Book Review: Girl With a Pearl Earring
I just finished this book this morning and wrote my review a few minutes ago.
Title: Girl with a Pearl Earring
Author: Tracy Chevalier
Genre: Historical fiction/biography/romance
Pages: 233
**Some spoilers, but few that will affect the reading of the book**
Summary:
In seventeenth century Delft, a strict social order reigns, dividing rich and poor, Catholic and Protestant, master and servant. When sixteen-year-old Griet goes to work as a maid in the home of the city’s most renowned painter, she is expected to know her place. But in the Vermeer household, dominated by his mercurial wife and her formidable mother, Griet soon catches the eye of the master. Captivated by Griet’s quiet manner, intuitive spirit, and fascination with art, Vermeer begins to draw her into his world - a rarefied place of exotic color and dazzling light, shifting shadows, and unimaginable beauty. As Griet becomes a vital part of Vermeer’s work, their growing intimacy spreads tension and deception in the ordered household and even, as the scandal seeps out, ripples into the town beyond. With its striking sense of period detail - vividly evoking a distant place and time - Girl With a Pearl Earring tells the tale of a young girl on the brink of womanhood, whole life is transformed by her brief encounter with genius…even as she herself is immortalized on canvas.
My Review:
Note: The events mentioned in the Beginning, middle, and end sections do leave some times out, for I will discuss them in other places.
BEGINNING
**Essentially nothing to ruin your reading**
Right off that bat, you feel involved in the story. The characterization begins on page one with little details such as, “Strangers would think I was calm. I did not cry as a baby. Only my mother would note the tightness in my jaw, the widening of my already wide eyes.” Right away Tracy sets up the situation. Griet’s father has lost his eyesight and the family does not have much money. In order to survive, Griet goes to work for the Vermeers. At the first meeting, Johannes and Griet have some sort of “connection”, if you want to call it that. He notices the eccentric way she cuts vegetables. Tracy wastes no time in describing every member of the family in unique detail. (Of course, this book is VERY detailed, as will be discussed later.) You can sense who will be trouble and who will Griet will get along with.
MIDDLE
**Mild spoilers - depending how surprised you want to be**
This is where the action takes a unique turn. Johannes commissions Griet to grind paints for her. He sends her on errands that he never sent anyone else on before; he always did it himself; until now. The little things definitely scare Griet - the slight touches of the hand and Johannes watching her clean. Her anxiety is almost humorous, actually, and it adds much to the story.
Pieter the butcher also becomes more and more apparent in the story. His interest in Griet is well known. Griet’s mother notices and urges her to pursue. This, of course, is because of their poor financial standing. Griet is torn.
END
**Rather important spoilers**
This part of the book is rather quick. I almost wish we had the pace from the beginning/middle because I think ‘tis the most interesting. Pieter has asked Griet’s father for her hand in marriage and he said yes. The secret Johannes painting Griet is about to be revealed with Catharina and the tension is high. She runs away from it all.
Ten years later, Tanneke comes and tells her that her mistress would like to speak with her.
**Major spoilers*
She doesn’t tell Pieter where she is going. Turns out that Johannes died and left Catharina with 11 children and a myriad of debt! He did, however, leave the pearl earrings to Griet. She sells them and keeps the money.
**End Major Spoilers*
CHARACTERS
Griet - For some reason, I don’t feel she is as strong as she could have been. Yes, we know that she wants her master and she also wants Pieter. Big whoop. She works as a maid and works hard. Big whoop. As much as we truly do get inside her head, something inside was telling me that I wanted even more. We see that she feels rather excluded from the household; much isn’t shared with her. Yet, she is connected with Johannes.
Johannes - He is definitely the most interesting character to me. He is deep and complex. Why doesn’t he tell his wife that he is having Griet assist him with grinding paints? She is a maid after all and her job is to help the household. Maybe there is a fear there; Catharina is certainly a strong willed and mysterious person….but why be afraid? This is the seventeenth century and you do have supremacy over your wife.
