Midnight Blue

The high point of my artistic career is a self-portrait, drawn in marker, and forever captured on a melamine plate from pre-school more than four decades ago. I was so advanced for my age I even remembered to give myself eyelashes. If that’s not long-lasting genius and a genuine artistic legacy, I don’t know what is. It may not be the Mona Lisa but surely it’s up there with beautiful ceramics like Chinese porcelain and Delftware. OK, maybe not; my talent may not be one for the ages but we do know how it developed (or didn’t). We don’t actually know which potter came up with the idea for Delft Blue, just that it was a cheaper but incredibly popular alternative to Chinese porcelain and came to prominence in the 1650s. Simone van show more der Vlugt has written a fictional beginning for the rise of these blue and white decorative pieces, assigning the inspiration for the pottery to an artistic, young widow from a rural Dutch village in the novel, Midnight Blue.

Catrin Barentsdochter endured much in her brief marriage: the premature birth and death of her baby and terrible abuse from her husband. She’s not sorry he’s dead only a year into their life together and after selling her inheritance from him, she leaves her family and the small village of De Rijp behind for a housekeeper position in a larger town nearby. When that falls through, she ends up going to Amsterdam and it is there that her artistic talent is accidentally discovered. The past she's fleeing catches up with her though and she runs even farther, ending up working at a pottery owned by the brother of her previous employer. Not only is Catrin a good painter, she is innovative and astute, suggesting to her kindly boss that they try to mimic the blue and white pieces of Chinese porcelain that are all the rage. And so Delft Blue is born. But Catrin’s past won’t stay away and her life and the revelation of her huge secret is threatened again.

Van der Vlugt weaves pivotal and fascinating Delft history in with her story of this determined young woman, credibly placing Catrin near the gunpowder explosion and fire that destroyed much of Delft in 1654 and in the midst of the rampaging plague epidemic of 1655. The details of pottery making included here are not extensive but are incredibly interesting nonetheless. Catrin is a practical and generally strong character although occasionally her actions and language seem anachronistic for a woman in the 1650s. Whether that is a function of the author’s writing or of the translation is hard to tell. The secondary characters are fairly one dimensional and the ending is quite neat and convenient given the reality and fragility of life at the time. There is a romance that feels rather rushed and could have used elaboration but even as it stands, it does drive the story forward and figures into Catrin’s decisions several times. Fans of historical fiction will find this an easy, fast, and generally engaging read set at a time and a place not often found in English language works and they might even be inspired to learn a little more about the actual pottery and of Delft’s place in the Dutch Golden Age. show less

This was interesting and quick read, but a bit melodramatic. There were also some serious historical inaccuracies, with multiple mentions of a cathedral in Alkmaar (this could have been a poor translation) and public Catholic worship, neither of which existed in the Protestant Dutch Republic, a pretty important and well-known aspect of Dutch 17th-century history. Likewise, when the main character arrives in Amsterdam, she mentions the wooden town hall, but that had very famously and spectacularly burned down a few years earlier than the events in the book, and the new and massive stone town hall was largely complete, and probably by this point already the most famous building in the Dutch Republic. A bigger problem, because it pertains show more to the story, is the author’s discussion of the necessity of guild membership to practice pottery decoration (correct), and yet suddenly that is totally ignored in order for the main action of the story to take place. It makes no sense. show less

Good story. However I felt the language used was much to modern for the time period and really kind of bothered me. It should have been much more formal. I'm wondering if this is just because of the translation from Dutch. Still a good yarn, a likable spunky heroine who whether she means to or not does create problems for herself by making bad choices. Interesting bits about Delft Pottery (Dutch Porcelain) as well. She does overcome in the end and comes out a winner of sorts. I do question her taste in men though, seriously. Recommended, a nice summer read.

Finished Midnight Blue this evening! This one just came out this last week, and it was a pretty quick, easy read.

Here's a quick rundown of the overall storyline (without spoilers). We're introduced to our main character, Catrin, who we meet at the funeral of her husband. There seems to be some gossip around the town as to the manner of his death, and Catrin, wanting to leave this atmosphere as well as strike off on her own as a free, independent woman, heads off in the direction of Amsterdam to start a new life, hopefully gaining employment as a housekeeper. Catrin loves painting, and her new mistress begins receiving lessons from one of Rembrandt's apprentices (the back of the book is misleading in that it leads the reader to think show more that Rembrandt has a larger role than he actually does - he only really appears on one-two pages). These lessons put Catrin on a journey which lands her in a position to paint pottery (the historical connection being the Delft Blue Pottery of The Netherlands). Along the way, she meets a handful of different men that forge friendships and romances, as well as one who seems to have some ulterior motives.

