Rating: 
Summary: Best book I've read this year
Review: This is the best book I've read all year. The author's description of Holland in the 1600s is so vivid, it feels like you are walking the cobbled streets alongside the main character. At the same time, she has not cluttered her book with mundane descriptions or details. Her language is simple and crisp, easy on the reader. The story itself is graceful, but riveting. It's like listening to fine music. You want to see what happens next, but at the same time, you don't want it to end.
Rating: 
Summary: Nothing Ever Happens...
Review: I heard so much about this book but I felt that not only were the characters underdeveloped but the story was as well. I kept waiting for something, anything, to happen, and nothing ever did.
There were so many directions she could have taken this simple story, and instead it led disappointingly nowhere.
Rating: 
Summary: Easy Read
Review: This was a quick easy read. The writing style was not very sophisticated, but it did paint a good picture (no pun intended) of life for a working girl at that time.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting but not compelling.
Review: While I this book is well written and enjoyable, the story is not particularly compelling and the characters lack something. It provides an interesting picture of a young girl in Holland, but little else. Certainly not a page turner, but a solid and capable novel.
Rating:
Summary: disappointed
Review: I must have read another book. After reading so many good reveiws on this book I ran out and bought it. I should have saved my $13. It just seemed like through the entire book you were waiting for something to happen, anything! But it never does there is really no turning point, no pinnacle moment in the entire story. I fell in love with the characters but it just seemed like the author didn't know what to do with them once she created them. Save the $13 and see a good movie.
Rating:
Summary: A Fair Book
Review: I was attracted to this book because of the original concept; also because I am a teen myself, much interested in art and art history. But perhaps my expectations were too high, because I was disappointed in it. I didn't feel I could relate to the main character, and I felt the "girl against the world" theme was overdone. Overall, I just felt the characters and storyline were too unbelievable.I would recommend this book for a rainy day, but rent it from the library. Don't waste your money on it.
Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly mediocre
Review: Unlike Vermeer who obviously had talent, I am hard pressed to believe that this author has produced a best seller. I truly wanted to like this novel,(as it was a selection by my bookclub), alas I did not. My reasons for disliking it are simple; it is terribly dull. I kept waiting for something to happen (it never does). The characters are one dimentional at best, and our muse Griet would appear to be the most amazing and accomplished teenager to have ever lived. At the tender age of 16 she knows everything about running a large household, raising children, manipulating the mature women of the house, fending off the advances of men, and in case that wasn't enough she's giving art tips to the master himself, um sure... that's plausible. While the premise of this book was fascinating the execution certainly was not. The best thing about this novel?... the cover art!!
Rating:
Summary: Simply a great book.
Review: I had heard great reviews about this book, so I decided to pick it up one day. For me it was a rough beginning, but once she got into Vermeer's house, and started living there, I really wanted to read this book. I could tell what was coming as the book progressed, but loved it anyway. I really liked the description of his art studio, and when he finally got down to painting the girl, I kept turning to the front of the book to try to see the different things the book was describing. Overall a great book, and it makes me want to pick up that other book about his work, "Girl in Hyacinth Blue".
Rating:
Summary: A beautiful interpretation of an artistic masterpiece!
Review: Although the name Vermeer was unfamiliar to me, his art certainly was not. It just took this amazing novel to help me make the connection between this 17th century Dutch artist and his artistic masterpieces. Greit, the fictional subject of GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING, is a strong-willed young lady who does not let some of the degradation she experiences as Vermeer's maid destroy her spirit. There is so much she is forced to deal with, from a plague-induced death in her own family to a shrewish mistress, a jealous maid, a lecherous patron, and a lustful and desirable master. Yet her identity remains strong! Ms. Chevalier's imagination and ability to weave such a fascinating tale from these paintings was truly amazing! While I was reading this novel, I came across VERMEER: THE COMPLETE WORKS (Arthur K. Wheelock, Jr., 1997) at the library and I found it to be a very helpful companion to this story. The book displays all Vermeer's works as well as interesting biographical information. I found it invaluable while reading Girl With a Pearl Earring, because I was able to visually identify all the painting referenced in the story. I also found the internet itself a great source when trying to find out additional information about Vermeer and his paintings. I found this book exciting in both the narrative itself and the fact that it reintroduced me to the works of this talented painter. Thank you , Ms. Chevalier!
Rating:
Summary: A nice, quick read.
Review: This book is truly inspiring, to look at a piece of art then write a story about it makes you look at fine art in a different light. The author's descriptive narratives on Vemeer's use of light and colors in his paintings was most interesting.
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