Rating: 
Summary: Good, if simplistic, novel
Review: This novel is definitely not a great work of literature, in my opinion, but the story is engaging and it is easy to read. The main problem with the novel is that it does not have any subplots, in addition to Griet's life as a servant, to "jazz it up" a bit. I found that because of this, the short novel became a little boring at times. Still, the characters are lively and the "what if...?" idea is inventive.
Rating: 
Summary: Astonshingly well written
Review: This coming of age novel features a extrodinarily perceptive but illiterate teenage girl who becomes a maid in the home of the great 17th century Dutch painter Vermeer. Both Vemeer and his wealthy patron are taken with this young woman, and Vemeer immortalizes her in a commissioned work by the patron while diverting her from household duties to become his studio assistant. Juggling household intrigues, unwanted suitors, and a sense of propriety, our heroine manages to navigate her coming of age with a wisdom and charm that make this novel a must read.
Rating:
Summary: Girl with a Pearl Earraing
Review: Easy read. Sensitive story. Couldn't put the book down.
Rating: 
Summary: Intelligent historical fiction
Review: Sixteen year old Griet needs to work. Since her fathers accident costing his eyes and her brothers apprenticeships took him away from home, she will have to go away to work and bring home money for her family. She is hired by a wealhy Delft family the Vermeers to clean their house for wages and work every except Sunday. With a heavy heart, she packs her bags and leaves for her new home.The Vermeers have an unusual household. The head, Johannes Vermeer is a struggling artist to his 12 children (with #13 on the way) and spends his days up in his attic painting beautiful works of art. Catharinna, makes sure her husband is not disturbed and that none of the children bother him. But when events unfold and Griets sexual interests start to bloom, art may be the only thing that will save her this time. Full of beautiful writings of Delft and people who live in it, Girl With a Pearl Earring is a luminous portrait of the power of art and the magical effect it has on people.
Rating:
Summary: Perrysburg Literary Book Club Gives a Thumbs UP!
Review: ... This book is a wonderful book for a book discussion group and we even carried the theme of the pearl earring a little farther by all wearing pearl earrings! We then discussed the different types of pearls, how they are made, the differnt prices, etc. We also love to read over the Amazon book discussion questions which are helpful. Perrysburg gives a thumbs up!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: I just finished it. This was a beautiful book and a lovely story. Tracy Chevalier is very talented.
Rating:
Summary: gripping, entertaining, epic and short
Review: what a trip this was...the author actually made me believe that she was the girl with the pearl ear ring herself.
a lot of subtle stuff going on there...glimpses of society, feelings, relationships...lots of hints that allowed me to fill in the blanks as i saw fit.
this is a "must buy" book!
enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Vermeer and His Lovely Handservant
Review: Indulging! This a great book for both men and women. It covers the arts, history, and a bit of romance. Chevalier did a brilliant job at really illustrating life in Holland in the 1600's both in a mental and physical sense. Coming from a Dutch heritage, I can vow that she (Chevalier) really did her research. Chevalier's portrayal of Vermeer seems to harmonize with his artwork. Though the book is fiction, I feel that it is not too far fetched about what Vermeer and his family life was like. I won't ruin the suspense for you and spill out all the details, but the "girl" with the pearl earring is also worth getting to know. You will cry for her, sympathize for her, cheer for her, and you will even sometimes be a little annoyed with her. If you want a fun and easy read, this book is an excellent choice. I have read many books and this one really stands out. I also know quite of few people who have also read this book and loved it.
Rating:
Summary: Engaging and quick read
Review: Famous Dutch painter Vermeer left behind thirty-five works and little else. In Girl with a Pearl Earring, Tracy Chevalier puts forth the possible story behind one of the more famous paintings. Griet is a teenager when the failure of her father's eyesight causes him to abandon his tile-making trade. The family's financial instability forces her into work for a wealthy Catholic family and her brother into another artisan profession. Griet's new life with her "new family"-that of Vermer-is certainly different, in terms of religion, daily routine, social status, and financial status. After a few months, she adjusts to her new life and finds herself separating from her family. Chevalier's descriptions of the Netherlands and of painting in the seventeenth-century helped the book because they provided a framework for everything else. Although I loved Griet, she seems too strong and too modern for the novel's time period; could a sixteen-year-old maid, with no formal education of any kind, really have outsmarted Vermeer? Her observations about her master's art seemed too astute and too quick, even if she was supposed to be a fast learner. Overall, I would recommend Girl with a Pearl Earring to anyone looking for a quick, engaging, and light novel.
Rating:
Summary: A painting brought to life
Review: Sixteen year old, Griet, becomes the servant at the Vermeers' as her parents need her to earn money seeing her father could no longer work. Griet's responsibilities are to clean the master's studio. The novel traces Griet's life at the Vermeer's and how she becomes engrossed in her masters work, leading to the painting of Griet as the girl with the pearl earring. The novel is loosely based on Vermeer's painting, Girl with a Pearl Earring. It portrays a picture of Dutch life in the 17th century and what life inside Vermeer's house may have been like. I have seen many mixed reviews on this novel however, I would certainly recommend it to others who enjoy a fictional story based on a historic periods.
| 
