Esiotrot

18. The Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier ~ 6 Bookring - courtesy of Inver Synopsis The Dutch painter Vermeer has remained one of the great enigmas of 17th-century Dutch art. While little is known of his personal life, his extraordinary paintings of natural and domestic life, with their subtle play of light and colour, have come to define the Dutch Golden Age. The mysterious portrait of the anonymous Girl with a Pearl Earring has fascinated art historians for centuries, and it is this magnetic painting that lies at the heart of Tracy Chevalier's second novel of the same title. Girl with a Pearl Earring centres on Vermeer's prosperous household in Delft in the 1660s. The appointment of the quiet, perceptive heroine of the novel, the servant Griet, gradually throws the household into turmoil as Vermeer and Griet become increasingly intimate, an increasingly tense situation that culminates in her working for Vermeer as his assistant, and ultimately sitting for him as a model. Chevalier deliberately cultivates a limpid, painstakingly observed style in homage to Vermeer, and the complex domestic tensions of the Vermeer household are vividly evoked, from the jealous, vain, young wife to the wise, taciturn mother-in-law. At times the relationship between servant and master seems a little anachronistic, but Girl with a Pearl Earring does contain a final delicious twist in its tail. Chevalier acknowledges her debt to Simon Schama's classic study of the Dutch Golden Age, The Embarrassment of Riches, and the novel comes hard on the heels of Deborah Moggach's similar tale of domestic intrigue behind the easel of 17th-century Dutch painting, Tulip Fever. Just copied the synopsis from Amazon and realised the only other book of this genre I have read is infact the one listed at the bottom - Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach. These are books outwith my normal comfort zone as I am attempting to broaden my horizons. Although I enjoyed the book, I found the story slow paced and quiet. I am not very acquaint with the Art world and am embarrassed to admit prior to this book I hadnt heard of Vermeer or the painting. Chevaliers writing is subtle and delicate, the character of Griet was well understood, I liked her and felt involved in her thoughts. The relationship between Griet and Vermeer was beautiful as it was never realised but shaped the whole story. I appreciated the books style and despite not feeling that I would read another book written by Chevalier I am glad I read this one.

I received my free copy of the magazine today

I have this on my wish list but havent got round to aquiring it yet, so have skim read this thread and not revealed the spoilers. Just wanted to ask a couple of questions to those who have read it - Have you read Great Expectations? If not did you feel you were missing something - in your opinion would reading it first have improved the book for you? MTIA Kx

I got a message - no ER book for me this time, will try again next time.

Hi David - Nice to read you Kx

I think that was Claire SuperGran, I liked her too - why choose a indian when no one knows how to cook indian food? I did think the girls were very shrewd selling tickets before the event. Kx

I vote for the Book Thief as its the only one I have read so far - think I rated it 9 or 9.5 out of 10. I have A Quiet Belief In Angels & The Woods on Mount TBR and We need to talk is on my wish list so would be interested to hear what you think of any of them Kx

This years winner are ~ Galaxy Book of the Year ~ On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan Book People Outstanding Achievement Award ~ J.K. Rowling Richard and Judy Best Read of the Year ~ A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini Readers Digest Author of the Year ~ Ian McEwan for On Chesil Beach Tesco Biography of the Year ~ My Booky Wook by Russel Brand WH Smith Childrens Book of the Year ~ Horrid Henry and the Abominable Snowman by Francesca Simon Books Direct Crime Thriller of the Year ~ Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell Waterstones Newcomer of the Year ~ What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn Sainsburys Popular Fiction Award ~ The Memory Keepers Daughter by Kim Edwards Play.com Popular Non-Fiction award ~ Long Way Down by Ewan McGregor & Charlie Boorman

Ian deserved to go, truth be told so did Kevin (Dyfed )- I cant be the only one who thinks he looks like Matt Lucas? I like Simon - infact at the moment he is my favourite, in my opinion he should not have been brought back into the boardroom. I didnt rate the girls leader and I think a lot of their kitchen mistakes must have been covered up.

