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rainalina (USA: MI) (2007/02/19):
"Girl with a Pearl Earring centers on Vermeer's prosperous Delft household during the 1660s. When Griet, the novel's quietly perceptive heroine, is hired as a servant, turmoil follows. First, the 16-year-old narrator becomes increasingly intimate with her master. Then Vermeer employs her as his assistant--and ultimately has Griet sit for him as a model. Chevalier vividly evokes the complex domestic tensions of the household, ruled over by the painter's jealous, eternally pregnant wife and his taciturn mother-in-law. At times the relationship between servant and master seems a little anachronistic. Still, Girl with a Pearl Earring does contain a final delicious twist.Throughout, Chevalier cultivates a limpid, painstakingly observed style, whose exactitude is an effective homage to the painter himself. Even Griet's most humdrum duties take on a high if unobtrusive gloss: I came to love grinding the things he brought from the apothecary--bones, white lead, madder, massicot--to see how bright and pure I could get the colors. I learned that the finer the materials were ground, the deeper the color. From rough, dull grains madder became a fine bright red powder and, mixed with linseed oil, a sparkling paint. Making it and the other colors was magical." (amazon.com)
sandra (USA: MN) (2012/04/06):
never done a review on here before.. but thought i might give it a try.
i wanted to read this book since i had seen the movie. it fills in nicely a lot of holes/bits left out in the movie for me & hopefully for others as well.
much of it is the same as the movie, some changes like Vermeer had red hair & tiny little things like that throughout.. it was a really good read! i was shocked at just how QUICKLY i got done with it. it is very engrossing & so easy to get caught up in the life of Griet... there is a lot of 'new info' about her family in the book (compared to the movie).. it really gives you a much clearer view of her home life & adds more characters & parts to several new storylines.. Also it gives you an actual ending to her story unlike the movie.. it was somewhat obvious where everything was headed by the end of the book but maybe that was since i saw the movie. the book was well written & very interesting if you have seen the movie or if you haven't.
HIGHLY recommend!!! a nice period/historic piece.
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