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A review by _askthebookbug
Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
5.0
| Book Review | Girl With A Pearl Earring.
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"He saw things in a way that others did not, so that a city I had lived in all my life seemed a different place, so that a woman became beautiful with the light on her face." - Tracy Chevalier.
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I knew very little about Johannes Vermeer before I read this novel so I looked him up online. With over roughly 50 paintings in his name, Vermeer was considered an eccentric man who preferred living in his own world. Vermeer painted sensually, portraying mostly women going on about their daily (pouring wine or milk) duties. It's clear that Tracy has carried out immense research before penning down this novel because Vermeer's life is nothing more than a mystery. It was known that he was a quiet man who didn't make much money through his paintings for he painted only a handful every year. When he died, he left his family in debt. But this isn't about them. This story is about Vermeer and Griet, the girl with a pearl earring.
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Griet instantly became my favourite protagonist. When she's hired as a maid to work for the Vermeer family, she knew very little about her master apart from the fact that he was an artist. Coming from a poor family, Griet shoulders the responsibility of taking care of her family and for this she knows she has to be careful while working with such important people. Back in the 17th century, women weren't often asked to pose for a painting, and it definitely did not extend till the maids. Wealthy families got their paintings/portraits done by Johannes and it seemed as if only Griet understood the true essence of his work. She is enraptured by the manner in which he paints, often using light to bring out the best of his works. He soon takes her on as his assistant, asking her to grind paint and eventually making her pose for a painting.
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Griet knows that nothing good will come out of the strange relationship that they share but she can't help being drawn to him. The contrast between the rich and the poor is very uncomfortable to read, and this becomes apparent from the very beginning. Considering the mystery that still shrouds Johannes's life and the girl in the painting, Tracy has taken the liberty to create a stunning personality of the maid who is not only witty but also highly observant. The slight defiance with which Griet carries herself in the rich household was a real treat to read. The Mauritshuis museum which now houses the painting, still gathers a significant crowd. I love how this story has been weaved through uncertainty and has still ended up being utterly beautiful. I can almost watch both Griet and Johannes sitting in their studio, as the light moves across her face. This is undoubtedly one of the finest works of historical fiction that I have read in the recent years and I highly recommend it.
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Rating - 4.7/5.
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"He saw things in a way that others did not, so that a city I had lived in all my life seemed a different place, so that a woman became beautiful with the light on her face." - Tracy Chevalier.
•
I knew very little about Johannes Vermeer before I read this novel so I looked him up online. With over roughly 50 paintings in his name, Vermeer was considered an eccentric man who preferred living in his own world. Vermeer painted sensually, portraying mostly women going on about their daily (pouring wine or milk) duties. It's clear that Tracy has carried out immense research before penning down this novel because Vermeer's life is nothing more than a mystery. It was known that he was a quiet man who didn't make much money through his paintings for he painted only a handful every year. When he died, he left his family in debt. But this isn't about them. This story is about Vermeer and Griet, the girl with a pearl earring.
•
Griet instantly became my favourite protagonist. When she's hired as a maid to work for the Vermeer family, she knew very little about her master apart from the fact that he was an artist. Coming from a poor family, Griet shoulders the responsibility of taking care of her family and for this she knows she has to be careful while working with such important people. Back in the 17th century, women weren't often asked to pose for a painting, and it definitely did not extend till the maids. Wealthy families got their paintings/portraits done by Johannes and it seemed as if only Griet understood the true essence of his work. She is enraptured by the manner in which he paints, often using light to bring out the best of his works. He soon takes her on as his assistant, asking her to grind paint and eventually making her pose for a painting.
•
Griet knows that nothing good will come out of the strange relationship that they share but she can't help being drawn to him. The contrast between the rich and the poor is very uncomfortable to read, and this becomes apparent from the very beginning. Considering the mystery that still shrouds Johannes's life and the girl in the painting, Tracy has taken the liberty to create a stunning personality of the maid who is not only witty but also highly observant. The slight defiance with which Griet carries herself in the rich household was a real treat to read. The Mauritshuis museum which now houses the painting, still gathers a significant crowd. I love how this story has been weaved through uncertainty and has still ended up being utterly beautiful. I can almost watch both Griet and Johannes sitting in their studio, as the light moves across her face. This is undoubtedly one of the finest works of historical fiction that I have read in the recent years and I highly recommend it.
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Rating - 4.7/5.