I've been a fan of Tracy Chevalier ever since reading Remarkable Creatures in 2010 (my review), but I hadn't yet read her most famous book, Girl With A Pearl Earring. Set in Delft, the Netherlands, in the 1600s, it's the story of Griet, a tile painter's daughter who must become a maid for the artist Vermeer when her father becomes blind and loses his livelihood. Gifted with a natural appreciation for and understanding of art, Griet lives for the moments in her day when she can help Vermeer with his work by grinding colours or assisting with composition. But both her work and her feelings start to blur the line between servant and master and Griet must soon make some hard choices.
There is lots to like about Girl With A Pearl Earring. One of the reasons I enjoy reading historical fiction is that I get to be transported to different times and places and Chevalier pulled off this aspect of the story well. I knew nothing about the Netherlands in the seventeenth century before reading this book but the atmosphere of the meat market and Papists corner and the canals jumped off the page and pulled me in. The religious element of the distrust between Protestants and Catholics was sensitively handled and engrossing.
The story was good too. I am not a big fan of art, but I found the descriptions of how to make different colours fascinating and the explanation of how Vermeer slowly layered his paintings to create the final effect was interesting. I also appreciated that the romance was subtly done in a showing but not telling kind of way.
But despite all of that I did have a problem with this book and that problem was Griet herself - I just couldn't connect with her as a narrator. She was very distant and matter of fact in her explanations of her thoughts and feelings, which robbed the book of any emotional impact or immediacy. Even when Grief was talking of bereavement I felt as though Chevalier failed to show us how she was really feeling in a way that would make the reader sympathetic to her situation. And because I didn't feel this connection with the main character, I wasn't so caught up in the story and didn't feel strongly what happened to Griet at the end. I connected with other characters, especially Vermeer's wife Catharina, but not Griet herself.
Verdict: Interesting piece of historical fiction set in 17th century Netherlands, unfortunately with a distant main character.
Source: Personal copy
First Published: 1999
Score: 3.5 out of 5
I liked this book as well. I had the edition with the color paintings in it.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ManOfLaBook.com
My edition didn't have any paintings, which is a shame, I think it would have added a lot to the story.
DeleteI have tried several times to get into this one because people say it's wonderful, but I just haven't been able to. It's frustrating, but I guess it's just not one for me.
ReplyDeleteSounds like it isn't for you Amanda. I didn't find it hard to get into, I just wasn't overwhelmed by it like I wanted to be.
DeleteI'm also a TC fan, but Girl With A Pearl Earring is not my favorite. I really loved The Lady and the Unicorn. I saw Remarkable Creatures coming out, but was afraid to pick it up because I was very disjointedness with Burning Bright.
ReplyDeleteAlex,
DeleteRemarkable Creatures is my favourite out of that, Pearl Earring and Virgin Blue. I haven't tried Lady & The Unicorn, I'll make that my next Chevalier :)
My favourite by Chevalier is Falling Angels. The rest are good, though I've yet to read Remarkable Creatures, but Falling Angels is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI haven't tried Falling Angels yet Cath, although I can recommend Remarkable Creatures, it was a wonderful read.
DeleteSam,
ReplyDeleteI read this so long ago that I don't remember much (which probably is saying something). I do remember enjoying it but not taken with it (if that makes sense). I will say that I thought the movie adaptation was quite true to the novel, and appreciated it more after I saw it. I think this was one of my least favorite Chevalier works (although I haven't read many).
Beth, sounds like your experience was similar to mine. I do think I want to see the film as the story was good, I just didn't click with the narrator. I would recommend Remarkable Creatures if you haven't read it yet.
DeleteThis was my intro to Chevalier, and I remember being surprised that I liked it even though it was rather detached. I can imagine not liking it as much if I read it now--its been a long time since I read it & I've grown so much as a reader since then. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed Remarkable Creatures (because I was ready to dismiss Chevalier as someone I liked at a different stage of life) but it was a solid, enjoyable book.
ReplyDeleteMelody, detached is a good word to describe it :)
DeleteI'm glad you liked Remarkable Creatures too, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed that one.
We have so many copies of this one in the used bookstore...every time I see one, i think that I should read it, but have never gotten around to it. After reading your review, I think I might start with one of her other books first -- when I go in today I am going to see if we have a copy of Remarkable Creatures.
ReplyDeleteI actually bought my copy at the used bookshop! :P
DeleteThere was so much hype when it came out, there's bound to be surplus copies. If you do read Remarkable Creatures, let me know what you think of it because I loved it.
I have no idea why, but I fell in love with this book. I must have read it three times in as many years. I like all of Tracy Chevalier's books, but this one is definitely my favourite.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Griet was too distant, but I don't know much about Art so I love learning about it through historical fiction :)
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