Comments (40)

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Mar 23, 2024BeckyR21 rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable read. The plot was not fast paced. The characters well imagined; I think fiction based on historical people without having any real basis for the character development is a challenge. No one even knows for sure who the girl with…
Nov 28, 2023 CALS_Amanda rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
This imagining of the home life of Vermeer and the circumstances that led to his most famous painting starts off well, with many details you'll recognize if you've been looking at his works recently. I couldn't guess how true Chevalier is…
Jun 24, 2023Anita_Dickey rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I read this book for the 52 books in 52 weeks reading challenge. I used the summer reading challenge prompt for 2023 read a book with famous artwork on the cover. I really enjoyed this book. It was a little emotional. Overall, a good light…
Jul 14, 2022Book_Dragon_Me rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This is such a good historical fiction novel based around the painter Johannes Vermeer in 1660's Holland. Griet is 16 when she is hired as a lady's maid, the lady being the wife of the painter. Griet gradually becomes the trusted helper of…
Sep 23, 2021JCLPiepieB rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
A quiet, slow-burn type of novel that imagines the story behind one of the most famous paintings in the world. Passion boils beneath the surface as a young maid learns to stay true to herself and discovers what life has in store for her.
Jun 27, 2021konoyaro rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
A little difficult to read this, knowing that the actual model for Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring was likely his daughter, yet Tracy Chevalier has come up with an alternative back story for the Girl. Griet's father, a tile artist, has…
Mar 01, 2020carolwu96 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
When sixteen-year-old Griet joins Johannes Vermeer’s household as a maid, she has no idea that she will be the subject of one of the most celebrated portraits in history.⁣ ⁣ Tracy Chevalier elegantly interweaves art, history and fiction…
Oct 27, 2019
This was certainly a compelling read. Told through a simple subject , the daily life of a maid, the author brought incredible life and colour to the story, the characters and subject. The most amazing aspect was how she made us see what an…
Jul 22, 2019YLPLTEENBOOKBLOG rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
The historic fiction novel “Girl with a Pearl Earring” by Tracy Chevalier is a motivating extension of the story behind Johannes Vermeer’s famous painting of a girl wearing a pearl earring. It expands upon the life of the girl in the…
Jun 14, 2019kvantrump rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Loved this book about the era, the subject and the artist
Oct 15, 2018multcolib_susannel rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Based on the life of 17th century Dutch painter Vermeer, this compelling story of the culture and times is told through his servant Greit.
Oct 03, 2018
Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier was an intriguing fictitious book based on the life of the famous painter Johannes Vermeer. 16-year-old Griet, is hired by Vermeer’s wife, Catharina, to work as a maid in their home. Catharina,…
Mar 10, 2018fairyfingers rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
I'm not much of a reader, it's not easy for me to get absorbed into a book easily. Yet this book took me away. I don't remember when was the last time I stayed up till late at night just because I couldn't let go of a book! The first…
Feb 27, 2018thebritlass rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Heightens interest in Vermeer's works by creating a backstory for several of his paintings.
Aug 06, 2016ArapahoeSarahD rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Has a book ever made you look differently at the world? This one certainly made me see color, and even art itself, in a different light. If you love art, romance, heartbreak and historical timeframes, you will like this book. I cannot…
Aug 05, 2016
Aug 4 2016.....After the first few paragraphs I had high hopes for this novel. However, in the end I was left with a kind of empty waste of time feeling. I ordered the movie just out of curiosity, but it wasn't much better. Oh well, you…
Dec 13, 2014kristikaye rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable book. Interesting to think of how life was at that time. Good story, not fast-paced, and the descriptions were beautifully written.
Dec 05, 2014WVMLStaffPicks rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Griet, a pretty Dutch serving girl, is hired as a maid for the painter Vermeer’s family. Before long she falls prey to the lustful attentions of Vermeer’s wealthy patron. When he insists on Vermeer painting Griet’s portrait, she knows that…
Jun 21, 2014KatiaY rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
A beautiful story between a maid and Vermeer of how the painting came to be. It's quite easy to read and offers a closure to the mystery of the identity of the girl in the painting.
Jun 20, 2014ckaldahl rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Quick, easy read.
Feb 16, 2014Lotte_ rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
i had to read this book for school but i actually really enjoyed it!! i loved the characters and how the whole story was about the painting. the plot was very interesting the whole way through with a few unexpected twists but overall a…
Nov 18, 2013DennyZ1 rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
homework!!!!!!!! but it's good.
Sep 09, 2013kaiear rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
really beautiful descriptions. It made me want to study art, the author paints such a beautiful portrait through words. The movie was a disappointment, the book was a thousand times better!
Aug 24, 2013lozza1401 rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
A good historical context of the rich versus poor in 17th century Holland. Very short but highly recommended for those art history lovers.
Jul 23, 2013jurban1983 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
A GREAT read! The film will ruin the story for you so please just stick to the book. I have read it over and over and will continue to do so because I keep finding new little things in the story that I did not notice before. Much like…