Girl With a Pearl Earring: (Deluxe Edition)

Book Review by Jane
Tracey picked this book reviewed by Jane. This is a fictional account of the life of a maid working in the home of the Dutch painter from the mid-1600's, Johannes Vermeer. She becomes the girl in his famous painting, “Girl With a Pearl Earring”, while engaging in difficult labor for the household. The story was believably written, as Griet goes from being a young girl who doesn’t want to leave the comforts of her family, to being a provider for that family and supporter of another. Griet is a talented girl with an artistic eye and flare for housekeeping that causes jealousy between her and a servant and her and one of the children. But real difficulties set in when older men of the wealthy class turn unwanted attention to her and that attention threatens to ruin her virtuous reputation; thus, her future.

It’s hard to miss that if this girl had been born in another time, she would have been reading and writing, and would have more than likely been tutored by this great artist to do more than what this story and time allows. The picture itself is said to look as she is both smiling and sad, and the story captures this effect as well. There are many close calls for Griet in this story, and they keep the pace moving forward.

Jane.