Girl with a Pearl Earring
This book is in a Controlled Release!
17 journalers for this copy...
I read the first 80 pages of this at the beach and finished the rest on the train - as you can tell it draws you in and is a quick read. The story revolves around a servant girl living in the house of her master, a dutch painter. I loved th elaborate descriptions of the household and local village.
This book was posted today to FamFatale as part of BookRelay. Happy reading!
I watched the film of this movie this evening, then had to immediately read the book. There were details in the book I should have liked to see on film and some changes that were made in the film that I preferred to the author's original, for example the ending. Am pretty shocked that I am saying this as I am usually very adamant that an author's work not be changed.
Released 19 yrs ago (3/2/2005 UTC) at
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Released to literarylover via bookrelay.
Enjoy !! It is a very well-written book.
Released to literarylover via bookrelay.
Enjoy !! It is a very well-written book.
Thanks so much FamFatale for sending the book! I just got it today, and I've allready started reading it. Also, I LOVED the little monkey book that came with it. It was a great surprise, and fun to flip through.
I'll release this when I'm done reading.
I'll release this when I'm done reading.
It took me a short amount of time to read this book, and I loved it. It was simply beautiful. Im sending to 'time-traveler' as part of a relay.
I received this in the mail today. Thank you literarylover, I look forward to reading this one.
If not for the relays, I might never have read this little gem of a book. I just loved it! I'm passing it on to another relayer who accepted it from me.
Mailed today to sistert in MD. Enjoy!
Arrived today. Thanks time-traveler.
I've also seen the movie which is now why I want to read the book. I'll make a new journal entry once I'm done.
I've also seen the movie which is now why I want to read the book. I'll make a new journal entry once I'm done.
Enjoyable right up to the end and then I felt a tad let down. For me it was too easy of an ending that left the heroine resigned to her life. I wasn't expecting a happy or sad, but one that had more feeling to it. I honestly have to say I enjoyed the movie adaption better. It was played with more passion and innocence (can you do that?)
Welcome to the International Bookray for "Girl with a Pearl Earring"
Current Readers List (final shipping order):
passiontoread Pennsylvania (ship anywhere)
Red-Ram Alabama (ship anywhere)
voveryte Lithuania (ship in Europe preferred)
2012 Finland (ship anywhere)
rumble-bee Germany (Europe only)
Ben-Nevis Germany (ship anywhere)
Charly83 Germany (ship anywhere)
Current Readers List (final shipping order):
passiontoread Pennsylvania (ship anywhere)
Red-Ram Alabama (ship anywhere)
voveryte Lithuania (ship in Europe preferred)
2012 Finland (ship anywhere)
rumble-bee Germany (Europe only)
Ben-Nevis Germany (ship anywhere)
Charly83 Germany (ship anywhere)
Journal Entry 13 by sistert at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, May 7, 2007
Released 16 yrs ago (5/4/2007 UTC) at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Finally started! Its on its way to passiontoread! Enjoy!!!
Finally started! Its on its way to passiontoread! Enjoy!!!
Got this in the mail today safe and sound. I'm anxious to read it! I will read and pass on as quickly as possible. Thanks sistert!
This was very light and easy read that I really enjoyed! A good story that I was up in the air as to how it was going to end. I am happy with the way it ended since this is how I had hoped. Contacted Red-Ram and will get this sent out as soon as I get an address. Thanks so much for sharing sistert.
Red-Ram has asked to be skipped for now. Contacting voveryte for an address.
Mailed priority mail today to voveryte. Enjoy!
Journal Entry 18 by voveryte from -- Somewhere in London 🤷‍♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Received today! Thanks! I was very worried that the book might be lost on the way to me... It looks like a fast read, so I hope I won't be too long with it.
Journal Entry 19 by voveryte from -- Somewhere in London 🤷‍♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Thursday, July 5, 2007
One of the greatest books I've read so far... It is a wonderful story, and I liked the way it's been told. I haven't seen the movie yet, but the story itself it's just wonderful...
Mailed to 2012 today.
Mailed to 2012 today.
Thank you voveryte! I found the book waiting for me when I came from countryside yesterday. I have a part of one book to be read before this but will read this asap. Can't wait, it has gotten so good credentials.
Great story! I found it to be a fast read, too. Now I want to see the movie next. I had decided that I wouldn't watch it before I had read the book.
Will send the book to rumble-bee soon.
Will send the book to rumble-bee soon.
Thank you, 2012, the book arrived unharmed in Germany!
After a first glimpse inside, I'd also say it is a quick read. I hope to finish it soon - but only after I have finished Harry Potter, hehe!
I'm pretty curious.
After a first glimpse inside, I'd also say it is a quick read. I hope to finish it soon - but only after I have finished Harry Potter, hehe!
I'm pretty curious.
Journal Entry 23 by rumble-bee from Velbert, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Monday, October 20, 2008
Well, what shall I say. Books sometimes seem to hide in, on and beside my MTBR, and they only resurface some time later. This is what this book did... but once I started really reading it, I was done after two days only.
