tfpjr492's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This novel recounts the romantic tribulations of a young lady in seventeenth century Netherlands. The main character Griet is a sixteen-year-old girl, who must take a job as a maid to art painter Johannes Vermeer. Her primary duty is to clean Vermeer’s studio meticulously. She is the only household member that he will allow into the studio. Her other duties include household laundry, daily errands to the market, and assistance to the other servant/cook - all of which make for exhausting workdays.
Power in the household is spread among the family matriarch, the wife, and Vermeer. The wife takes an immediate dislike to Griet.
After the first week the matriarch comments on her work.
Ah, you’re a cunning one, girl. You know whose pot to spoon from. Never mind, we can do with a bit of cleverness around here.
That is an understatement. The household is beset by pettiness, jealousy and deceit. Vermeer seems removed from these issues, as he retreats to his lonely studio to paint. Griet’s character is reserved, observant, compliant, and conscientious. She is an ideal employee.
Griet is a willing student of Vermeer’s painting techniques. He explains the complexities of color. She has a natural eye for color, so Vermeer entrusts her with more responsibility for preparing the color paints. He does this secretly to avoid arousing the jealousy of his wife. As they work side-by-side, Griet develops unrequited romantic feelings for Vermeer. He will never enter a romantic relationship, because his sole passion is the art of painting.
The plot thickens when a customer of Vermeer commissions a painting and specifies that the subject of the painting is the lowly maid Griet. Suffice it to say that Vermeer exploits Griet’s devotion, so that he can finish the painting.
The storyline plods to a predictable, even certain climax; nonetheless, the reader cannot help but feel the intensity of Griet’s emotions. The author adds a satisfying conclusion after the plot climax. This novel is recommended for readers who want a deeply emotional tale notwithstanding the cruelties, which the powerful visit upon the powerless.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Sexual content
renlou's review against another edition
informative
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Very much a slice of life story for a made living in 1600s Holland. She struggles with unwanted male attention, and a crush on her adult master which is relatively tame, but still damning. I think the saddest part for me was that she was clearly intelligent and talented, and yet there was no way for her to express her abilities and she understood her life was to be a butcher’s wife. She never even contemplated that she could be an artist.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Sexism
phantomgecko's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
A nice historical fiction. Interesting characters.
I guess I'm a little confused as to why Griet being in the painting was such a big deal. Like... Vermeer mainly paints women, so that's fine. Tanneke, also a maid, sat for a previous painting, so that's apparently fine. Another man is literally paying Vermeer to make the painting specifically of Griet, so it's not like it's just Vermeer having a weird obsession.
I totally appreciate the double standards and victim blaming nature of the whole thing. Vermeer is too cowardly to be honest with anyone, and Griet is punished for doing things her employer asked her to directly do. But I still don't get why everything has to be so secretive.
Why is it scandalous for Griet to help mix paint? Why can't she just straight up say from the very beginning that Vermeer asked her to assist him. I legit for real don't get it.
Again, I understand that Catharina has never liked Griet, and she's jealous that her husband pays her special attention. But why is that Griet's problem? Why did she agree to hire her in the first place if she was going to be aggressively rude? It's just not that good of a reason to justify the behavior of everyone in the house.
There's never an acceptable explanation, and my bafflement prevented me from enjoying the book as I could have.
I guess I'm a little confused as to why Griet being in the painting was such a big deal. Like... Vermeer mainly paints women, so that's fine. Tanneke, also a maid, sat for a previous painting, so that's apparently fine. Another man is literally paying Vermeer to make the painting specifically of Griet, so it's not like it's just Vermeer having a weird obsession.
I totally appreciate the double standards and victim blaming nature of the whole thing. Vermeer is too cowardly to be honest with anyone, and Griet is punished for doing things her employer asked her to directly do. But I still don't get why everything has to be so secretive.
Why is it scandalous for Griet to help mix paint? Why can't she just straight up say from the very beginning that Vermeer asked her to assist him. I legit for real don't get it.
Again, I understand that Catharina has never liked Griet, and she's jealous that her husband pays her special attention. But why is that Griet's problem? Why did she agree to hire her in the first place if she was going to be aggressively rude? It's just not that good of a reason to justify the behavior of everyone in the house.
There's never an acceptable explanation, and my bafflement prevented me from enjoying the book as I could have.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content
grace_cr1's review against another edition
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Blood, Child death, Infidelity, Sexual content, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Death, and Sexual harassment
helen's review against another edition
3.0
I was fascinated by 17th century painting processes, and I liked comparing the descriptions of Vermeer's in-progress paintings with the finished products, but the rest of the story left me cold.
The author says in her note that she wrote the book the way Vermeer paints - spare, focussed, stripped down to the essentials. I appreciated that it was relatively short, but the lack of any lingering on emotion or atmosphere meant that I wasn't as engaged and invested in Griet's story as I wanted to be.
On the plus side, I liked that Vermeer himself remained mysterious and was seen from Griet's limited point of view. I didn't want to be in the head of a 30-something man who is obsessed with his 17 year old employee.
Content notes:
The author says in her note that she wrote the book the way Vermeer paints - spare, focussed, stripped down to the essentials. I appreciated that it was relatively short, but the lack of any lingering on emotion or atmosphere meant that I wasn't as engaged and invested in Griet's story as I wanted to be.
On the plus side, I liked that Vermeer himself remained mysterious and was seen from Griet's limited point of view. I didn't want to be in the head of a 30-something man who is obsessed with his 17 year old employee.
Content notes:
Spoiler
death of sibling from plague, religious prejudice, sexual harassment and assault, death of child (off page), pregnancy and childbirth, on page sex</spoiler
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Sexual harassment
Minor: Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Pregnancy
lauramcc7's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content
mme_carton's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Grief, Body horror, Medical content, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Child death, Classism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Excrement, Violence, Confinement, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
mandalacb19's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
i wanted to give up on this book halfway through but i kept with it because i had to for school. overall i really hated this condense writing style and found it hard to get through. what i can say is that the ending was very good - i thought it tied together well and overall, though i didn’t like it, i thought it was well written and a good book idea.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Sexual assault
Minor: Sexual content
verysillygoose's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, and Sexism
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
Minor: Child abuse and Sexual content
hope_sky321's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Grief, Misogyny, and Physical abuse