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A review by phantomgecko
Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
A nice historical fiction. Interesting characters.
I guess I'm a little confused as to why Griet being in the painting was such a big deal. Like... Vermeer mainly paints women, so that's fine. Tanneke, also a maid, sat for a previous painting, so that's apparently fine. Another man is literally paying Vermeer to make the painting specifically of Griet, so it's not like it's just Vermeer having a weird obsession.
I totally appreciate the double standards and victim blaming nature of the whole thing. Vermeer is too cowardly to be honest with anyone, and Griet is punished for doing things her employer asked her to directly do. But I still don't get why everything has to be so secretive.
Why is it scandalous for Griet to help mix paint? Why can't she just straight up say from the very beginning that Vermeer asked her to assist him. I legit for real don't get it.
Again, I understand that Catharina has never liked Griet, and she's jealous that her husband pays her special attention. But why is that Griet's problem? Why did she agree to hire her in the first place if she was going to be aggressively rude? It's just not that good of a reason to justify the behavior of everyone in the house.
There's never an acceptable explanation, and my bafflement prevented me from enjoying the book as I could have.
I guess I'm a little confused as to why Griet being in the painting was such a big deal. Like... Vermeer mainly paints women, so that's fine. Tanneke, also a maid, sat for a previous painting, so that's apparently fine. Another man is literally paying Vermeer to make the painting specifically of Griet, so it's not like it's just Vermeer having a weird obsession.
I totally appreciate the double standards and victim blaming nature of the whole thing. Vermeer is too cowardly to be honest with anyone, and Griet is punished for doing things her employer asked her to directly do. But I still don't get why everything has to be so secretive.
Why is it scandalous for Griet to help mix paint? Why can't she just straight up say from the very beginning that Vermeer asked her to assist him. I legit for real don't get it.
Again, I understand that Catharina has never liked Griet, and she's jealous that her husband pays her special attention. But why is that Griet's problem? Why did she agree to hire her in the first place if she was going to be aggressively rude? It's just not that good of a reason to justify the behavior of everyone in the house.
There's never an acceptable explanation, and my bafflement prevented me from enjoying the book as I could have.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content