It really is a little gem. The story is told with simplicity, but yet deep insight. I found the tension was rising constantly, as the reader became aware of how much Griet was changing and developing. There couldn't have been a really "happy" ending for her, anyway - she was caught between everyone, but managed to get away with surprisingly little injuries.
The book was also a valuable part of historical fiction. I wouldn't have thought there were so many tensions between protestants and catholics in the Netherlands,as both religions amount to much the same thing for me; or that the plague was still a problem at that time in Europe. I was totally drawn into this world, which was changing in many ways we can only smile about today.
Now I am reading Michael Frayn's "headlong", which is also about paintings and the Netherlands, and I can only recommend it to everyone as a follow-up-read! It explains a lot, especially about religious tensions.
I will aks for the next reader's address straight away. Thanks everyone for your patience!
It really is a little gem. The story is told with simplicity, but yet deep insight. I found the tension was rising constantly, as the reader became aware of how much Griet was changing and developing. There couldn't have been a really "happy" ending for her, anyway - she was caught between everyone, but managed to get away with surprisingly little injuries.
The book was also a valuable part of historical fiction. I wouldn't have thought there were so many tensions between protestants and catholics in the Netherlands,as both religions amount to much the same thing for me; or that the plague was still a problem at that time in Europe. I was totally drawn into this world, which was changing in many ways we can only smile about today.
Now I am reading Michael Frayn's "headlong", which is also about paintings and the Netherlands, and I can only recommend it to everyone as a follow-up-read! It explains a lot, especially about religious tensions.
I will aks for the next reader's address straight away. Thanks everyone for your patience!
Journal Entry 24 by Ben-Nevis from Bochum, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Saturday, October 25, 2008
Recieved today
2008-11-15
I enjoyed reading this book. It was easy to read and a good story. I liked to read about about Europe 400 years ago. Life was a good deal harder than today. These maids had a very hard time and no rights. Also the discription of painting was quite interessting, this ward much harder than today as well.
2008-11-15
I enjoyed reading this book. It was easy to read and a good story. I liked to read about about Europe 400 years ago. Life was a good deal harder than today. These maids had a very hard time and no rights. Also the discription of painting was quite interessting, this ward much harder than today as well.
Journal Entry 25 by Charly83 from Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Germany on Wednesday, December 10, 2008
The book arrived a few days ago. Thanks to Ben-Nevis for sending.
Journal Entry 26 by Charly83 from Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Germany on Wednesday, January 7, 2009
It's a great book. I already saw the movie some months ago. The book is better although the movie is not bad. But in the book the feelings and thoughts of Griet are clearer and better to understand. It was a good book for the cold winterdays. You could glide back into the 17th century and it made me think of and imagine that time. I hope you will have as much joy as me by reading the book.
Journal Entry 27 by Charly83 from Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Germany on Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Ok, the Bookray goes on like this:
1. eMeReS (Netherlands)
2. Mizuchy (Romania)
3. solskinn (Austria)
4. Martjxox (Italy)
5. kristykat (UK)
6. Scruffykaz (UK) --> thanks for sending to the USA
7. mrsboknows (USA)
8. Natgirl101 (Canada)
Hope that will work this way.
1. eMeReS (Netherlands)
2. Mizuchy (Romania)
3. solskinn (Austria)
4. Martjxox (Italy)
5. kristykat (UK)
6. Scruffykaz (UK) --> thanks for sending to the USA
7. mrsboknows (USA)
8. Natgirl101 (Canada)
Hope that will work this way.
Arrived safely today, thanks Charly83!
I will get right into it today, have to travel by train, so this is a welcome distraction. This also means that the book will be passing through Delft twice, the place where this story is set. So in a way the Girl has come "home".
I will get right into it today, have to travel by train, so this is a welcome distraction. This also means that the book will be passing through Delft twice, the place where this story is set. So in a way the Girl has come "home".
Journal Entry 29 by Mizuchy from Cluj-Napoca, Transylvania and Partium Romania on Sunday, May 3, 2009
Just got the book from the post-office, together with another one. Will take a while to get through them, a month, maybe?
It is here, I'll try to get to it as soon as possible. Thanks for sharing!
Martjxox asked to be skipped, so I'll contact the next in line.
KristyKat isn't an active BCer anymore and seems to never have been, so I contacted kirstykat, who didn't respond. I'll try Scruffykaz next.
Scruffykaz doesn't have time for this bookring right now, so I'll ask mrsboknows for their address.
I just noticed on mrsboknows's Books Read in November-list that they have already read this book. Thus I'll PM the last one in the bookray, Natgirl101.
Natgirl101 replied to my PM but didn't send her details. Judging from her BC appearence so far she's not able to take on new books.
Looks like I'm the last reader then. I'll try to re-start the ray with new participants.
Looks like I'm the last reader then. I'll try to re-start the ray with new participants.
