Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful cover, average story
Review: I love Vermeer's paintings and traveled with a friend to Washington, D.C. to see his show at the Corcoran a few years ago. I was looking forward to reading a rich novel about this painting and was quite disappointed by the writing. I thought the premise was clever, giving life to who the girl in the painting was and using that as a springboard for the story about Vermeer, his life, his family, and life during that period of time. Tracy Chevalier's writing felt stilted, the characters were not fully developed, and I was left wondering why I had read it at all. I would have been happier had I been able to give this a higher rating because I really wanted to. Alas, it fell short.
Rating: 
Summary: Good but not enough
Review: I bought this book after catching a few words on the biograghy of this famouse painter Vermeer. I wanted to learn more on this whole pearl earring thing. This book was so good I didnt want to finish it and that is why I give it a 4 out of 5. It ended too quickly as if the author gave up or ran out of ideas. It was a good read, but not enough to make me happy.
Rating:
Summary: COMPANION TO A PAINTING
Review: There are two paintings on the cover of this book. One of a city (Delft) and one of the girl with the pearl earring. I don't know why, but I've always liked the latter. Very little action-wise is going on in the painting, yet it still catches your eye and holds your attention. So it came to be a big surprise that Tracy Chevalier was able to create a more or less interesting story on such a simple painting. The book IS rather slow, but I don't think anyone could have done much better. The characters are likeable and realistic. The author also does a good job of setting the scene in which this story takes place. You will learn many things about painting that you never thought of before. There are many parallels in this book--events or objects early on are reintroduced at later times. I appreciated Vermeer's painting a lot before reading this--now I appreciate it even more. After reading this book, you will be changed: you will see the blues and reds in every cloud, you will see the story in every painting. . . .
Rating:
Summary: girl with a pearl earing
Review: Well written historical fiction.Tracy Chevalier brings the reader into the world of a great artist as well as his servent girl. I tried to purchase her 1st novel only to find it had gone out of print. Hopefully the publisher will reprint her first if it is as good as The Girl With a Pearl Earing.
Rating: 
Summary: Truly Captivating
Review: Tracy Chevailer's novel was truly the most captivating historical fiction novel that I have read yet. I knew very little about Vermeer beofre reading this book, but while reading this tale I found myself researching Vermeer, his life and his works. Chevailer's has admirably succeeded in representing history and adding an interesting and beautiful fictional plot. The heroine is simply that. Her sensible nature combined with natural, and believable, desires created a character who is sure to be admired by readers for a long time.
Rating:
Summary: wonderful and too short!
Review: I so loved this book. I am an artist and the book's cover actually made me buy it. I cared so much for this young girl and couldn't wait to find out what happened next, when she would see Vermeer next, what the wife would say... I couldn't wait to pick the book back up every day. I was sorry to see it end.
Rating:
Summary: Great history - great story
Review: Loved everything about this book - the characters, the description, and the plot. The book led me to investigate Vermeer's paintings. Would recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction. Also would point them to "Girl in Hyacinth Blue" - another wonderful Vermeer story
Rating:
Summary: What a Pleasure
Review: Girl with a Pearl Earring is a wonderfully pleasant read. Not too challenging or mindboggling, just an imaginative story that I think most people will enjoy. Tracy Chevalier has come up with an interesting concept--she takes an enigmatic Vermeer painting--The Girl with a Pearl Earring--and weaves an interesting and well-written story about it. Griet is a young woman whose family's financial luck has changed after an accident leaves her artisan father blind. She is hired as a teenage girl to work in the Vermeer household as a maid and soon, because of her own artistic sensibilities begins secretly assisting the artist. Griet ultimately models for the famous painting, and the conflict it causes is her story. There are many other stories swirling around Griet, those of her own family, the Vermeer family and Peter, a young man she meets at the market. I found this an interesting read, perfect for a warm summer's day, when you are searching for something a little more substantial than the usual summer fodder. Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: The author, Chevalier, had a good idea of weaving a story around a famous painting, but this book is a big let-down; it was downright boring. Considering that Chevalier has a degree in creative writing, she does a poor job writing this book creatively. The characters are dull and lifeless. What's more, you just don't care about any of the people in this book. The ending is so predictable - I didn't even have to read it. I don't know how anyone can rate this book highly or recommend it, and I can't believe it made it to the New York Times bestseller list.
Rating:
Summary: Very enjoyable and thought provoking
Review: This book relates the adventures of a young girl forced into becoming a maid by a family misfortune. The struggles of someone without status or power to navigate her way through her new masters (with their contrary demands), mischevious children, and powerful community members makes for a very good plot. I would highly recommend this book to all readers. No special interest in history or art is required. Side note: This story is so well done that I think the only possible criticism might be related to its very perfection. Griet-our young maiden and main character-seems to be just a bit too perfect; both in her responses to each situation, as well as perhaps also her keen powers of observation. (Critics of Fitzgerald's "Great Gatsby" have said something similar, e.g., that Jordan Baker's knowledge of the details of Daisy's past are difficult to credit.)
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