'The Golden Tulip' by Rosalind Laker

The Golden Tulip, Rosalind Laker (3.5)

I wish I had read this book before my recent trip to Amsterdam.  It is set there and parts of the rural Netherlands in the 1600’s after the Tulipmania and just prior to the invasion attempt by Louis XIV of France and describes the city and culture of that time.  It follows a family of artists who know Rembrandt and Vermeer.  Parts of the delight of the book are the details given of the painting process along with the progress of the painters, though the history and art of the book are the backdrop to a love story of the Master artist’s daughter (an artist in training herself) and a young tulip grower.  The pace of the book is accelerated with obstacles placed between the two by some thoughtless and truly evil characters.  Part way through I was concerned this would turn into a typical (and annoying) star-crossed lovers story, but I’m happy to report that, while not having a truly unique plot, it did redeem itself with enough variants from the ‘they must be doomed as everything goes against them’ theme.  I realize this type of book is enjoyable to read, but the good characters are too nice and too good looking while the evil characters tend to be 100% bad. I think that is one of the big differentiators between lasting classics and just enjoyable reads.