Welcome to Litsy!

At left, Scarlet Johansson in the film. Tracy Chevalier wrote a fictional account of how the famous painting came to be. Set in Delft, Holland in the 17th Century, it tells the story of sixteen year old Griet, who goes to work as a maid in the service of painter, Johannes Vermeer, and his family.

#BkBasedOnPainting

#MarchMagic

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

This will be good!

#snowflake #snowflakes #papersnowflakes

I‘d read so many mixed reviews of this book that I put off reading it. I wish I hadn‘t, and I‘m definitely glad to have finally read it. Beautifully written, fascinating story, memorable characters and setting. It‘s one I‘ll remember for a long time.

I suspect that every time one of Vermeer‘s paintings is described, I‘m going to be online, hunting an image. This is the one that Griet, the MC, was just looking at.

Hubby and I have been watching the Great Courses lectures on the history of European art. This is one of Vermeer‘s paintings that the lecturer highlighted, so I was excited when it was mentioned in the book and I could picture the painting.

This is one of the books on the Viking reading list for our cruise, so I decided it‘s finally time to read it. I‘ve enjoyed a couple other books by the author, but I‘ve heard so many mixed responses to this. Second book for #jumpstart2023

I am giving this a pick overall, even though I am still deciding if I think this book was good or not! On the one hand, it did a very good job of showing the historical reality of the time and describing details. On the other hand, it was kind of one-dimensional and depressing. I agree with other people here who said they liked reading it, but it‘s not a favorite.

We had this for our Bookclub last night. I love the painting. I loved the idea for the book , the relationship between 16 year old beautiful Griet and Vermeer. There was something in the tone of the book , all the time he spent alone with her and studying her , that I didn‘t like , that turned me off the book. I don‘t know if I liked her writing all that much. Still, a brilliant idea to write a story about.

Haven‘t read this book since high school. Excited to reread some of my favorites from then. 🎨

I liked this book. I‘m looking forward to watching the movie and comparing the two.

I'm going to have a long train ride... so I guess this book will keep me company from the beginning 'till the end 🤟🏻🚉

I am posting one book per day from my to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it. Some will be old, some will be new - don't judge me, I have a lot of books.

Day 123th

Join the fun if you want!

#tbrpile

#movie2bookrecs @Klou Never read the book, but I‘ll be watching the movie tonight.

Ever get so distracted by a book that you mindlessly eat half a watermelon?!?!? 🍉

Luckily it‘s a short book. 😂😂

Interesting

Going in a new direction

Okay I enjoyed it. It is not a book that is something you will want to read every year or probably make it to your favorites pile for life but I liked it and I think it deserves a read.

I just finished this historical fiction novel about the maid that inspired Vermeer's most celebrated portrait. I liked it, but IDK if I liked it enough to keep it on my shelves... per Litsy's rating system, it was better than 'so-so.'

Have you read this? Do you think I should keep it on my shelves?

I enjoyed it but not quite what I was expecting. I thought there would be more a relationship between Griet and Vermeer. Still, it was a nice read.

Not entirely sure I understand what all the hype was about. This was fine but I didn‘t find anything special in it.

Next up. Might even get it finished before the end of my holiday.

Book club book for this month. Not something I would typically read but the ladies in the club love historical fiction.

I tagged the book #girlwiththepearlearring because it's the book that made me fall in love with Amsterdam, Johannes Vermeer, Rembrandt. I was just 15 at the time. 💕 This picture taken in June 2019, 20 years later I finally visited Amsterdam 😍. Most importantly #CuypersLibrary in the #rijksmuseum. That's me👆looking around in wonder. Best experience ever.

4/4 😂😂😂👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 😺 #LitsyHumor 😺

Griet : H-
Maria Thins: Uuumm let me light this cigar chiiile

Quick read, interesting. 8/10

This was not what I expected at all at all but it was good. I was hoping to watch the movie but I couldn't find it streaming for free anywhere.

The creation of color in the 1600s must have been fascinating and it‘s fun to imagine what might have been the story in famous paintings. ...I lived 2 blocks from a major art museum for 5 years while neighbor was an artist and retired art teacher. I had so much fun joining her on frequent museum visits as though . I had my own personal tutor where together we would imagine our own stories of why.

Not for me. Maybe I was a little colored by having read the (much inferior) Miniaturist? The weird sexual tension between Griet and Vermeer never made sense to me, and therefore none of the other tensions in the story, I think. It probably doesn‘t help that the titular painting is not one that particularly interests me.

The mystery of the Dutch painter Vermeer..
#europe
#reallyrandomfebruary
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@OriginalCyn620

Delicious book to read in one day! Uma graça de livro sobre um quadro maravilhoso!!! Leitura leve e rápida. #MocaComBrincoDePerola #TracyChevalier #GirlWithAPearlEarring
#book #bookaholic #booklovers #ler #leitura #leitora #reading #instabook #instaread #instabooks #bookstagram #litsy #booklover #readingabook #amreading #books #Sha2020

This was a beautifully written story. I especially liked the details of the actual painting process. Fantastic book. Highly recommend. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#MOvember #Masterpiece this one comes to mind .. I did not read , but loved the movie. I then read At The Edge of The Orchard & did not like it. I like this painting

At the Vermeer Centre in Delft a number of contemporary artists have reimagined The Girl with a Pearl Earring.

This portrait, to me, was the most striking. She is instantly recognisable in her look and posture. It‘s as if Vermeer captured something universal.

Apologies for the strange light on the picture. It was truly beautiful.

Hello from #Delft !

This mosaic is in the Market area (Markt) near the Vermeer Centre.

Current audiobook

#7days7covers #covercrush Day 2
7 days, 7 covers you love, no explanation. Try to tag someone new each day.

Tag, you're it. 🖐 @quietjenn

Used book haul #4

Quiet, small, but a gem

Nice sale at my local library. Can't wait to dig in.

23/70

In the first few pages I believe I‘ll already love this book

This was just so so for me. I liked the setting but disliked how she kept calling the head of the house 'him' and how every man was always staring at her.

A fictional account of how the painting came about. I was hoping for more historical accuracy, but after a little research I was surprised to find out how very little is known about Vermeer. I enjoyed the glimpse into the daily life of Delft at that time, but I found Griet‘s character to be a little flat. Though I might be the same way if I had as few choices about the direction of my life as she had.

Started this on audio but I don't like narrator. It's in 1st person and the audio narrator is using a voice that makes the main character sound younger than she actually is (16), and her voices for the other characters are not very distinct and oddly flat and without expression. Going to have to switch to reading it on my Kindle.

Girl with a Pearl Earring tells the story of Griet, a 16-year-old Dutch girl, who becomes a maid in the house of the painter Johannes Vermeer. Her calm and perceptive manner not only helps her in her household duties, but also attracts Vermeer's attention. He slowly draws her into the world of his paintings and ultimately has her sit for him as a model.

While I enjoyed spending time in the City of Delft, I did not enjoy the company of my travelling buddies much. I found it hard to find positive characteristics, and especially the Vermeer family was a struggle to be with! Would you believe, one of the children even stole my passport, so now I have to stay here till Monday when I can get a new one 🙄

The story could have been great, but Chevalier‘s style is just not for me

#BackpackEurope

#HowDoUWantIt? Lying down or sitting up, fast paced or slow, inside or outside, new or old, I like my books any way I can get them 👌

#HeatofJuly