Girl with a Pearl Earring

by Tracy Chevalier | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: Global Overview for this book
Registered by quizgirl of Chesterfield, Derbyshire United Kingdom on 4/13/2004
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8 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by quizgirl from Chesterfield, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 13, 2004
This has now been made into a film.

Journal Entry 2 by quizgirl from Chesterfield, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, May 5, 2004
I did not enjoy this a much as Lady and the Unicorn but it is good nevertheless.
Griet treads a fine line between being a maid and doing the family's laundry and her work helping the painter Vermeer, which she tries to keep secret from the rest of the household. The climax comes when Vermeer 'borrows' his wife's earrings which Griet wears as he paints her portrait.

I will offer this as a bookring.

Journal Entry 3 by quizgirl from Chesterfield, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, May 5, 2004
Bookring list

newk - Aus - ship any
Readinator - Aus - ship any
Mokona - US - ship any
lady-anglophile - Kuwait - ship any
Banshee - Italy - ship any
MarianneF- UK - ship any
redhouse - UK - ship any(wishes to be skipped)
Scarlett17 - UK - ship UK
allbookedup - Austria - Europe


and back to me!

Journal Entry 4 by newk from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Thursday, June 17, 2004
Arrived today with many thanks to quizgirl. And thankyou for the postcard. Nice house (that of the Duke of Devonshire).

I shall let you know how I am going in a week or two.

Journal Entry 5 by newk from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Sunday, July 4, 2004
Sorry to be a bit slow. I am nearly finished. Indeed however the book starts a bit slowly...almost boring as it describes the actions of Griet. "Today I went to the market and bought some meat" etc. etc
Slowly a picture of 17th century Delft emerges. And the tension of the relationship between painter and maid builds and builds. A simple but beautiful read.
I am reading it next to my copy of "Vermeer" by Christopher Wright (ISBN 0 905368 04 5) that I doubt that I will ever let out of the house so it is not registered. "Vermeer" is a history of what is known about the painter's life (surprisingly little) with lots of photographs and prints of his paintings. Fun to look at the paintings and read the imagined story about them in this novel.
I also have a program of "Masters of Seventeenth Century Genre Painting" that I reckon I got at an exhibition in London in the early 1980s. In this are lovely prints of "Girl With Wineglass", "Woman Tuning a Lute", and 'Woman Holding a Balance".
Sorry about the rave but I adore Vermeer's paintings. I am unsure how "Girl With a Pearl Earring" will go down with those unfamiliar with his work. It may stand alone, but i am not sure.
I will finish in the next day or two. I will rate it and make a note confirming postage then.
Thanks again to quizgirl.

Oh yeah I must see the film ***one day***

Journal Entry 6 by newk from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Tuesday, July 6, 2004
Finished and I can confirm that I really enjoyed it after a slow start. It builds up very nicely and lets you down fairly gently at the end.
I shall try to read other books by the same author when I get the pile(s) under control.
Thnaks again to quizgirl. I intend to post this tomorrow and will make a confirmatory entry.

Journal Entry 7 by newk from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Tuesday, July 6, 2004
posted today in the letter box down the street with a paper cutting about vermeer and another little treat

Journal Entry 8 by Readinator from Woodend, Victoria Australia on Sunday, July 11, 2004
Received as part of a bookring from newk. Thanks for the 'little treat' and to quizgirl for starting the bookring. Will read and pass down the list.

Journal Entry 9 by Readinator from Woodend, Victoria Australia on Tuesday, July 27, 2004
I enjoyed this far more than Falling Angels (which I started but didn't finish), but not as much as Lady and the Unicorn. Nevertheless, a fast read, and an interesting story, with an imagined portrait of the artist Vermeer's life, and the more ordinary lives around him. Thanks quizgirl! When I have Mokona's postal details I will send this on.

Journal Entry 10 by Readinator from Woodend, Victoria Australia on Tuesday, August 3, 2004
Sent on to Mokona in the USA. Sent by airmail - she should receive it in a week or so. Thanks quizgirl for the chance to read this!

Journal Entry 11 by Mokona from Clinton Township, Michigan USA on Monday, August 16, 2004
Received as part of a bookring - from Readinator.

Actually received last week, sorry for the delay in updating! I'm eager to get started on this story. I have heard some good things, and these journal entries are very helpful.
I enjoyed the article in the paper that was sent along, too. :)

6-25
Finished last night, the book actually was a quick read, but I enjoyed the writing style a lot. It was a very interesting take on the portrait, a very imagininative story. I wasn't sure what I was expecting from it, the description and the picture on the book cover were completely different from what I took it as. I enjoyed this story, and I'm glad the story ended the way it did.
Now I'll have to go rent the movie, and read 'Lady and the Unicorn.' :)
Thanks again, quizgirl for sharing this novel with us all!! I am PMing lady-anglophile for her addy, and will get it out to her ASAP.

Journal Entry 12 by norafrvr from Kuwait, Kuwait Kuwait on Wednesday, November 17, 2004
I received the book today.
Nice postcards and interesting news-paper article.
I will read the book right away. Thanks quizgirl for sharing this book :)

Journal Entry 13 by norafrvr from Kuwait, Kuwait Kuwait on Friday, November 26, 2004
Mailed it to Banshee ... ENJOY :)

Journal Entry 14 by Banshee on Thursday, December 9, 2004
received it today. thanks

Journal Entry 15 by Banshee on Tuesday, January 18, 2005
I liked it so much. it's a very nice book, full of lively images. I'd like to see the movie
If "Lady and the Unicorn" is even better, I'll surely read it soon.

Journal Entry 16 by Scarlett17 from Bexley, Greater London United Kingdom on Tuesday, February 1, 2005
I received this book yesterday and have already finished it. I only saw the film at the weekend so it was interesting to be able to compare the two. I enjoyed them equally. The book is told from Griet's point of view whereas in the film you watch as an outsider and can see more viewpoints. I also found the book a little darker in aspect than the film. It's a simple but lovely story of a young girl finding her feet in the world of work and learning about relationships both with others and between others.

Journal Entry 17 by Scarlett17 from Bexley, Greater London United Kingdom on Monday, February 7, 2005
sent today to allbookedup.

Journal Entry 18 by allbookedup from Wien Bezirk 21 - Floridsdorf, Wien Austria on Wednesday, February 9, 2005
Received the book today, thanks Scarlett17!
I'll get to it as soon as possible.

Journal Entry 19 by allbookedup from Wien Bezirk 21 - Floridsdorf, Wien Austria on Saturday, March 5, 2005
I really enjoyed this book! The descriptions of the paintings and Griet's hard work for the family, aswell as her secret of helping the painter Vermeer and having him paint her... it was all so rich in detail, I enjoyed it so much that I finished the whole book on two afternoons.

I would like to see the movie and also read other book by Tracy Chevalier!
Will send it back to quizgirl soon.
Thanks for sharing the book with us, quizgirl!

Journal Entry 20 by quizgirl from Chesterfield, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Thursday, March 17, 2005
Arrived home today. Thank you everyone for the postcards, newk for the newspaper cutting and allbookedup for the chocolate! Oh yes, and the bookmark!(who put that in?)
I'm glad everyone enjoyed this book. I am also glad that the ring progressed so smoothly and without any hiccups.

I've got a warm, fuzzy feeling now. Thanks everyone.

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