phantomgecko's review
- 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
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.
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content
helen's review against another edition
3.0
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</spoilerModerate: Child death and Sexual harassment
Minor: Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Pregnancy
mme_carton's review
- 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
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
hope_sky321's review
- 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
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Grief, Misogyny, and Physical abuse
a_w_kilgore's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Pregnancy and Bullying
Moderate: Classism, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, and Death of parent
saintyeehaw's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Classism, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Blood, Ableism, and Stalking
Minor: Alcohol and Death of parent
vivireads99's review
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Gaslighting, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexism
rchristine11's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Sexual harassment
Moderate: Sexual content, Child death, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Child abuse
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual assault
kamryn_grace_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Graphic: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Sexism
Moderate: Blood, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: Child death, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Religious bigotry