Girl with a Pearl Earring
by Tracy Chevalier
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Book Summary Information
Author: Tracy ChevalierEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2001-01-08
ISBN: 0452282152
Number of pages: 240
Publisher: Plume
Book Reviews of Girl with a Pearl Earring
Book Review: "Virtuous women did not open their mouths in paintings..."
Summary: 5 Stars
"Girl With a Pearl Earring" is based on the Johannes Vermeer painting with the same name. Sixteen-year-old Griet is forced to leave home and go to work as a maid for a painter and his family in order to provide for her family. Although she faces numerous challenges with most members of the Vermeer household, Griet slowly begins to bond with her master, who commissions her to help him in his studio and eventually has her sit for one of his paintings.
This book is interesting on many different levels. For one thing, creating this fictitious tale based on such a famous piece of art is intriguing, and Tracy Chevalier's characters are all very believable. Having the story narrated from Griet's point of view was also an excellent choice. The reader is treated to a description of how life was for a young woman living in poverty during the 17th century. Griet is forced into so much during the course of this novel, and all her options seem vert limited: there could be serious consequences if she continues to work for the Vermeer family, but her family will starve if she chooses to leave. There is also the potential of romance with a young suitor, but Griet is torn between a "sensible" relationship with Pieter and the growing feeling she has for her master.
The relationship between Griet and Vermeer is very mysterious and still leaves a lot of questions until the very end. We become aware of Griet's feelings for her master, but how does Vermeer really feel about her? Griet's interaction with the other women is also interesting to follow...Vermeer's wife sees her as a threat, Tanneke sees her as a rival, and Cornelia sees her as someone to destroy. The relationships between all of the women in her life escalate as the story progresses, which makes the final confrontation in the last few pages of the book even more powerful.
I would recommend "Girl With a Pearl Earring" to anyone. Now that I've read the novel, I am very eager to see the movie version...hopefully Hollywood didn't butcher it beyond repair. :)
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