Girl With a Pearl Earring

Tracy Chevalier

I've been trying for days to put into words what I felt about this novel, and I cannot seem to find the right words. It's one of those rare reads that engulfs you, tranporting you back to Holland in the 1600's and enabling you to both smell the slow grinding of colours from roots and bone, and see Vermeer's painting; each layer a work of art in itself. Rare also is it's ability to stay within reach after the book have been sent back to the library. Not a day has gone by since I unwillingly closed the covers that I have not thought of Griet, the wide-eyed maid with the smile to equal Mona Lisa.