Thanks Kell, appreciate your time I didnt know much about her but saw her being interviewed on TV, then a couple of days later she was on LA Ink getting tattoo'ed by the amazing Kat Von D. She certainly is an interesting character and a shrewd business woman - I liked her. Will keep my eye out for this book Kx

Snap Nici! I have just had a sandwich too

Hiya Kell I am intrigued to see you read the Jenna Jamison book? What did you think? Kx

Saw this bargain and thought I would pass it on - Hope its ok to post a link? http://www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10001_10051_92308_100_500020__category_

17. Pippa Lee by Rebecca Miller ~ 7 Synopsis At fifty, Pippa Lee seems just fine. The devoted wife of a brilliant publisher thirty years her senior, the proud mother of successful twins, and a lovely and adored friend and neighbour, she seems to glow with feminine serenity. But when her husband spontaneously decides they should cast off Gramercy Park for Marigold Village retirement home, as a "preemptive strike against his decrepitude," Pippa finds her beatific persona unravelling in alarming ways.The truth is, the gracious woman of the present day has seen more than her fair share of the wild side. By seventeen, Pippa has lived with a Dexedrine addicted mother, felt the first stirrings of sexuality with a school girlfriend, had an affair with a teacher, and run away from home, set adrift on a course littered with broken hearts - until she found love and security in a family of her own.And now that seemingly established world, too, is in danger.In Pippa Lee we have an unforgettable heroine, and a quirky and acutely intelligent portrait of the many lives behind a single name. Even after we've read it, "The Private Lives of Pippa Lee" is a story that is still unfurling. At the start of this novel you are lulled into reading a story about a 50 year old wife and her 80 year old husband. On his suggestion they have sold everything and moved to 'wrinkle village' a retirement complex. Pippa plays the perfect housewife, adores her husband and panders to his needs but she is not entirely happy with her lot. When a neighbours troubled son arrives on the scene I felt the book was going down a predictable route, but it then take an unexpected twist. The middle section of the book is Pippa relaying her life from birth until she married her husband. It explores her relationships in particular with her mother. There are parts of this section which made me raise my eyebrows as she leaves home and disappears into a spiral of drugs. I felt she was easily led and was constantly seeking the unconditional love of a parent figure. She lacks ambition and responsibility, she allows others into her life at the deepest level and then drops them and runs. The book ends back in the present with a few more discoveries about Pippa and those surrounding her. Pippa is a strange character - not what she appears on the surface, I would like to know what becomes of her. The book is articulately written, the author creates believable characters and relationships. Womans fiction with a dark undertones, I enjoyed it and will certainly look out for her next book. As this is an Early review book from Library Thing I am offering it as a Bookring, please sign up if your interested.

I am trying to broaden my reading horizons but there are a few books I know I will never read ~ Lord of the Rings - too much hype, too much fantasy James Patterson - it just bugs me he has 14 books out each year, he doesnt write them so why is his name on the cover? Ghost Written Celeb 'novels' - as above. Biographies and Autobiographies on Z list 18 year old 'celebs' Torey Hayden - or any other stories of my tortured childhood type books, been there read that and got the snotty hanky to prove it Catherine Cookson, Barbara Taylor Bradford, Danielle Steele and the like - ad infinitum Mills & Boon Westerns Sci Fi There that feels better! Have I left anything to read? Kx

Whilst cleaning out a cupboard today I found a box set of Jeffery Archer that I dont even remember buying. It contains A Twist in the Tale The Prodigal Daughter Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less A Quiver Full of Arrows First Amongst Equals I havent read any JA but my Mums favourite book is Kane and Able. I did a search on here but didnt find anything much on him, so wondered ~ any opinions? MTIA Kx

Found this today while looking for something else - http://www.bookclubforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=1245 HTH Kx

I really enjoyed When or Where and althought I wasnt so impressed with The Pilots Wife, it wouldnt put me off trying more from Anita Shreve. Any more recommendations? Kx

Glad you enjoyed Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith. I think I am going to read it next. Feeling the need for something lighthearted and relaxing - and hopefully the heat will help warm me as we have hailstones here!

16. Never Let me go by Kazuo Ishiguro ~ 6 Synopsis In one of the most acclaimed and strange novels of recent years, Kazuo Ishiguro imagines the lives of a group of students growing up in a darkly skewed version of contemporary England. Narrated by Kathy, now 31, "Never Let Me Go" hauntingly dramatises her attempts to come to terms with her childhood at the seemingly idyllic Hailsham School, and with the fate that has always awaited her and her closest friends in the wider world. A story of love, friendship and memory, "Never Let Me Go" is charged throughout with a sense of the fragility of life. I been thinking about how to review this book for the last few days and to be honest I still am not sure what I want to say. I didnt love it but I didnt hate it, which when I looked at other reviews was pretty much the consensus. I have come to the conclusion I am too much of a realist and I didnt believe the subject matter. Or maybe I am not intelligent enough Never mind, on to the next one...

Jenny should have gone - I really dislike her The lassie that was fired was used as a scapegoat for Jennys failings IMHO.

My Sisters Keeper by Jodi Picoult - just read on JP's website that that Dakota Fanning who was to play Kate has pulled out as she didnt want to shave her head:roll:

This sounds good, having been there I am def. adding this to my wish list. