Summer is a favorite time for reading and relaxing. Chevalier presents a fictional account of vermeer, the model, and the painting. He slowly draws her into the world of his paintings and ultimately has her sit for him as a model. Girl with a pearl earring is a thoroughly engaging novel that follows the lifechanging experiences of quiet griet over the two years she serves the delft painter, johannes vermeer. Girl with a pearl earring, was both a book club and road read in 2006.
One of his most famous paintings, girl with a pearl earring, lies at the center of tracy chevaliers n. The novel centers on griet, the protestant daughter of a delft tile painter who lost his sight in a kiln accident. Set in 17th century delft, holland, the novel was inspired by delft school painter johannes vermeers painting girl with a pearl earring. Girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier book club discussion. Girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier book club. Looking at the painting after having read the novel. The villages at crane meadow marlborough, ma 01752 book club. Girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier, paperback.
Full of rich period detail, chevaliers book is set in 17th century delft, where a young girl named griet goes to work as a maid in the home of the great painter. The story was inspired by vermeers actual painting, girl with a pearl earring, which has been a fascination for many over the centuries. The lovely bones by alice sebold girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier. Perhaps youve heard of the famous piece, girl with a pearl earring, by the artist johannes vermeer. Apr 26, 2020 girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier is a sharp, sensitive and absorbing novel of 17th century netherlands, combining history art and fiction. The girl with a pearl earring is the story of griet, a sixteenyear old girl who is hired by the famous painter, vermeer, to clean his studio. Staff will lead a discussion around the novel below. It is hard not to like this good and obedient protagonist, for she struggles with universal yearnings such as love and an escape from poverty. The book is a fictional tale of the life of the girl, who is portrayed as a servant, and the words paint a picture of life in 17th century holland. Griets family is destitute, and now she must work as a maid in the vermeer household, cleaning up the famous painters workstation. Unique metaphor collections inspired by the first chapter of the novel girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier, students will discover metaphors in their world and reading and create their own unique metaphorical descriptions for a collection they devote a page to in their writers notebooks or their journals.
Girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier nook book. Feature article forbidden love the novel girl with a pearl earring should definitely be included on the novel ideas book club reading list. The heroine, the girl with the earring, is in a helpless situation, but she is determined to escape the terrible situation in which she has found herself. Girl with a pearl earring book club kit new westminster. Review of girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier.
Girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier is a sharp, sensitive and absorbing novel of 17th century netherlands, combining history art and fiction. Girl with a pearl earring is the story of 16yearold griet, whose life is transformed by her brief encounter with genius, even as she herself is immortalized in canvas and oil. Her calm and perceptive manner not only helps her in her household duties, but also attracts vermeers attention. The novel centres around the life of the dutch painter, johannes vermeer, in deft, holland during the 1660s. The novel opens with vermeer and his disheveled wife, catharina, visiting griets family to have a look at the girl they hope to hire. Snyder will lead the conversation on tracy chevaliers novel girl with a pearl earring.
Reading guide for girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. What was one of the most memorable moments of girl with a pearl earring. Vermeer teaches griet to see using a camera obscura. On the eve of its cinema release, tracy chevalier describes how she felt as she saw her bestselling novel girl with a pearl earring being transferred to the screen. Girl with a pearl earring is a 1999 historical novel written by tracy chevalier. When servant girl griet catches his eye, she soon becomes both student and muse. A girl with a pearl earring by sgr62 see profile 0322. Girl with a pearl earring centers on vermeers prosperous delft household during the 1660s. Discuss hit novel girl with a pearl earring with toledos book club. Although i had read this book before i enjoyed the second time round really interesting. Girl with a pearl earring book club questions reading groups for.
Quiet captivating story what other book might you compare girl with a pearl earring to and why. In midcareer, the renowned 17th century baroque artist johannes vermeer painted girl with a pearl earring, which has been called the dutch mona lisa. We were driving back and forth between our home in atlanta and new bern, getting what was supposed to be our new life in order. So, there is an interviw about her novel girl with a pearl earing which i think that. It is known as the dutch mona lisa because no one knows who the girl is, in the painting. If you could sum up girl with a pearl earring in three words, what would they be. The remarkable author tracey chevalier fleshes out and embellishes the story who the girl in the painting by johannes vermeer could be. Girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier reading guide. Finding the story inside the painting in this ted talk 14. I think the book club offers us the opportunity to become an active reader as opposed to a passive reader.
