Rating: 
Summary: Girl with a Pearl Earring
Review: The book does read quickly as many readers have noted, perhaps a bit too quickly. By contrast, Vermeer's paintings take time... years. They can be "re-read" thousands of times with no risk of tiring. It will be very interesting to see which aspect of the book the upcoming film will emphasize. Just in case someone is interested, there is an informative website devoted entirely to the real painting...
Rating: 
Summary: A MUST read. Fantastic IMAGINATION Chevalier has
Review: This book grabbed me from page one and didn't let me go even after I had quietly closed the cover and sat the book down with a smile. Chevalier did just a fantastic job of recreating the world of Vermeer, what he might have been thinking, his personality, etc. And her insight into the Girl with the Pearl earring--what her life might have been like, her relationship to Vermeer, etc.--is simply nothing short of genius. EXCELLENT book.
Rating:
Summary: This book never made me care about the girl with the earring
Review: I never finished this book. I made it about 3\4's of the way through tedious descriptions of every day life, washing and cleaning and a plague that swept through the opposite side of town and killed off some very unfleshed out characters that the protagonist knew well. The girl's character comes across frequently as cold and unsympathetic. I did find the descriptions of Vermeer and his art fascinating, but that was about as far as I got with it. I made myself read it when I had free time because I was trying to find out what everyone else was raving about. I would rather read a textbook about Vermeer than this woman's pale, watery interpretation. I realize that this sounds harsh, and this book probably just wasn't my cup of tea. Maybe it will be executed better in the movie when it is released.
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Summary: Wonderful!!!!
Review: I first read this in a book club in highschool two years ago. It is a wonderful book, exploring not only the historical aspects of Vermeer's life and times but also delving into the strange relationship with his servant/model. It is an excellent exploration of the social classes-master and servant-as well as personal relationships. I highly recommend this book. Another recommendation would be the Red Tent, though I have forgotten the author's name.
Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable
Review: Speculative fiction about Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer or, more specifically, about the girl in one of his most famous paintings, Girl with a Pearl Earring. Griet starts off as a maid in the painter's house but she is soon made his assistant and eventually his model. While this is going on she also has to deal with being away from home for the first time, Vermeer's wife and daughter's jealousy, and her growing attraction to the painter. Not the kind of book I usually read but it was enjoyable. It was a bit on the slow side but the book itself was short so that didn't really bother me. It could also be vague in places but this is one of those books where some things are better left to the imagination. If you are an art dork or you just like good fiction in general you'll probably enjoy this book.
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Summary: History and fiction combined
Review: This was a neat little book. It was given to me by my aunt who had received it from a friend. I especially enjoyed it because I was also taking an art history class at the time. The plot could have been more developed, and the ending elaborated on, but overall I enjoyed it!
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Summary: More Than Brush Strokes
Review: Tracy Chevalier has come up with a very creative and ingenious plot and a very readable novel. It is easy to understand how she may have been inspired by this particular Vermeer painting and its subject, to tell her story, promise of which was captured for eternity by the most famous of the Dutch Masters. The delivery is less brilliant, and dialogues seem less than authentic at times. Sure, there are glimpses of the 17th century Dutch daily life, business of art of painting, grind of keeping a medieval house functioning and the fragility of human life, but one does not exactly get transported to the time and place while reading this novel. Still, it was a pleasant book, worth the read
Rating:
Summary: Quick, poignant read
Review: I finished this book in one day. It was easy to read and also easy to get lost in the lives of it's characters. After I read it, I thought about it enough to go look at a book of Vermeer's work. I strongly suggest that anyone reading this have a collection of his work handy because of the references to specific works throughout the book. That Vermeer's paintings serve as another dimension to the work make it all the more pleasing.
Rating:
Summary: Girl with a Pearl Earring
Review: A friend recommended to me that I read Girl in Hyacinth Blue, another book about a Vermeer painting. I was very disappointed. Unlike the latter, Girl with a Pearl Earring is a treasure. I was captivated by the characters in the novel, and could actually visualize the paintings as Griet, ( the main character) was describing. For anyone that has read this book, and loved it as much as I did, or are interested in reading it, I have a suggestion: GO TO CHEVALIER'S WEBSITE!!! All the Vermeer paintings mentioned in the novel are shown. It was so amazing to see the paintings that were described so brilliantly in the novel. Chevalier's novel has not only made me a fan of her writing, but also Vermeer's paintings. Please read this, your won't regret it. Oh... and try and read it before mid November, because then you will be able to see it on the big screen!!!
Rating:
Summary: What's with the Pearls?
Review: The Girl with a Pearl Earring is an intriguing novel, taking place in the seventeenth century. All around, it was a good book that held my interest.
This book is about a teenage girl named Griet, whose father is blinded in a bad accident. Conflict arises when Griet goes out to make a living for her family. There are so many dilemmas; among them the fact that she can only see her family once a week.
My favorite quote in this novel can be found in two or three parts. Whenever Griet runs, she thinks to herself, "Only thieves and children run." It is as if she is relating herself to either a child or a thief, though she does not say which.
My favorite character is Margaret, because she is a hard worker, and is willing to learn. She is one of the only people that call Griet by her name.
I also like it when the situation of the pearl earring arises. It is one of the main dilemmas that lead to the breathtaking climax. I am not going to reveal one of the most interesting parts of the book!
As much as I enjoyed this book, there are a few inappropriate sexual scenes. They should have been excluded from the story. If a person skips over these parts, he really wouldn't miss anything.
However, I would recommend this book to read because it is very interesting; the rising action is filled with many conflicts. After you are filled with suspense, you get to experience both the exciting climax, and the relieving resolution of The Girl with a Pearl Earring.
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