Reviews

Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier

beccaowen's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

mcc's review against another edition

2.5

Inspired to read this book after my stay in Delft where the book takes place. The best thing about it was that it was an easy read, which is why I gave it 2.5 stars instead of 2. Every time I picked it up I slid easily into it and it held my interest. That said, the plot was just super thin. It's like a romance novel for 'good girls'.

There is a forbidden love, and ruin, despite never having done anything 'bad' to act upon it so that you can still 'root' for our heroine. The part I struggled with the most is understanding why she was so in love with Vermeer? I guess just because he was the first male non-family member she crossed paths with? This wasn't developed and I certainly wasn't routing for 'him' to return any of this affection as she was a young girl servant in his house. I also thought the part of her winding up with 'the pearl earring' at the end was just incredibly trite and unrealistic.

roisin2311's review against another edition

informative lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

It was okay - it wasn’t rly very memorable tbh but I like books about art even if they are fictional so I liked that aspect of it. The characters are diverse in that some/ most are awful and the main character is sort of ambiguous but I liked her - they are all very limited within my opinion because of their social positions in this period of history and that makes them unlikable to me - because they conform so much.  I would’ve preferred for the main character to kind of reject that but she doesn’t she succumbs which I personally find uninspiring but I do get it. 

wcw219's review against another edition

mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

lminique's review against another edition

4.0

The story of Griet and how she comes to be a maid for Vermeer, who is an artist. Tracy Chevalier hone's in on religious background, and status in society in 17th century Netherlands. It depicts art, the love of art, hardships, and loss. I didn't enjoy the movie as much as the book.

lauraaquaresma's review against another edition

informative mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I feel like reading this book really conveyed a similar feeling as the one I have when looking at the painting. It was a very calm, but intriguing read and even though the plot is simple, and it's a very descriptive story about mundane life, I was captivated by the characters of Griet and Vermeer and I was really eager to know how the story would end.
In reality it's a sad story, reflecting its historical context and the role of social class as well as women's roles, but it's above all a coming-of-age story about this girl conflicted between two different worlds, and I guess I was curious to find out which one she would choose.
Also reminded me of how much i love historical fiction. 

mainereading's review against another edition

4.0

I find that 'The Goldfinch' and 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' are similar. Not the stories themselves, they are completely different. But both are fictional stories based on real art work. I find these type of stories to be really interesting, and I wouldn't mind reading more like them. Although I liked this book and finished it quickly I don't see myself reading it again any time soon. It's not one of those books for me, I guess.

gracekitty's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

romanticapricorn's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

lindsayaunderwood's review against another edition

4.0

Very good story but it was so short! I wish there would have been more!