Catharina - Why do you want so many children? It seems as though as soon as she recovers from one pregnancy, she is pregnant all over again. Perhaps it like Mary Thins (or Tanneke, I can’t remember exactly how) mentioned…if you can’t fill the house with servants, she’d fill with children. Catharina still remains a mystery to me. As much I as I really do not like her, I want to know more. Such as in the beginning when van Leeuwenhoek visited and she was scared of him. I wish we could have seen more vulnerability there. It would helped her character more than the bitter housewife.
Mary Thins - Now, I’d have to say that Mary Thins is one of my favorite characters. She is very complex; like Johannes. She has power of Catharina like you wouldn’t imagine (although mothers do tend to have that effect on their children). In fact, she has an effect on everyone in the household. Johannes allows her to handle the business aspect of selling his paintings and Catharina allows her to deal with the maids many a time. I think that in the household, besides Johannes, Griet is closest to Mary Thins. Mary Thins must also like Griet, for it is seen many times; especially when Griet was cleaning Johannes’ studio. I also really enjoyed how several times in the book Mary Thins makes the joke, “Never maid that caused so much trouble.” I laughed every time.
The Children - Many of them didn’t have an effect on me. In fact, I can only remember one name clearly; Cornelia. I’d reckon because she’s the child I hated the most. She’s devious, and cunning - but in a way that leaves a foul taste in your mouth. Even after Griet left and came back at the very end, Cornelia is finding ways to get her in trouble and fired. I just wish I knew why. Perhaps ‘tis just because she is like her mother Catharina; it might be in her jeans to cause trouble.
Pieter - I think the main reason that I loved him so much was because I began having a literary crush on him; just like Gilbert Blythe in ANNE OF GREEN GABLES. There was just something about him; his willingness to wait for Griet and at the same time his eagerness to be hers; it was compelling. The only repulsive thing was that he was a butcher. Like Griet, I would not be able to sand the blood under the fingernails.
THEMES
**Spoiler**
Love triangle - very well thought up by Tracy. Since there really isn’t much information about the “coming-abouts” of his paintings, this story was imagine well and the romances were no exception. Being wooed by a man your age, yet being “fancied” by an elusive painter. Of course you’d have trouble picking.
**End Spoiler**
For the love of painting or love? - I didn’t fully grasp, although the book hinted, whether or not Johannes REALLY fancied Griet, or if he only fancied her while he was painting her. The book hinted that it was the painting he loved and not necessarily her. I’m afraid I agree. As Griet thought the beginning, “I know how babies are made; he has a part of play and I’m sure he does it willing.” So there had to be SOME spark in the relationship with his wife.
Social Separation - Back in the day, as the summary brings out, the social structure really was restrictive. There really was no way that, even if Johannes REALLY did “love” Griet, that a romance like that would have worked out. Back then relationships like that did not last. (Note: the girl in the red dress that had an affair with von Rujvin). Tracy really did bring it alive.
HOW WILL THIS AFFECT MY WRITING?
I think this book really does have a place in my collection. Tracy Chevalier describes everything in such detail. From daily tasks like laundry and mopping to the impossible task of trying to put things back EXACTLY the way they were before she started cleaning in the studio. Some may feel that it’s over descriptive in flowerily (in the beginning I felt that way), but it’s almost as if you get used to it; you expect it. So this book really brought home the fact that you can be so descriptive, but not over do it.
MISC THOUGHTS
**MAJOR SPOILERS**
I think this book lacked emotion in many areas. For instance, when Griet’s sister Agnes gets struck with the plague and dies, you don’t FEEL it. It’s simply said that Agnes died that summer and that Griet’s work declined for a time. I wish that I could have FELT that. Also, we find that Frans, her brother, ran off somewhere. We don’t know where and it almost felt wrong that he was gone when Griet needed him. And in the end, when it is mentioned that her father had died, it’s simply stated and no emotion is evoked.
**END Major Spoilers**
Overall, this book is a work of art. The period is captured perfectly and it’s almost unfathomable as to how Tracy wrote this. It’s simply amazing.
Grade: A
Should you go out and buy it?: Yes.
