The author has done a wonderful job with this book. In reading it you get a good feeling for the social mores of the time and a young girl's confusion in navigating them while being pursued by 3 men; the fastidiousness of Vermeer while both setting up a portrait and completing it; and the unique intimacy between artist and model while sitting for that portrait. This is my first book by this author, but I will definitely by looking for more.

I don't know why I put off reading this book, it sat on my shelf for a couple of months. It is very well written, interesting and one that I thought about even when I wasn't reading it. It's a fictional account of the life of Dutch artist Jan Vermeer as told by his 16 year old maid. Excellent!

A jewel of a novel.
Outstanding
Marvelously evocative.

Although I enjoyed this book quite a bit, I wasn't as WOWed by it as I had expected to be based on what I had heard about it. Still, it is a very quick and worthwhile read and offers a nice glimpse at what life might have been like for the subject of Vermeer's most famous painting, as well as what life was like in general in a small Dutch town in the 1660s.

Beautifully written. It pulls you in with beauty and interest without being in your face or predicable.

Absolutely LOVED this book. Never saw the movie, but this book puts you right into the time and place. Quick and interesting read.

Great novel. NOthing like the movie. The book is much better.

Wow! One of the best authors who's work I have read in a long time! Wonderful book.

I loved this! Wonderful piece of historical fiction.

Interesting book. I liked it more than I expected to. It was a very quick read. Chevalier's style kept me involved.

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This is a great book and I read it in two days. The book does lead you to believe that their is much passion written in the book but I didn't find this to be true. The book is not very erotic as well but the writer definitely makes you feel for Griet. I just kept reading because I sympathized for her plight and wanted to see how everything would play out. It was interesting to me that the book revolved around Griet's beauty and sexual awakening and yet the author never mentioned any description of her beauty. All in all, it is a classic and a great read.

Interesting read which tells the story of Griet, a Dutch girl who is sent to live as a servant for the painter Vermeer to earn money for her family after her father is blinded and can no longer work. The Vermeer household features several children, Catharina-the cold mistress of the household, and another servant. Tensions arise when one of the girls takes a dislike to Griet and constantly tries to get her in trouble. She also creates tension when Vermeer recognizes her abilities and tasks her to assist him which creates jealousy among the household and also when she catches the eye of a wealthy customer and must resist his advances. Eventually the only way to appease him is for Griet to sit for a portrait (The Girl with the Pearl Earring).

I like that the focus of the book stayed on Griet and that kept the story simple and enjoyable. There are so many different points of focus the book could have had but I think Chevalier was smart to keep the focus on the protagonist, Griet. In doing this I got a good impression of what it was like to live in Delft and the differences between the classes and how people were expected to act. Its not easy to picture in your mind how characters should be in a time you know nothing about but I felt liked the way the writing and descriptions allowed you to “see” it without it being too much. I also didn’t mind the background story of the butcher’s son vying for Griet’s attention throughout the book. Good description, likeable main character and it made me interested enough to look up some of Vermeer’s work on Wikipedia so I could see for myself the paintings that were discussed in the book.

Please dont judge this book by the movie... The movie was slow moving, not so with the book. It is well written & will take you back to a time you didnt know exsisted.

Pretty interesting to see everyday life in a small Dutch town in the 17th century.

A major motion picture. Story of a young woman who inspired on of Vermeer's most celebrated paintings.

Enjoyed both the movie and the book.

Wonderful...if you love the movie you will really love the book

Thoroughly enjoyable quick read.

great book, very interesting to read about the culture of that time.

I ended up with 2 of these, have not read it yet!

I love all of Chevalier's books....this was a real treat to read!

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