Lit log: I Am Rembrandt's Daughter (Ending)

I’ve always wonders about the title of the book, it wasn’t until I start to finish the book( because it’a almost due) that I found out Cornelia is Nicolaes  Bruyningh’s daughter. Having caught between the man who gave her life, and the man who raise her up, her decision was hard to make and the title of the book became meaningful at once. Another shock was the death of Cornelia’s half brother, Titus. This character has grew along with Cornelia in the book, never did I expect he’ll catch the plague and die.

The ending of the book “ I Am Rembrandt’s Daughter” by Lynn Cullen is full of twist. A part of the book that lead up to twist was the unexpected reaction of Carel when Cornelia ran to him for help:

 He takes a step backward. “ What are you doing here?” he exclaims
“ Titus is ill!”
His shocked gazes travels up and down my disheveled clothes. “ You shouldn’t be out.”
The words burst from my dry mouth. “ He has the tokens upon him.”
Carel’s eyes widen he puts his door between us. “ Cornelia, what are you thinking?”
I cannot make sense of it. He must not understand. My brother is in trouble. I step closer. “I have nowhere to go”
Carel wards me off with the door. “ Cornelia, please, you need to go home. You’re spreading the sickness. You know how I fear it!”
“ I- I thought-”
“I’m sorry, Cornelia” he shuts the door.

Through out the whole book there has been interaction between Carel and Cornelia, I thought the two would be together till the end of the book. After all, Carel haven’t given up upon Cornelia even when his father forbid him to. If he could give up his wealth for Cornelia, that must mean he love her a lot, then why turn down her when she needs him? still I haven’t figure the answer to that.

As a result to the twist Cullen made in her book, Cornelia end up with who I least expected, Neel. The following passage gives evidence to that:

“ I’m sorry, that’s not for sale.” Neel comes across the room and kisses my cheek. Even though we have been wed for nearly three weeks, the feel of it still thrill me. “sorry, gentlemen,” he says. “ I am keeping that one. It has special significance to me.”

 I never thought Cornelia would choose Neel, because Cornelia mention Neel was too serious  for her. All the change happen too sudden in the book, with no hint leading to it. Personally I would prefer Cornelia to marry Carel, who would be able to provide Cornelia with a better living standard, but what good does it do when he can’t be there for her needs? There’s nothing much wealth could do when you gain happiness.

The twist at the end of the book reminds me of the book I read by R.L.Stine. Whether it’s the Fear Street series or the Goosebump series which I read when I was younger, the ending were all twisted. If you read a large amount of his book, you’ll be able to predict the ending of his other books base on your experience with his writing. I believe he mentioned that he look up to Stephen King, which cause me to become curious in Stephen King’s book. However, I found out that Stephen King’s writing was far higher level than I could understand, even when I found one that’s my level, I was too scare to read.
                     
I am looking forward to reading other books written by Lynn Cullen. Different from other writers, Lynn Cullen includes humor in her book as well as seriousness of life that gets you wonders.
 

This a painting done by Cornelia's husband Cornelis( Neel) who also became an artist later on

"Portrait of a Woman by Cornelis Janssensz Van Ceulen 1651 The Netherlands oil Detail" Upload by mharrsch on 6/6/06  http://www.flickr.com/photos/mharrsch/161819867