Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier

[Maud Fitch]

Nearly finished Girl With A Pearl Earring but my attention wanders to other books due to its simplicity. I agree with Primrose that it's intentionally written that way, but I feel it doesn't do the subject justice. However, it does create a wonderful sense of place.

[Fran]

Nearly finished Girl With A Pearl Earring but my attention wanders to other books due to its simplicity. I agree with Primrose that it's intentionally written that way, but I feel it doesn't do the subject justice. However, it does create a wonderful sense of place.

@Maud
Did the book not make you want to see the Vermeer paintings? Vermeer is probably my favourite painter, you really have to see his paintings - small but perfectly formed! Thankfully we have a couple in our National Gallery & every time I visit Dublin a visit with my Vermeers is always penciled in.

[Maud Fitch]

@Maud
Did the book not make you want to see the Vermeer paintings?.....

It certainly did. I scanned the book cover on numerous occasions when Griet described the paintings. And when Vermeer asked her to describe the clouds, I went outside and studied them myself. I have not, as yet, researched the great man's paintings nor do I know if we have any in Australia, but it would be well worth finding out.

At this stage I have no plans to view the movie. I have finished the book and I have to say it's a very sweet story. Nothing challenging, nothing confronting, just a lovely young girl with a big fan crush. The ending was particularly satisfying! As always happens with me, I get annoyed with class structures - and they were vividly portrayed in this book. Being born and raised in a sunny, wide open country without many social restrictions, I find it hard to come to grips with such rigid, almost inhuman, treatment of one person over another. It fair makes my blood boil, it does!

[primrose777]

@Maud
Did the book not make you want to see the Vermeer paintings?.....

It certainly did. I scanned the book cover on numerous occasions when Griet described the paintings. And when Vermeer asked her to describe the clouds, I went outside and studied them myself. I have not, as yet, researched the great man's paintings nor do I know if we have any in Australia, but it would be well worth finding out.

At this stage I have no plans to view the movie. I have finished the book and I have to say it's a very sweet story. Nothing challenging, nothing confronting, just a lovely young girl with a big fan crush. The ending was particularly satisfying! As always happens with me, I get annoyed with class structures - and they were vividly portrayed in this book. Being born and raised in a sunny, wide open country without many social restrictions, I find it hard to come to grips with such rigid, almost inhuman, treatment of one person over another. It fair makes my blood boil, it does!

I would never have thought to go outside and study the clouds. What a wonderful thing to do. It speaks to me of a whole new depth of reading. I shall implement this strategy in my future reading. Not sure if the Eyre Affair would be applicable or not, that is what I am reading at the moment.
I agree with you about the class distinction, and I too enjoyed the ending of The Girl With the Pearl Earring for that reason. I felt very satisfied I must say.

[Carla Hurst-Chandler]

Having read the book and seen the film. They did an excellent job. You should try it.

[Maud Fitch]

One of the saddest elements of this novel is the unmentioned fact that Griet never had a chance to develop her artistic talent. She was the one in her family who inherited her father's artistic ability but never had, would never have, the opportunity to express it.