Girl With a Pearl Earring

Not a typical book I'd pick up and read, but I did like the book. I think they've made a movie for it, but I haven't seen it.

I had heard a lot about this book and had been wanting to read it for quite some time. My great aunt gave me a copy while on a trip to California. I began reading it at the airport waiting for our plane to board, and almost couldn't put it down. I finished it in an astonishing five hours (allowing for time-change), and was VERY impressed. Griet's fascination with Vermeer, Catharina's jealous...more

I had heard a lot about this book and had been wanting to read it for quite some time. My great aunt gave me a copy while on a trip to California. I began reading it at the airport waiting for our plane to board, and almost couldn't put it down. I finished it in an astonishing five hours (allowing for time-change), and was VERY impressed. Griet's fascination with Vermeer, Catharina's jealous rages, the childrens' outlook on life, etc., made it a fascinating read. It also explains the story behind Vermeer's famous painting very succinctly. Beautiful story and wonderful writing.   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

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

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

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

Chevalier is one of those authors who churns out a few gems, and then makes you wait for the next one. I"m currently waiting, having read all of her previous. This one, 'Girl with Pearl Earring' is her best IMHO, but 'Remarkable Creatures' and 'Lady and the Unicorn' are lovely, too. Chevalier writes with such care: every single word counts. I just love an author who doesn't waste my time.

This is the only book I've read by Tracy Chevalier. She writes with a grace that is surprising and unexpected considering the content and time period - I also loved the movie, which is rare for me to say. Either I love the book and hate the movie, or as with only a few, I love the movie but the book didn't do much for me. With this one both are great!

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