The Girl With a Pear Earring by Tracey Chevalier

Distressingly Depressed Dutch Damsel

As a concept for a book, Girl With A Pearl Earring is pretty good. Author Tracey Chevalier took her inspiration from a painting of the same name by Dutch painter Vermeer, and chose to write a book  based on the girl depicted in said painting, and how she came to be the painter's subject. Unfortunately, this is where the good points end.

Critics have claimed that the book is "ultimately intriguing" and "absorbing". The only thing that drove me to the end of the book was my severe dislike for leaving any book unfinished, and not knowing how the story ends.

I was glad I only spent 99p on this book in a book sale, for as soon as I got five or six pages in it became clear that the only thing I could look forward to for the rest of the book was a wooden narrative from a melancholic protestant sixteen-year-old girl who was never satisfied with anything and cold find nothing good to say about anyone. Granted, her family has been forced into poverty and she is working as a maid for a seemingly deranged catholic family, but I find it unbelievable that Tracey Chevalier could not find the heart in her to give Griet something interesting to say. Any metaphor, simile or description in this novel, if I may call it that, seem to have jumped into this book from the nearest one on the shelf, as if they were aware that this book needed spicing up a little and were generous enough to relinquish their homes in a good book to liven up this dull work of literature.

Fortunately, things began to improve slightly about 30 pages from the end of the novel when the story finally reached its climax, but by then it was far too late for a redemption. The satisfying ending seemed like Chevalier had finally realised that she needed to make an effort to atone for her wrongdoings in the earlier pages and had burnt herself flat out in a full steam ahead effort to complete her project.

I would recommend this book if you are interested in Vermeer, want to read a book about a depressed sixteen year old, or are looking for examples of how not to write a book. I would love to hear any other opinions you may have on this book also - maybe I have completely missed the point and gotten it all wrong?

 Otherwise, find a better book to read. The only enrichment I received from this book was the inspiration to find a painting or work of art to write my own, hopefully better, short work of fiction about.