Rating: 
Summary: Moderately impressive
Review: A fictionalized account of the story behind the girl with a pearl earring in Vermeer's painting. By the end, I found it satisfying, but much of the beginning and middle seemed forced to me. In trying to put in the details of 17th century life in Holland, I found myself imagining the author with her history books more than I imagined a deep picture of average life. Not a book I'd highly recommend, but still moderatly impressive for its creativity.
Rating: 
Summary: Certainly "a portrait of radiance!"
Review: As Time Magazine first observed, Girl With A Pearl Earring is "a portrait of radiance." Upon trying to think of another, more original phrase to describe this marvelous, subtly beautiful book, I could think of nothing that would do it the justice it deserves.
Vermeer has always been one of my favorite artists, especially for his renowned painting "View of Delft." As the book describes, it is his use of light that allows his paintings to come to life; the subjects are ordinary, if not beautiful, and the backdrops are typically common and true to the every- day life I imagine he lived. Because of my interest in Vermeer's work, I cannot quite understand why I waited to long to finally pick it up and read it. However, I am very glad that I did.
As a fan of art history, as well as history and fiction, I found this book a delightful triumph. Not only are the characters well-developed, they are believable. I really imagined Vermeer living the life Chevalier described, and I felt so close to Griet, his muse and maid, by the end of the book that I wept for her loss.
This is a minor point, but I felt that the breaks in sections of the book were perfectly and strategically placed. Creating cliff-hangers, they kept me on my toes while reading; I felt as if I could not put down the book until I had finished it in its entirety.
Of course, one must keep in mind while reading Girl With A Pearl Earring that it is fiction; I think one of the challenges of writing and reading historical fiction is being too critical of the misrepresentation of facts. I read the book with an open mind and genuine interest, and I ended up loving it.
Although I had not previously read any of Tracy Chevalier's books, I now plan to; I anticipate enjoying them just as much.
I would recommend Girl With A Pearl Earring to anyone, young or old, male or female.
It took my breath away.
Rating:
Summary: Just Simply a Wonderful Book
Review: We don't know very much about Vermeer other than that fact that he produced only thirty-five paintings before he died at forty-two, almost unknown and in debt. "The Girl With the Pearl Earring" is one of his better known paintings and we know nothing about the model. However Ms. Chevalier writes gorgeous words on her pages as she paints us a beautiful portrait of who this lovely woman might have been. In 1665, Vermeer lived in Delft with his wife, Catharina, his mother, his five daughters and two sons. Griet, works as a maid in household. As well as doing her daily chores, which includes trips to the meat market where the owner's son desires her. Vermeer and his friend, van Ruijven, also fancy her. Soon she becomes Vermeer's assistant as well as the model for "Girl With a Pearl Earring. While she poses, Catharina gets increasing jealous and it comes to a boiling point when she sees that his latest painting is of Griet wearing the her own pearl earrings. This is a beautifully crafted book that I just simply adored. It's got a few neat twists, an unexpected ending and lots of wonderful description of what life was like in Holland in the Seventeenth Century. I can't recommend this story highly enough. Sophie Cacique Gaul
Rating: 
Summary: Art, History, And A Great Story!!!
Review: Ms. Chevalier has done it again taking a historic work of art and creating a believable story to how this painting came about. Ms. Chevalier has a very lyrical way of writing that is not only vividly descriptive, but also draws you into 17th century Delft. I managed to read this book in one sitting since the story of Griet and her sensual awakening which is triggered by her going to work as a maid for an artist and his family was totally captivating. For a fast read that is truly a work of art in it's own write you can't go wrong with anything written by Ms. Chevalier!