A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Girl with a pearl earring chevalier transports readers to a bygone time and place in this richly imagined portrait of the young woman who inspired one of vermeers most celebrated paintings. Eventually she poses for the famous girl with a pearl earring painting, which ends up being her undoing. Girl with a pearl earring tracy chevalier, 2000 penguin group usa 240 pp. Girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier booksamillion. Mar 12, 2020 his painting is a simple, though enigmatic, portrait of a girl with a pearl earring, about which little is known.
Do you think griet was typical of other girls her age. Tracy chevalier joins an audience to discuss her novel girl with a pearl earring. Reading guide for girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier discussion guide for book clubs. Bbc world service world book club, tracy chevalier. With precisely 35 canvases to his credit, the dutch painter johannes vermeer represents one of the great enigmas of 17thcentury art. The new york times bestselling novel by the author of remarkable creatures and the last runaway. Handpicked recommendations to other books that have a similar writing style or theme to girl with a pearl earring. When griet, the novels quietly perceptive heroine, is hired as a servant, turmoil follows. Girl with a pearl earring discussion leader adrienne lee saturday, june 9, 12 pm 1.
Set in 17thcentury delft, holland, the novel was inspired by local painter johannes vermeers girl with a pearl earring. Painting of girl with a pearl earring photographer unknown girl with a pearl earring, was both a book club and road read in 2006. Girl with a pearl earring is an engaging fictionalization. Fittingly, chevaliers writing style adopts a painterly approach. But then he gives her his wifes pearl earrings to wear for a portrait, and a. Told in spare, elegant prose, the author leaps into literary renown with this book.
The lovely bones by alice sebold girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier gone girl by gillian flynn interpreter of maladies by jhumpa lahiri life of pi by yann martel. I hadnt known about him before i took a grammar course where the professor used tracy chevaliers book, girl with a pearl earring, to teach the course. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. But then he gives her his wifes pearl earrings to wear for a portrait, and a scandal erupts that could threaten griets future. Girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier was an intriguing fictitious book based on the life of the famous painter johannes vermeer. Girl with a pearl earring 2015 read online free books. Set in the 1660s in delft netherlands about how the famous painter johannes vermeer comes to paint his maid and her infatuation with him. Girl with a pearl earring audiobook by tracy chevalier. Girl with a pearl earring by tracey chevalier lesson plans and teaching resources girl with a pearl earring by tracey chevalier resources from the author, including a link to a reading group guide with 8 questions. Girl with a pearl earring book club questions reading agency. The new york times bestselling novel by the author of a single thread and at the edge of the orchard. Elyshia hickey reveals why this fascinating, historical and romantic story will appeal to an adolescent. Dec 28, 2003 on the eve of its cinema release, tracy chevalier describes how she felt as she saw her bestselling novel girl with a pearl earring being transferred to the screen.
Girl with a pearl earring ebook king county library. It was all memorable, i loved the pace and countenance what does hattie morahan bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you had only read the book. Books that have a narrator really lend themselves well to the format. Tracy chevalier is the new york times bestselling author of seven previous novels, including girl with a pearl earring, which has been translated into thirtynine languages and made into an oscarnominated film. Girl with a pearl earring, tracy chevalier girl with a pearl earring is a 1999 historical novel written by tracy chevalier.
Twenty years on girl with a pearl earring remains as vivid and captivating as ever. Girl with a pearl earring a novel book club set book club kit. Art book club girl with the pearl earring foothills. Join adrienne lee for a discussion of the novel girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier. The elegant prose evokes contemplation, the pace is slow and cumulative the drama emotional rather than visceral. We were driving back and forth between our home in atlanta and new. The cruel world has a laugh at the expense of the girl with a pearl earring actress with a host of playful photoshop montages. The garden party and other stories by katherine mansfield. The girl with the pearl earring is a famous painting by the artist vermeer. Translated into thirtynine languages and made into an oscarnominated film, starring scarlett johanson and colin firth. Review of girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier bookclub.
