This novel by Tracy Chevalier is inspired by a painting done by Johannes Vermeer, a much-acclaimed Dutch painter.
The story is about 16 year old Griet, who is sent to work as a maid in the house of Vermeer when her family goes through tough times. As she struggles to find her place in the household, she finds herself drawn more and more to her master’s creations. She begins to fall in love with his artistic vision – and perhaps the master himself. But things become dangerous when Vermeer begins to pay attention to Griet and she finds her life changed forever.
This book has a captivating story. The way that the author ties in fictional events to Vermeer’s painting showcases the author’s talent wonderfully. The story itself is powerful in the way that it shows Griet’s growth as a character. She struggles quite a bit in the book and it is up to the reader to judge whether she truly had a happy ending or not. It is not some tantalizing romance and there are times when I’ve cringed when reading some scenes. But the realism of it is what is so appealing. This is a very feminine book; I don’t mean to be sexist in any way but I feel like women may be able to connect to the emotions of the characters more. Maybe it is because it is written through the perspective of a girl or maybe it is because there are many complex female characters in it. Either way, give it a shot.
I heard that a movie was made of this book so I am going to try to get my hands on it. Who knows, maybe I will write a post on my thoughts about the movie adaptation!
Happy reading ~