Rating:
Summary: Chevalier makes up a story behind the Vermeer painting
Review: I read "Girl With a Pearl Earring" because I was so enthralled by the 2003 film adaptation directed by Peter Webber from a script by Olivia Hetreed. When I saw the movie I was impressed by its visual elements but now that I have real Tracy Chevalier's novel I am really impressed by Hetreed's screenplay. Usually when I am inspired to read a novel after I see a film it is to get more of the story, thinking that less than half of what is in the book has made it to the screen. That is most decidedly not the case with "Girl With a Pearl Earring." Johannes Vermeer's 1665 oil on canvas painting, which hangs in The Royal Cabinet of Paintings Mauritshuis in The Hague, is considered one of his masterworks. It is a portrait of a young girl, wearing a turban and a pearl earring, looking over her shoulder, her lips parted slightly, set against a black background. But if you are familiar with Vermeer's body of work, most of which represented the corner of his studio in which he worked, then clearly "Girl with a Pearl Earring" is an atypical work. This painting has raised a series of questions ever since it was rediscovered in 1882: Was the pearl real? What is she wearing a turban? Was the painting intended to be a portrait? Nothing is known about whom Vermeer used as his model, so the biggest question of all is Who was the girl in the painting? Chevalier answers all of these questions, and more, by creating a young girl named Griet. After her father, a tile maker, is blinded in a kiln accident Griet is sent to work cleaning in the house of Vermeer in the Dutch city of Delft. She is Protestant and the Vermeers are Catholic, which adds another element of strangeness to the young girl when she moves into the house. Vermeer's wife, Catharina, is about to deliver another baby, and Griet is to help with the household work. But she is also given the job of cleaning the master's studio, where she faces the daunting task of cleaning the objects on display without moving them from their position. Griet is a smart girl, which for some may well be the Achilles heel in the conceit spun by Chevalier since they may well conclude that neither Greit's education nor her experiences would allow her to come up with the deep thoughts she has at critical points in the narrative. But that intelligence is necessary to the story Chevalier wants to tell and the foundation for everything that follows is Griet's common sense conclusion that cleaning the widow's in Vermeer's studio will change the light that falls on his subjects. "Girl with a Pearl Earring" is about the art of painting and we learn, through Griet's eyes, something of Vermeer's technique, especially with his use of the camera obscura. But it is also something of a love story, in that Griet cannot help but be smitten with the man who ends up painting her portrait, even if the thought that something might actually happen between them never really enters her mind. For a time, in Chevalier's story, Griet serves as a muse of inspiration for a great painter who produced a true masterpiece.
This is not a true story. Most of the characters really lived and you can travel to the Netherlands and see the actual painting, but Chevalier's answer to all of the questions swirling around Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earring" are only creative speculations. Yet in the final analysis Chevalier achieves the ultimate level that author's aspire to when they tell such tales in that we wish that this was indeed a true story. Chevalier makes Griet as memorable as the painting she inspires in this 2000 novel. On the back of the my copy of this novel author Deborah Moggach, author of "Tulip Fever," says that she read Chevalier's story with a book of Vermeer's paintings beside me. I read "Girl with a Pearl Earring" after not only seeing the movie but after checking out all of Vermeer's paintings online, so that when Chevalier talks about the paintings "Woman with a Pearl Necklace" and "The Concert" I was able to visualize them. I wish that reproductions of those paintings had been included in this novel as well as the cover picture of the titular artwork, the same way I wish that I could see the paintings and architecture that matter in Dan Brown's novels. Since you can easily find a couple of excellent websites with Vermeer's artwork I would strong recommend that even if you have also seen the movie, that you be able to have the same advantage as Griet and be able to study these great paintings.
Rating:
Summary: Girl to woman
Review: I loved this book. It has a very interesting historical p[eriod as the backround, and a great perspective. This girl learns so much, from the master of the house about art, but also about life in some families, and the secrets that people keep. A book I had a hard time putting down, but took some absorbing too aat times. Very worth the read. Great author!
