May’s Book – Girl With A Pearl Earring

Tracy Chevalier’s second novel Girl with a Pearl Earring centers on Vermeer’s prosperous Delft household during the 1660s. When Griet, the novel’s quietly perceptive heroine, is hired as a servant, turmoil follows. First, the 16-year-old narrator becomes increasingly intimate with her master. Then Vermeer employs her as his assistant–and ultimately has Griet sit for him as a model. Chevalier vividly evokes the complex domestic tensions of the household, ruled over by the painter’s jealous, eternally pregnant wife and his taciturn mother-in-law. At times the relationship between servant and master seems a little anachronistic. Still, Girl with a Pearl Earring does contain a final delicious twist.

Poll to choose May’s book

Here is a poll to decide April’s book. Please take the time to vote, I will leave it open for a week.

‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’  is my World Book Night book for 2013. I will be receiving a box of it in the next month and anyone who wants a copy is welcome to one. I know that at least 3 of the book club have already read it though.

I would like to revert to taking turns to pick books as I think it worked well. This time we will go alphabetically by surname. So Merle, Sinead, Anne Marie, Jennie, Laura K, Claire, Laura M, Susan, Sarah and Siobhán. (Weird that three of the Ss came last again, sorry girls!). Let me know what ye think or if ye can suggest other ways to pick books.