Feel free to discuss, rec etc here.
Title: Girl with a Pearl Earring
Author: Tracy Chevalier
Genre: Historical fiction/biography/romance
Pages: 233
**Some spoilers, but few that will affect the reading of the book**
Summary:
In seventeenth century Delft, a strict social order reigns, dividing rich and poor, Catholic and Protestant, master and servant. When sixteen-year-old Griet goes to work as a maid in the home of the city’s most renowned painter, she is expected to know her place. But in the Vermeer household, dominated by his mercurial wife and her formidable mother, Griet soon catches the eye of the master. Captivated by Griet’s quiet manner, intuitive spirit, and fascination with art, Vermeer begins to draw her into his world - a rarefied place of exotic color and dazzling light, shifting shadows, and unimaginable beauty. As Griet becomes a vital part of Vermeer’s work, their growing intimacy spreads tension and deception in the ordered household and even, as the scandal seeps out, ripples into the town beyond. With its striking sense of period detail - vividly evoking a distant place and time - Girl With a Pearl Earring tells the tale of a young girl on the brink of womanhood, whole life is transformed by her brief encounter with genius…even as she herself is immortalized on canvas.
My Review:
Note: The events mentioned in the Beginning, middle, and end sections do leave some times out, for I will discuss them in other places.
BEGINNING
**Essentially nothing to ruin your reading**
Right off that bat, you feel involved in the story. The characterization begins on page one with little details such as, “Strangers would think I was calm. I did not cry as a baby. Only my mother would note the tightness in my jaw, the widening of my already wide eyes.” Right away Tracy sets up the situation. Griet’s father has lost his eyesight and the family does not have much money. In order to survive, Griet goes to work for the Vermeers. At the first meeting, Johannes and Griet have some sort of “connection”, if you want to call it that. He notices the eccentric way she cuts vegetables. Tracy wastes no time in describing every member of the family in unique detail. (Of course, this book is VERY detailed, as will be discussed later.) You can sense who will be trouble and who will Griet will get along with.
MIDDLE
**Mild spoilers - depending how surprised you want to be**
This is where the action takes a unique turn. Johannes commissions Griet to grind paints for her. He sends her on errands that he never sent anyone else on before; he always did it himself; until now. The little things definitely scare Griet - the slight touches of the hand and Johannes watching her clean. Her anxiety is almost humorous, actually, and it adds much to the story.
Pieter the butcher also becomes more and more apparent in the story. His interest in Griet is well known. Griet’s mother notices and urges her to pursue. This, of course, is because of their poor financial standing. Griet is torn.
END
**Rather important spoilers**
This part of the book is rather quick. I almost wish we had the pace from the beginning/middle because I think ‘tis the most interesting. Pieter has asked Griet’s father for her hand in marriage and he said yes. The secret Johannes painting Griet is about to be revealed with Catharina and the tension is high. She runs away from it all.
Ten years later, Tanneke comes and tells her that her mistress would like to speak with her.
**Major spoilers*
She doesn’t tell Pieter where she is going. Turns out that Johannes died and left Catharina with 11 children and a myriad of debt! He did, however, leave the pearl earrings to Griet. She sells them and keeps the money.
**End Major Spoilers*
CHARACTERS
Griet - For some reason, I don’t feel she is as strong as she could have been. Yes, we know that she wants her master and she also wants Pieter. Big whoop. She works as a maid and works hard. Big whoop. As much as we truly do get inside her head, something inside was telling me that I wanted even more. We see that she feels rather excluded from the household; much isn’t shared with her. Yet, she is connected with Johannes.
Johannes - He is definitely the most interesting character to me. He is deep and complex. Why doesn’t he tell his wife that he is having Griet assist him with grinding paints? She is a maid after all and her job is to help the household. Maybe there is a fear there; Catharina is certainly a strong willed and mysterious person….but why be afraid? This is the seventeenth century and you do have supremacy over your wife.