Great supplemental information for school essays and projects. Study questions, project ideas and discussion topics based on important themes running throughout girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier. Summer book club girl with a pearl earring winter garden. Girl with a pearl earring tells the story behind the advent of this famous painting, all the while depicting life in 17th century delft, a small dutch. Finally i wrote the book, going back to sources to answer questions along the way. Girl with a pearl earring coc09512 feature article forbidden love the novel girl with a pearl farring should definitely he included on the novel ideas book club reading list. Chevalier presents a fictional account of vermeer, the model and the painting. Going by various names over the centuries, it became known by its present title towards the end of the 20th century after the large pearl earring worn by the girl. Girl with a pearl earring essay 946 words bartleby. Girl with a pearl earring questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on girl with a pearl. The novel was adapted into a 2003 film of the same name and a 2008 play.
Books similar to girl with a pearl earring girl with a pearl earring. Art book club girl with the pearl earring foothills art. Ama book club to discuss girl with a pearl earring. The ama art lovers book club will have its second meeting at 6 p. Chevalier transports readers to a bygone time and place in this richly imagined portrait of the young woman who inspired one of vermeers most celebrated paintings. The majority of books set during the time, both fiction and nonfiction, are written from the perspective of a noble person. Girl with a pearl earring questions and answers the question and answer sections of our study guides are a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss literature. The author, however, a born storyteller, creates a living, breathing story around it, using a singular, first person narrative. Once a collection of unique metaphors has been built in the writers notebook, teachers can challenge students to create a longer piece of writing poem, narrative, reflection, etc. It was also nice to get a glimpse into the life and mind of a common girl. Sep 30, 2003 girl with a pearl earring is a thoroughly engaging novel that follows the lifechanging experiences of quiet griet over the two years she serves the delft painter, johannes vermeer. Subscribe to the oprahs book club newsletter sign up for the oprahs book club newsletter get more. Girl with a pearl earring tells the story of griet, a 16yearold dutch girl, who becomes a maid in the house of the painter johannes vermeer.
Girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalierin about. Girl with a pearl earring reading group questions 1. Subscribe to the oprahs book club newsletter sign up for the oprahs book club newsletter get more stories like this delivered to your inbox get updates on your favorite shows. For me this means that i am reading at another level. Elyshia hickey reveals why this fascinating, historical and romantic story will appeal to an adolescent audience, as it explores the theme of sensual awakening. Girl with a pearl earring lesson plans varsity tutors. Tracy chevalier transports readers to a bygone time and place in this richlyimagined portrait of the young woman who inspired one of. The new york times bestselling novel by the author of a single thread and at the edge of the orchard translated into thirtynine languages and made into an oscarnominated film, starring scarlett johanson and colin firth tracy chevalier transports readers to a bygone time and place in this richlyimagined. The artist painting the girl with the pearl earring is overbearing, unfeeling and unlikeable. Girl with a pearl earring questions and answers the question and answer sections of our study guides are a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss.
How do griets occupation and social status affect her assisting her master in his work. Listen to girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier at. Chevaliers hit novel girl with a pearl earring will be read and discussed when the group holds their next meeting. Tracy chevalier on the filming of girl with a pearl earring. Van leeuwenhoek tells griet that she should make sure she remains herself. Girl with a pearl earring tells the story behind the advent of this famous painting, all the while depicting life in 17th century delft, a small dutch city with a burgeoning art community. Books that defined a generation girl with a pearl earring. Set in 17thcentury delft, holland, the novel was inspired by local painter johannes vermeer s girl with a pearl earring. Even so, girl with a pearl earring only became one of vermeers more famous pieces around the turn of the 21st century, with the 1995 blockbuster exhibition at the national gallery of art in washington, d. A novel that explores the mystery behind vermeers famous painting, blending fact and fiction into a radiant comingofage novel. Girl with a pearl earring book club questions johannes vermeer can spot exceptional beauty.
1448 1517 593 906 1438 982 437 1659 133 907 1099 577 1145 971 410 654 1010 298 322 35 1391 1652 1037 134 1181 1269 905 776 1434 1046 618 576 1043 275 1225 1605 1088 617 1377 823 957 1303 386 435 131 589 82 872 358