I am anxious to send this book as a controlled release, so am letting it go unread. Hopefully, I will find one another time.

Release planned for Monday, October 14, 2002 at Controlled release to The Netherlands in Hampton, Virginia USA.

Controlled release

I found this book in the mail as the result of a "controlled" release by Natrona from Virginia. She has been so generous in supplying me with books to release at "literary hotspots" here in The Netherlands. In this book, as noted on the back of the book, "history and fiction merge seamlessly in [a] novel about artistic vision and sensual awakening. Through the eyes of sixteen-year-old Griet, the world of 1660s Holland comes dazzingly alive in this richly imagined portrait of the young woman who inspired one of Vermeer's most celebrated paintings." I came across another copy of this book before I knew Natrona would be sending it to me, and so have already read it. A book review from "The Philadelphia Inquirer" pretty much sums up my impression of the book: "At once a study of seventeenth-century Holland, a coming-of-age story, and a lyrical essay on how to look at a painting... An engaging solution to a mystery that has puzzled art historians for centuries."

Reading the book certainly has shown me how to look at a painting with new eyes. I was unaware of any mystery...and now shall have to find time to look further into that.

My sister will be visiting me from the States in December; I hope she will have time to read it before we make a trip to Delft, where the story is set and the birthplace of Vermeer, especially to release this book, I hope in a site related to Vermeer or the story.

Feb. 12, 2004: Well, since my sister hasn't been to visit, and I haven't been to Delft, I'm starting a bookring with this book so it can start travelling. The idea is that the book should end up with Natrona, unbeknownst to her, unless she reads this.
Feel free to add postcards, bookmarks or other souvenirs as the book travels. It would be nice if at least one BXer from Delft was in the ring.... Members so far:

Owlet, NL
Maupi, NL
ecritures,NL
Mirandat, NL
Gnoe, NL
Powerhouse, NL
Reneejt, NL
Samulli, Germany
hengameh, Iran
vampgirl, Spain
YowlYY, UK
amber-h, GA, US (now reading)
digitaltempest, AL, US
nwadel, ID, US
natrona, VA US (end)



Finally, getting this book in the mail to owlet. (22.03.2004).

Hi rubyblue! I wasn't expecting this book at all (forgot all about it), so it really felt as a present when it dropped on the doormat. Thank you, I will read it as soon as possible (after finishing the books I'm currently reading), didn't realize you had managed to create a whole bookring!

I read the first half of this book in a two hour train ride, but the second half took a little longer, because I read it a few minutes at a time. I could have easily read it in an evening, though, because the style is quite simple and easy to read (which is a good thing for me). I found the story very interesting and almost forgot it was a "first person book". When reading about ancient times, all the different attitudes towards women, marriage, children, etc. always amaze me; all the thing a maid and a young girl "should and shouldn't do".

It is definitely true that I will look differently at a painting now, especially the painting in question, of course. One tends to forget that a real person stood before the painter, and that the model also had a life, with its mysteries, affairs, adventures, etc. When you look long enough at the Girl with a Pearl Earring, she almost comes alive.

The movie based on the book has just come out here in the Netherlands, and I will definitely go to see what they made of it! I think the book is good movie material, I cannot imagine how they might have ruined this story. However, I already read something about the movie and have the feeling they put more emphasis on the romance between Vermeer and Grietje then I could find in the book. The tension is definitely there, but for me it's not the main theme of the book. Well, we'll see.

Thank you, natrona and rubyblue, for sharing this story with me, I'll have a reason now to go to Delft and Den Haag, to go visit the town and the painting! The book is now going to maupi in Utrecht.

Found it today in the mail - thanks to Owlet - and already in my bag now, because it will be travelling with me tomorrow and be read during my short break from work in Spain. Preferably in the sun!

This was a very suitable holiday read. Being Dutch, I found it a bit strange to read all the Dutch names in an English novel, like reading a translation, but you get used to it.

There are some beautiful synaesthetic descriptions in the book, mostly in reference to Griet, the main character. The colour descriptions are wonderful. It is very impressive how Chevalier has translated painting and paintings to words. I enjoyed the way Griet's artistic ignorance was used as a tool for the reader to 'learn' to see through her eyes.

Minor point: A few times the novel borders on the "keukenmeidenroman" genre; literally "kitchen-maid novel", the Dutch word for trivial literature for, well, I guess, kitchen maids. However, considering the book is about a kitchen maid, this is rather funny, isn't it?

