A review by spinesinaline
Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier

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

3.5

It’s an interesting story, offering a fictionalized series of events behind the famous painting that shares a name with the book. I enjoyed the history and think the author did an excellent job with her research on the artist and family as well as Dutch history and the specifics of painting in the 1600s. However I found it a very slow read and while the comments on the lack of independence and freedom for women is certainly true, I didn’t find the addition of assault and harassment to this unknown woman’s life necessary. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings