Girl With a Pearl Earring

tracy in her novel, inspired by d true story of the maid/girl wearing the pearl earring of her mistress, takes too much of liberty on d facts while fictionalizing them...............here d situation of master - maid relationship is made more mundane..... i perceive the master as a person who strives for d enigma dt art is, n when he finds it in his maid, it is not immoral of him to show his...more

tracy in her novel, inspired by d true story of the maid/girl wearing the pearl earring of her mistress, takes too much of liberty on d facts while fictionalizing them...............here d situation of master - maid relationship is made more mundane..... i perceive the master as a person who strives for d enigma dt art is, n when he finds it in his maid, it is not immoral of him to show his appreciation, for a piece of art is more than d mundane mind it's bodily flesh may contain. comparing it with infidelity is fathoming this beauty as earthly. as a consolation d heroine is potrayed with dignity and sympathy. now vermeer is a little known dutch artist but 4 dz painting often referred to as "d mona lisa of the north"....... LINK for the painting: http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:uxhlQFlaEFaWVM:http://www.art-reflections.com/Girl-Pearl-Earring-Veemer-L.jpg   hide

Lovely and vivid; Chevalier has a knack for painting such full pictures of life in a different place and time. But maybe I expected too much from this bestseller. I expected to be swept up in a love story with an interesting art aspect. Instead, I was enchanted by the setting and descriptions, sort-of-but-not-really engaged by the love-story-that-wasn't-really-there, and in the end, just...more

Lovely and vivid; Chevalier has a knack for painting such full pictures of life in a different place and time. But maybe I expected too much from this bestseller. I expected to be swept up in a love story with an interesting art aspect. Instead, I was enchanted by the setting and descriptions, sort-of-but-not-really engaged by the love-story-that-wasn't-really-there, and in the end, just entertained instead of blown away.   hide

It was such a hard story to read because to me the main character's life was so filled with hardship, but I do love this art historical fiction genre being an art lover

A great story, not just for those interested in art. Some might think it slow-moving, but there's such detail you can really picture life in those times, and how little personal choice women had then. It's sad to think that if only Griet was in a different social class and had the chance to learn, she could have been a great artist. I've now read it 3 times and still find something new in it...more

A great story, not just for those interested in art. Some might think it slow-moving, but there's such detail you can really picture life in those times, and how little personal choice women had then. It's sad to think that if only Griet was in a different social class and had the chance to learn, she could have been a great artist. I've now read it 3 times and still find something new in it every time. The film is very good but the book is much better, as is usually the case!   hide

This was very well-accomplished novel. Chevalier transports us to the Flemish 17th century and right into Jan Vermeer's house. Through the eyes of a young woman who must become a maid in order to help with her family's dwindling economic survival, we are introduced to a variety of differences: Catholic and Protestant lifestyles, master and servant classes, patron and artist...more

This was very well-accomplished novel. Chevalier transports us to the Flemish 17th century and right into Jan Vermeer's house. Through the eyes of a young woman who must become a maid in order to help with her family's dwindling economic survival, we are introduced to a variety of differences: Catholic and Protestant lifestyles, master and servant classes, patron and artist desires, and love and lust. Chevalier does a great job in making the reader feel the 17th century sensibilities that become crucial to the unfolding drama of the maid posing for Vermeer. (This is not a plot giveaway since Vermeer's famous painting adorns the cover of the book.) I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys experiencing artworks. Chevalier marries the literary and the visual with carefully chosen descriptive language. I look forward to reading more of her novels.   hide

A wonderful story of love and sacrafice. A father sends his daughter into service of a rich family because of lack of funds to keep her, and the story fills your heart with details of her life. I recommend this book for all book clubs. Much to discuss.

Speculative fiction about Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer or, more specifically, about the girl in one of his most famous paintings, Girl with a Pearl Earring. Griet starts off as a maid in the painter's house but she is soon made his assistant and eventually his model. While this is going on she also has to deal with being away from home for the first time, Vermeer's wife and daughter's jealousy,...more

Speculative fiction about Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer or, more specifically, about the girl in one of his most famous paintings, Girl with a Pearl Earring. Griet starts off as a maid in the painter's house but she is soon made his assistant and eventually his model. While this is going on she also has to deal with being away from home for the first time, Vermeer's wife and daughter's jealousy, and her growing attraction to the painter. Not the kind of book I usually read but it was enjoyable. It was a bit on the slow side but the book itself was short so that didn't really bother me. It could also be vague in places but this is one of those books where some things are better left to the imagination. If you are an art dork or you just like good fiction in general you'll probably enjoy this book.   hide

This isn't my normal type of book. I picked it up at a used book store simply because I saw it on someone else's list. I am so glad that I did. The author immediately sucks you into the main character's life. Mere pages into the story you know what will happen, but it is that fact that keeps you reading on. The emotions and feelings of young love (that feeling of missing a...more

This isn't my normal type of book. I picked it up at a used book store simply because I saw it on someone else's list. I am so glad that I did. The author immediately sucks you into the main character's life. Mere pages into the story you know what will happen, but it is that fact that keeps you reading on. The emotions and feelings of young love (that feeling of missing a step on the stairway) is portrayed perfectly in this book. I'd highly recommend it to any romance lover.   hide

Don't bother with the film - just read the book. FAR superior.