From the Bookshelf of The Complete Idiots Guide to the Ultimate Reading List…

Girl with a Pearl Earring

Tracy Chevalier

Start date: July 13, 2009

Finish date: July 13, 2009

Discussion: Chapter 1: Historical Fiction

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Chapter 1: Historical Fiction

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* Bringing the Past to Life - Chapter 1 book list
By MJ , Idiot's Top libriarian · 9 posts · 696 views

last updated Jul 23, 2009 12:24PM

* The Name of the Rose by Umbertco Ecco ** book club selection: May Contain Spoilers **
By MJ , Idiot's Top libriarian · 10 posts · 61 views

last updated Jun 03, 2011 09:31AM

What Members Thought

Apr 21, 2011 Lisa (Harmonybites) rated it liked it

Shelves: ultimate-reading-list, fiction, novels, historical-fiction, art

I did enjoy this, and it read quickly, in one sitting, although I felt a little underwhelmed given the praise of the novel.

The story is told first person from the point of view of Griet, a maid who is sixteen-years-old when she first becomes a maid for the Vermeers, her master being the great 17th Century Dutch painter. The style mostly comes across as spare, with short simple, choppy sentences--other than some simile abuse in the beginning. I liked the details of a painter's technique and an a I did enjoy this, and it read quickly, in one sitting, although I felt a little underwhelmed given the praise of the novel.

The story is told first person from the point of view of Griet, a maid who is sixteen-years-old when she first becomes a maid for the Vermeers, her master being the great 17th Century Dutch painter. The style mostly comes across as spare, with short simple, choppy sentences--other than some simile abuse in the beginning. I liked the details of a painter's technique and an artist's way of seeing and this story of how the famous masterpiece, Girl with the Pearl Earring came to be, even if I found how the plot developed rather predictable. I also liked how the author portrayed the tensions of the household, economic and domestic; the author was good at conveying the dangers and vulnerabilities of Griet's position.

I had issues though. How Griet lost her virginity seemed jarringly unhistorical to me, especially given the value placed on chastity in that era, as well as all the fuss Griet made about keeping her hair modestly all tucked in, and concern for all the proprieties, I'd think any...courtship would be more restrained--that even kisses, let alone the groping depicted would be out of line with someone you intended marrying. And the associated symbolism of the pierced ears seemed to me overwrought. I have pierced ears myself--when I had it done, I didn't come anywhere near fainting. I also found the ultimate crisis inexplicable. The novel established that a servant had been used as a model before. That objects belonging to Vermeer's wife had been borrowed before as props for his paintings with her knowledge. Given all that, it seems hard to understand that using her pearl earring was such a great secret and betrayal. (Unless, of course, it's that everyone sensed the bond between master and servant and thus knew it could be a touchy situation--or just all it being kept secret was the betrayal.)

In the end, I thought this wasn't bad for fan fiction. I don't mean that disparagingly, but simply that what makes the story of interest is the attempt to fill out the details of how a beloved painting came to be. But as historical or artistic fiction, the characters, plot and setting wound up feeling...sketchy to me. ...more

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Mar 22, 2010 Debra Pound rated it it was amazing

I loved this book, and read it so quickly it was ridiculous! I felt like someone in Andrew's family ;) This book goes over what it would be like in the 1600's as a female forced to become a maid because of bad family misfortune. ...more

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Jun 27, 2010 Julie rated it liked it

Shelves: worth-our-weight-in-books-book-club, historical-fiction-romance

I only read this book because it was my book club read. It is not a book I would normally pick up and read. It was definitely different. I am used to books that give a little more. I felt like it was very sparse. I like the idea of the story but I wanted more out of it. I loved Griet. I loved how reserved and quietly strong her character remained throughout the story. It was an interesting read and I am glad I can say I have read it.

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Jul 16, 2009 Lucy rated it really liked it

Shelves: adult

I couldn't put it down, which i love about books. I'm too busy for books I have to force myself to pick up. So this was a nice quick read that I just had to finish before I could sleep. Kudos to the author for keeping me hooked like that from start to finish, 4 stars for that. ...more

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Jul 31, 2009 Blue Eyed Vixen marked it as to-read

Shelves: ebook-i-own, historical-fiction, in-local-library-audio

Sep 01, 2009 Heidi Hehnly rated it liked it

Sep 06, 2009 Lillie rated it really liked it

Oct 13, 2009 Joan rated it liked it

Oct 28, 2009 Inna marked it as to-read

Nov 05, 2009 Teaberry rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, historical_fiction, bookclub

Nov 15, 2009 Candace Petersen Martineau marked it as to-read

Dec 27, 2009 Tanya rated it it was amazing

Dec 29, 2009 John Parker rated it liked it

Jan 05, 2010 Angela Randall marked it as to-read

Shelves: fiction, 1990-1999, we-own, young-adult-educational-material, 20th-century, i-own, literature, history, art, a-great-list-of-top-books-to-read