International Bookray Continuation:
Elddau1 in Australia / v. early or v. late in ray / AUS, Asia, Pacific shipping preferred, int'l if needed - done
Shahrun in UK, but living in NZ in 03/10 - done
herchelle in Alberta, Canada / int'l shipping - done
digitaltempest in Alabama, USA / int'l shipping - book is here
Moeshell in Texas, USA / US shipping preferred
Journal Entry 37 by wolkenklang at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Monday, December 21, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (12/21/2009 UTC) at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Off to Australia, enjoy!
Off to Australia, enjoy!
This arrived yesterday! It looks good. Thanks solskinn.
I can't wait to get into it but I have to finish with Eleanor of Aquitaine (bookray) first - which will take about 2 weeks, I'm afraid, as it's a very densely detailed history.
I can't wait to get into it but I have to finish with Eleanor of Aquitaine (bookray) first - which will take about 2 weeks, I'm afraid, as it's a very densely detailed history.
This was very enjoyable, quick reading and a good story.
I loved the concept of the book being based on the painting - a whole book to explain the inigma / backstory of the painting. What a great idea. I also loved the way Chevalier described other paintings of Vermeer in detail - as I have written essays on the paintings of Australian painters of the Heidelberg School.
I was curious to see the other paintings of Vermeer that were described in the book so I looked him up. The bio I found shows that the book includes a lot of true biographical details to support the story. It’s interesting how Chevalier threaded them all together.
For a lot of the time I was puzzled why it was a problem for Vermeer to paint Griet. Was it similar to the way actresses used to be viewed as harlots? Griet makes the comment that she was not that kind of girl to uncover her head etc. but then I thought that it may just have been because of Catharina’s jealousy, as Vermeer had never painted his wife. But why was it a problem for Griet to mix his paints? There was always the overtone that they were having an affair.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s not high powered literature but I loved being in this world for a while. Glad I don’t have to do all that laundry!
*
Shahrun, the next on the list, will collect the book in NZ in March so it will be a little while waiting there for her.
I loved the concept of the book being based on the painting - a whole book to explain the inigma / backstory of the painting. What a great idea. I also loved the way Chevalier described other paintings of Vermeer in detail - as I have written essays on the paintings of Australian painters of the Heidelberg School.
I was curious to see the other paintings of Vermeer that were described in the book so I looked him up. The bio I found shows that the book includes a lot of true biographical details to support the story. It’s interesting how Chevalier threaded them all together.
For a lot of the time I was puzzled why it was a problem for Vermeer to paint Griet. Was it similar to the way actresses used to be viewed as harlots? Griet makes the comment that she was not that kind of girl to uncover her head etc. but then I thought that it may just have been because of Catharina’s jealousy, as Vermeer had never painted his wife. But why was it a problem for Griet to mix his paints? There was always the overtone that they were having an affair.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s not high powered literature but I loved being in this world for a while. Glad I don’t have to do all that laundry!
*
Shahrun, the next on the list, will collect the book in NZ in March so it will be a little while waiting there for her.
Released 14 yrs ago (2/23/2010 UTC) at
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Posting to NZ to await Shahrun at her grandmother's place.
Cheers and Happy Reading!
Posting to NZ to await Shahrun at her grandmother's place.
Cheers and Happy Reading!
This arrived safely at my Grandma's with another interesting book - many thanks Elddan1! I am in the middle of reading another book - which I will finish as soon as I can, then read this & get it posted to the next member of the Ray (again as soon as I can).
I found the beginning of the book a little slow, but was hooked by the end. I enjoyed the charachters in the book & the way the author transported me back in time to the setting of the book. I liked the ending too (I was worried the main charachter might have done something stupid). I think I might try and watch the film next. This book in in a BookRay - so it's off to Canada next I believe! (With another book about Dutch paintings of the period the book is set in.)
Journal Entry 43 by Shahrun at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Friday, March 19, 2010
Released 14 yrs ago (3/19/2010 UTC) at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
This book (in a BookRay) accompanies the Rembrandt, Frans Hals, Jan Steen, Vermeer
by Gerard van der Hoek which shows Dutch paintings of the period Girl with a Pearl Earring is set in.
Posting to Canada today. Hope the next reader enjoys it!
This book (in a BookRay) accompanies the Rembrandt, Frans Hals, Jan Steen, Vermeer
by Gerard van der Hoek which shows Dutch paintings of the period Girl with a Pearl Earring is set in.
Posting to Canada today. Hope the next reader enjoys it!
Recieved this book in the mail today, Thank you Shahrun!! I have a MTBR pile as well, so I am hoping that the next reader will be patient with me. WOW!!! Look at all the readers!!! This little book has been VERY well travelled! *waves to all the previous readers from Canada!*
Sorry to take so long but "Girl With a Pearl Earring is now at the top of my TBR pile and I will start it tonight. Contacting the next reader in the ring for their address. I really like the little art book that goes with the novel.
Sorry to have kept this bookring book for so long! It is now on its way to the next reader - digitaltempest.