The book will soon be on its way to ecritures.

BTW, the book was sent with Vermeer stamps ;-)

Good timing: went to see the movie the day before yesterday and now the book is ready to be read.

After seeing the movie I usually don;t read the books but in this case I am glad I did. It was intriguing to be experiencing life in Vermeer's time. Parts that were boring or even annoying in the film were interesting in the book

I just got this book from my der pen pal Mirandat. This was very nice from her to send it to me after I wrote her about watching the film. There's always some danger that you won't like the book as much as the film, but this isn't the case. I'm enjoying it very much.

Pfew, I'm glad that I can finally register this caught: the book arrived safely from Latvia two weeks ago, but I wasn't able to get on the BX-site until now (though I've tried several computers).

Now that I've returned from a long weekend in Cork, Ireland (European Cultural Capital of 2005) it is suddenly working again. Hooray!

Update May 7th 2005
I've started reading! Coincidentally there is a detailled description of the painting in the book I have just finished: Ministry of pain by Dubravka Ugrešić.

Update May 13th 2005
Finished the book today (so there was no bad luck on the 13th of May that prevented me from reading ;-) and I really liked it. It gives a good feeling of how it was living in the Dutch Golden Era; of what happened if bad luck struck your family. Griet sounded older and wiser in the end than the Griet in the beginning of the book and I feel I've grown with her.

One shortcoming: I really missed some acknowledgement of the author about what is truth, what is 'scientific theory' and what is pure writer's fiction. Now I will have to read another book about that ;-)

But Girl with a pearl earring definitely changed the way I look at Vermeer's paintings.

Travelling to Powerhouse through family (& work) connections...

End of 2005
Who would have thought that in a few months after reading this book I was changing jobs and going to work in... Delft!

Picked this one up at work, from a colleague who happens to be the wife of the son of the aunt of Gnoe (right?). It's a small world after all. Looking forward to it, first have to finish another ringbook (Geraldine Brooks, Year of Wonders, also a great novel). Thank y'all for sharing.

Well, there's probably something wrong with me, but I cannot finish this book. To me, it's highly unlikely that an uneducated girl of 16 (?), daughter of a craftsman, thinks and talks the way Griet does. And then there's all this explaining of this and that artifact or 17th century 'way' to do things. And there are mistakes, too. And I think it's a keukenmeidenroman after all. So, not for me, this book. On to Reneejt. Thanks to natrona for ringing, I'm glad I had the experience, I love the painting.

This arrived in the mail today. Can't wait to start reading it, but I have to finish another book first.

I finished this book quite quickly. It is a nice read, but I can't say that I'm overly impressed. I don't usually read love-stories, but at least I learned something about Vermeers paintings and I have to say the setting was quite nice.
I'm glad I know the book now, but I know as well that I wouldn't re-read it. So it's off to the next person as soon as I get their address.

RELEASE NOTES:

After hengameh asked to be skipped and I couldn't reach vampgirl, I've sent the book off to YowlYY today.

Book well received, thank you :) And what beautiful collection of cards and notes :) I will also contribute to this collection with one of Nottingham Castle, where a very good art gallery can be visited - but no Vermeer paintings there, I'm afraid!
It is the fourth in my Mount TBR made out of rings and rays, so it will move again either at the end of February, or the beginning of March - I hope it's ok!
In the meantime, I shall contact nwadel for the mailing address, so as not to lose time later :)

I enjoyed reading this novel,even if at the beginning it was a bit slow. Maybe my only criticism is that the story is told in a very cold way, as if the girl had no feelings in all that was happening - or at least this was my impression. Could it be that it is a sign of the protestant sensibility, to steer clear of feelings and turmoil that can cause?

I love Vermeer...and for those who are familiar with the work of Peter Greenaway, a film not to be missed, in which the scenes, shot by Sacha Vierny, are created like Vermeer's paintings, is A Zed and Two Noughts - have a look and see :)

It is my first novel by this author, and now I look forward to reading more by her.

Thanks again to rubyblue for sharing this book - it will be on its way to the next reader as soon as I have an address.

Photo courtesy of essentialvermeer

No replies from Digitaltempest so far, so the book is leaving today to Atlanta, GA to visit amber-h. Happy reading!

I got it in on Friday. It's next on my list, once I finish the current thing I'm reading.