Dutch Color

by Douglas M. Jones III

Amid the golden era of Dutch art, Clara has a passion for painting and life. But the two don't always mix. Her father is long overdue from Italy with the latest paint recipes, but lies, famous art, rare tulips, and sugary girls crowd Clara's search for her father. Someone knows where he might be, but it will cost more than Clara's talents to find out.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Historical, Childrens

210 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1999

About the author

Douglas Jones holds a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of California, Irvine, and a Master of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Southern California.

Former senior editor of Credenda/Agenda and editor of Canon Press, he has taught philosophy at New Saint Andrews College and the University of Idaho, both in Moscow, Idaho, and Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho.

Among Jones's many writing credits are three children's books, Huguenot Garden, Scottish Seas, and Dutch Color, and contributions to Back to Basics: Rediscovering the Richness of the Reformed Faith, Repairing the Ruins: The Classical and Christian Challenge to Modern Education, Bound Only Once: The Failure of Open Theism. He co-authored Angels in the Architecture with Douglas Wilson.

Jones's scholarship and short creative writing credits include "Reading Trees," a review of Thomas Campanella's Republic of Shade: New England and the American Elm, in Books and Culture: A Christian Review, September/October 2003 and "Coverings," a poem in the Spring/Summer 2004 issue of Valparaiso Poetry Review. Jones contributed numerous pieces to Credenda/Agenda, including the volume 14, issue 4 cover article, "Just Wood," which was anthologized in Best Christian Writing 2004. He has also written several short plays, including "University Cafe," which was selected as a finalist for the 2005 Theatre Publicus Prize for Dramatic Literature.

Reviews

[ValeReads Kyriosity · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun. Just seemed a little too far-fetched — the villain was rather unrealistic and cartoonish.

Don't know who the narrator was (not listed on cover, not named in recording), but she did a good job.

[Lanny]

So my kids enjoyed it but if felt like too many mixed metaphors for me. I really enjoyed all the historical parts about tulips and paints...but I found it hard to belive much of it such as when the villain locks the main character up but leaves behind clues hidden inside catachism questions for her to find a key to let herself out.

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good.

[Holland · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes because I absolutely loved Huguenot garden, but I was disappointed with this book. I was really bothered that the adult man has so many secrets with a young girl and it’s just allowed to go on. When he’s punished in the end, it’s not even for the kidnapping or blackmailing a child, it’s for another bad thing he did. And when would a bad guy give catechism questions as clues?

[Donald Owens II · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, and short enough to recommend to a child, but the main plot and many conversations and events were simply not believable.

[Abi Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

👌

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a little bit on the fence between like and dislike with this book for a couple of reasons. There were parts I liked, for example the humor, the descriptions of paint-mixing and painting, that sort of thing. But I didn't like how the characters in the book didn't match up with the time period very well. It seemed a little too modern sometimes, with the slang and attitudes used. Also, some parts of the book were awkwardly written, too abrupt or again, modern and not quite fitting with the time period the book is set in. As a pleasure read, I liked this book a lot! But as an assigned history read, I found it more story-like than informative and realistic to that time period. However, it did inform well on painting and paint-mixing methods back then. I wish the author had gone into a little more detail on this; while the plot was interesting, I would have liked more on it. All in all, it simply didn't live up to my expectations of a history book, but surprised me with a good story instead.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good