Overall, I enjoyed it decently enough, though the storyline was fairly simple. I think this book had so much potential to be a really rich story with The Netherlands’ Delft Blue pottery at its heart. Unfortunately, the story took a path of its own and left me feeling as if I had just followed along a plot line via the interstate with its big billboards rather than the scenic route with all its hidden gems. The dialogue was really simplistic, especially in the first half or so of the book. To me, it read more like a Young Adult novel rather than literary historical fiction. The back of the book led the reader to believe that the art part would be such a huge portion of the story - that we'd get lost in the world of Dutch painters and the world of The Netherlands in the 1600s ... but instead we jumped from one event to another. The romances (which were quick to develop and felt out of place) seemed to ultimately take over the story to the point where, once I finished the book, was saddened that the Delft Blue didn't have a much stronger portion of the story. I wanted to get lost in detail, to have characters developed, and watch their relationships grow and change as the history around them took place, but I didn't really get any of that. I think this had such potential and I think the editors should've suggested that certain scenes and chapters be blown up bigger - more detail, more rich and atmospheric. It would've turned this book into a much larger tome, but it could've had more of a 'Pillars of the Earth' feel rather than what we got instead.

BUT, that all being said, it made for a content summer read for this damp June evening! (And, at the very least, the cover is absolutely gorgeous!) show less

2.5 trending toward three Pleasant enough story, but just a little too contrived/pat. Beautiful cover made it nice to have around, though! Sort of a girl power story set in 17th century Holland, which makes it a little hard to swallow and also makes the pluckiness of our heroine a little annoying. Catrin has always dreamed of big city (Amsterdam) living, though she is from a small rural village. Now that her husband has left her a young widow, this dream becomes a reality as she ventures forth seek employment as household help and maybe even realize her other dream of being a painter. The way she is subject to fate's twists and turns rings true, but they always seem to rosily turn in her favor. Her initial placement falls through, but show more she meets handsome Matthias in an inn and he happens to have a brother who needs an housekeeper, so you see. Catrin makes her way to the home of Adriaan Van Nulandt who hires her instantly. His wife Brigitta is leisurely privileged and is taking art lessons from one of Rembrandt's apprentices. Catrin has occasion to show her own talent, which is far superior, but she remains humble and hides it. In addition to aspirations, Catrin also has a shadow that has propelled her out of the countryside: the suspicious nature of her abusive husband's death. When Jacob the farmhand shows up in town, Catrin feels the need to move on and is passed on to another Van Nulandt brother, Evert who owns a pottery and paints china in Delft. There she meets Vermeer (see?!) and wins his praise and influence and is apprenticed at the pottery where she quickly rises to a master level and wins the heart of widow Evert. But handsome Matthias, a shipping merchant bounces around between brothers and world travels and charms Catrin when it suits him. Whom to choose? A historic tragedy of a munitions explosion helps Catrin decide, but then the plague intervenes and she is left alone again to rebuild the pottery and face her haunting nemesis, Jacob. Plucky Catrin soldiers on to the ending we all wanted: love and success and recognition for her talents. Some interesting historical and geographical info, but less substance than I hoped for. A good vacation read. show less

Catrin did not marry well but women in her time were expected to marry. When her husband dies she sells off what is left of their belongings and decides to go to a larger town to work as a housekeeper. She just needs to experience more of life than milking the cows and keeping a house. Her original plans don’t work out but she is lucky and another opportunity presents itself and she finds herself working for wealthy family. Best luck of all – the mistress spends all her day painting and painting is Catrin’s secret passion.

But all is not to be easy and simple for Catrin for there are things from her past that she would rather forget and someone from her old town has blown in like an ill wind. She decides she must move on but show more fortunately her employer has a brother so he sends her to him to see if he needs help. He does have ulterior motives though, as he has seen Catrin’s painting ability and his brother has a pottery in Delft.

Catrin settles in to working at the pottery and becomes a popular member of the town but dangers await from both external threats and those she considers friends. The events from her past are still simmering and could boil over and burn her.

I enjoyed this book. But I will note that at many times I forgot I was reading an historical novel. Catrin seemed a woman more of modern times than of the 17th century. The characters were well developed and captivating but unlike other historical novels I’ve read the feeling of being grounded in time and place just wasn’t present in this book and it would almost startle me at times to come upon a reminder that I wasn’t reading a more contemporary book.

Midnight Blue does include references to period events and individuals such as Johannes Vermeer, Rembrandt and the explosion at the armory known to history as the Delft Thunderclap. Catrin’s interest in painting was not unheard of for a woman of her time but it was unusual.

Overall it was a good read and I found the book to be full of twists and turns that surprised me. The ending was a little bit, oh I don’t know if flat or rushed is the better word but it left me just a touch unsatisfied. Maybe that’s the difference from one culture to the next but I just wanted a little more. Or maybe it was just me. Who knows. But it was a good read. show less

Fleeing harsh gossip and seeking adventure, Catrin, the young widow of an abusive husband, leaves her small Dutch village in the mid 1600’s. She ends up in the bustling city of Amsterdam working as a housekeeper to a wealthy merchant. A series of lucky breaks and misfortunes lead her to develop and make use of her artistic talent in the burgeoning field of Dutch blue and white pottery.

A light, engaging, and escapist read, Midnight Blue weaves enough actual events and famous figures into the story to mandate a few Wikipedia searches while reading. The story itself is gripping (I could see it as a movie) but lacking in plausibility.

I would recommend this to fans of Chick Lit Historical Fiction. Similar books I have read and enjoyed show more include those by Susan Vreeland and Tracy Chevalier, The Anatomy Lesson by Nina Siegal, and Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach. show less