Rating:
Summary: An outstanding book
Review: Tracy Chevalier writes an outstanding novel, Girl with a Pearl Earring. The main character is Griet, a young girl from Holland who is devastated when she discovers that her father has become blind. With her family unable to pay for living expenses, Griet must become a maid to the famous artist Vermeer and his family. The author does a marvelous job describing the portraits Vermeer paints. It is almost as if the portraits come alive in the story. The story does not have any boring points and keeps readers on their toes as Griet struggles with growing up and is torn when deciding who or what to love. Teenagers, myself included, can relate to Griet as she searches for herself and realizes her responsibilities as she grows up. Griet understands that she must support her family. Living with the painter forces her to grow in many aspects. All teenagers should read this book because of the life's lessons it portrays. Readers do not have to like art to appreciate this book. The appreciation comes with the author's beautifully written novel that causes readers to be anxious for the end throughout the whole story.
Rating:
Summary: A swell book
Review: I can say that Chevalier has succeeded in creating a new personal favorite. She took a time in history not often investigated through fiction (but obviously worthy of it) and created a writing masterpiece. The description she makes of the paintings has inspired me to become a small-scale art enthusiast. She doesn't use large amounts of dialogue. She resides to the personal thoughts a single girl. It is refreshing to also have a book where the lead character is a teenager. Although it is with completely different circumstances I felt a better connection being a girl of sixteen as well. At the end you give a "Wow that was great!" sigh. It makes you re-examine parts of the world around you and take a new appreciation for all small details, thoughts, and creative behaviors. It is nothing short of wonderful.
Rating:
Summary: Painting words
Review: Over 650 people have taken time to write a review on this amazing novel, a large majority offering the highest of ratings. Their reviews are substantial and I recognize my contribution would be repetitious. The novel was exquisite. On a personal level, I was presented the novel by my daughter. She informed me she read it "cover to cover" in one night and offered that I may enjoy it as well. Within a few days, I noticed her in the backyard examining calla lillies. Soon, she was requesting a canvas and taking out her stash of paints. Sketching a replica of the lillies, she spoke of the subtleties of colors and the teachings of Vermeer that were passed on to his maid in the content of the novel. Searching for ways to covey the finer points of the book without betraying the ending, she was clearly irritated by my comments to not give way the plot. It was easily resolved with reading the book. I, too, felt as enchanted as many of the 650 readers. Everything about the book captivated me; the dutch history of the 1600's, what it could have been like for a poor maid to integrate in a large household of a prominent artist and the intricate process of how a painting is conceived and completed. I was urged to research more intensely Vermeer and his works which were easily satisfied via the internet. Vermeer's biography (what little of it available) and the pictures of his paintings truly rounded out the experience of reading the book. For an entertaining novel that could be enjoyed on a long afternoon, I could recommend none other. After you finish the book, visit those sites that offer the representations of the works of Vermeer or, if you are fortunate enough, make sure to see the original pieces in your lifetime. Thanks to this novel, it has lit the candle of interest and appreciation.
Rating:
Summary: a masterpiece
Review: i finished girl with a pearl earring in one sitting. it takes place in the 1660s in the netherlands and is narrated by the clever and beautiful Griet, a daughter of a blinded tilemaker who for monetary reasons becomes a maid in Vermeer's house and later becomes the subject of one of his most famous paintings. it was delicately and superbly written.
tracy chevalier, like vermeer, sees things in a way that is original and crisp. however, also like the celebrated painter, she overlooks somethings. the book is like a painting, but the description wanes as the plot sped up. also, so many things went wrong. it seemed as if the author was trying too hard to throw things into griet's path. she never explains why cornelia is so devious or characterizes Frans, Griet's brother, as much as she could have.
the words were extradorinarly vivid without being wordy. the ending is also satisfying though bittersweet. but what really makes this book a masterpiece is how open the book is to interpretation. at the end, you can argue that protagonist succeeded or you can say she didn't. "sometimes it seems one thing, sometimes the other" (90). only a master empowers the reader and that fact catches the reader's eye like a pearl and makes chevalier's weaknesses less apparent.
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