Catharina - Why do you want so many children? It seems as though as soon as she recovers from one pregnancy, she is pregnant all over again. Perhaps it like Mary Thins (or Tanneke, I can’t remember exactly how) mentioned…if you can’t fill the house with servants, she’d fill with children. Catharina still remains a mystery to me. As much I as I really do not like her, I want to know more. Such as in the beginning when van Leeuwenhoek visited and she was scared of him. I wish we could have seen more vulnerability there. It would helped her character more than the bitter housewife.
Mary Thins - Now, I’d have to say that Mary Thins is one of my favorite characters. She is very complex; like Johannes. She has power of Catharina like you wouldn’t imagine (although mothers do tend to have that effect on their children). In fact, she has an effect on everyone in the household. Johannes allows her to handle the business aspect of selling his paintings and Catharina allows her to deal with the maids many a time. I think that in the household, besides Johannes, Griet is closest to Mary Thins. Mary Thins must also like Griet, for it is seen many times; especially when Griet was cleaning Johannes’ studio. I also really enjoyed how several times in the book Mary Thins makes the joke, “Never maid that caused so much trouble.” I laughed every time.
The Children - Many of them didn’t have an effect on me. In fact, I can only remember one name clearly; Cornelia. I’d reckon because she’s the child I hated the most. She’s devious, and cunning - but in a way that leaves a foul taste in your mouth. Even after Griet left and came back at the very end, Cornelia is finding ways to get her in trouble and fired. I just wish I knew why. Perhaps ‘tis just because she is like her mother Catharina; it might be in her jeans to cause trouble.
Pieter - I think the main reason that I loved him so much was because I began having a literary crush on him; just like Gilbert Blythe in ANNE OF GREEN GABLES. There was just something about him; his willingness to wait for Griet and at the same time his eagerness to be hers; it was compelling. The only repulsive thing was that he was a butcher. Like Griet, I would not be able to sand the blood under the fingernails.
THEMES
**Spoiler**
Love triangle - very well thought up by Tracy. Since there really isn’t much information about the “coming-abouts” of his paintings, this story was imagine well and the romances were no exception. Being wooed by a man your age, yet being “fancied” by an elusive painter. Of course you’d have trouble picking.
**End Spoiler**
For the love of painting or love? - I didn’t fully grasp, although the book hinted, whether or not Johannes REALLY fancied Griet, or if he only fancied her while he was painting her. The book hinted that it was the painting he loved and not necessarily her. I’m afraid I agree. As Griet thought the beginning, “I know how babies are made; he has a part of play and I’m sure he does it willing.” So there had to be SOME spark in the relationship with his wife.
Social Separation - Back in the day, as the summary brings out, the social structure really was restrictive. There really was no way that, even if Johannes REALLY did “love” Griet, that a romance like that would have worked out. Back then relationships like that did not last. (Note: the girl in the red dress that had an affair with von Rujvin). Tracy really did bring it alive.
HOW WILL THIS AFFECT MY WRITING?
I think this book really does have a place in my collection. Tracy Chevalier describes everything in such detail. From daily tasks like laundry and mopping to the impossible task of trying to put things back EXACTLY the way they were before she started cleaning in the studio. Some may feel that it’s over descriptive in flowerily (in the beginning I felt that way), but it’s almost as if you get used to it; you expect it. So this book really brought home the fact that you can be so descriptive, but not over do it.
MISC THOUGHTS
**MAJOR SPOILERS**
I think this book lacked emotion in many areas. For instance, when Griet’s sister Agnes gets struck with the plague and dies, you don’t FEEL it. It’s simply said that Agnes died that summer and that Griet’s work declined for a time. I wish that I could have FELT that. Also, we find that Frans, her brother, ran off somewhere. We don’t know where and it almost felt wrong that he was gone when Griet needed him. And in the end, when it is mentioned that her father had died, it’s simply stated and no emotion is evoked.
**END Major Spoilers**
Overall, this book is a work of art. The period is captured perfectly and it’s almost unfathomable as to how Tracy wrote this. It’s simply amazing.
Grade: A
Should you go out and buy it?: Yes.
Feel free to discuss, rec etc here.