different way of looking at history. Her debut novel, The Virgin Blue, is my favourite so far, and quite suited for an October read. Here are my feelings about the book…
The story in one phrase : Ella Turner discovers the history of her family along with the story of the Protestant Reformation, while tracing her mysterious dreams of blue through the south of France and Swizerland.
How does it make me feel : Contemplative. And I couldn’t tell you why. I should be either sad or revolted, maybe a little happy in the end, but as I burned through the pages, all I could think was WOW. A sort of “lost in thought” feeling, between the hardships of centuries past, the losing oneself in the wrong mariage, I found myself quite impartial and reflective.
Top 3 details
A sad but essential moment in history. It’s not the most cheerful period in time, but I believe the 16th century Reformation is still today a lesson to be learned, both in the value of the concepts as in the errors of each side that generated bloody religious wars. In many ways, we find those exact basic urges of convincing others of the superiority of one’s beliefs, right here in our 21st century. One thing is certain, without the Reformation, we wouldn’t have evolved to see the freedom of cult we so appreciate in the Western world today.
A case study of settling into a new culture. An American woman who discovers French and Swiss habits in everyday life. While at the beginning she seems very critical of all the differences she notices in France, jumping to Switzerland changes her tone, as she becomes purely observant and less judgemental. Finally, coming back to France she finds herself almost confortable in her new french life. Maybe a lesson to be learned from a fictional character’s travels.
A lightness of writing. I have only admiration for the way American writers are able to tell sad stories without depressing me. And Tracy Chevalier is a perfect example of this easy, straightforward storytelling, that does not lack elegance in any way, but manages to keep the general tone positive.
My favourite character : I started off thinking we have two main characters : Ella in the 20th century story, and Isabelle in the 16th century one. But in the end, I feel like the two combine in creating the true main character of the novel : the Spirit of the Woman, navigating a world of men, a world who’s cruelty is sometimes painfully obvious, while at other times, sly and manipulating under a veil of love and care. While Isabelle had little choice in her destiny, Ella lives a defining moment of self knowledge and makes brave decisions that break the ancestral karma.
Yin/Yang : A Yin story of Yang times. A cautionary tale of what happens when Yin and Yang lose their balance. And in the end, a moment of honesty.
Favourite Quote: It was a funny thing, once you tell your story to others it becomes more like fiction and less like truth. A layer of performance is added to it, removing you further from the real thing.
Life Lesson : It’s not a complicated one, yet so many of us get it wrong : choose your partner wisely, and consider your reasons for starting a familly very carefully. We all know many couples, each with their own success story or failure to find common goals. There is no recipe, except time and reflection, and I believe these two investments are not too much to ask in exchange for a happy life.
Why you should read it : To whet your appetite for some history refreshers and maybe start making your own genealogy tree. It’s not only for teachers, you know…
The Ritual
Now if the book could be considered the main course, the side dishes, the salad, pairing the appropriate wines and putting on the right music, is just as important for me.
While reading The Virgin Blue, my mind wandered off to some pretty interesting subjects.
Blue
Let’s talk colours. Too bright, too dull, the perfect shade or just not quite… like perfume, the sense of colour is incredibly personal. Neuroscientists agree that it is impossible to match someone else’s perception of a colour, as our brains have unique ways of linking the signals received through our eyes. But in this infinite possibility situation, how is it that the colour blue seems to be the World’s favourite color ?
A survey conducted in 2017 showed that from a panel of 30 000 people, across 100 countries, the majority chose a specific shade of blue as their favourite colour. One explanation could be the fact that most of the things we associate with the colour blue are positive or neutral, like the sky, clear water, blue jeans or ink. Psychologists have many interpretations possible, including the calmness that blue seems to induce.
In China, blue represents immortality, while in Japan indigo blue is often used in art and clothing to symbolize the vast ocean surrounding its islands. In Iran blue is the colour of mourning. And the German group of painters called The Blue Rider thought blue symbolized spirituality and eternity.
The book made me reflect about my personal feelings towards the colour, and even though it is not my absolute favourite, I do have some favourite blue items…
Lapis-lazuli
Art historians have long studied the types of pigment used in different eras. And when it comes to blue, extracting the rich and deep shade of lapis-lazuli and putting in on a canvas is fascinating. It just so happens that lapis-lazuli is a semiprecious gemstone I particularly like. The most notable extraction mines are found in Afghanistan, where the quality of the gemstones is remarkable, but you can find lapis-lazuli in many parts of the world.
The delicate lines of pyrite that cross such a unique dark blue are an eternal mystery to me.
As all blue crystals, lapis-lazuli is very useful for your throat and thyroid, as it gently rebalances an energy center so easily disrupted. It can improve your communication skills and by calming the general vibration of the body, it can help with headaches and mild stress induced symptoms.
I, for one, enjoy meditating in the evening with a lapis-lazuli in my hand. I find that it connects me to the night sky, and brings me calmer dreams up there, between the stars.
Cream of butternut
Tracy Chevalier’s novel is not very big on food in general, we either learn about the lack of food in the 16th century, or the simple boulangerie in a little village in the south of France. So on this one, I let myself be inspired by the general atmosphere. And what I seem to be craving while reading, is a warming, creamy, butternut squash soup.I have tested many recipes throughout the years, and I ended up combining a South-Asian vibe, with a classic French herb. The step-by-step recipe is, as always, in the Recipes menu.
My time-travel ends here for today. I hope that you’ll give The Virgin Blue a try, and if you already have, I’d love to hear your thoughts on Facebook or Instagram. Until next time, enjoy your reading and your rituals !
Shopping List
If you would like to support The Ritual of Reading, please consider purchasing your books from the Bookshop.org dedicated site by clicking the link below. You get to support local bookstores and I make a small commission with every purchase. Thank you !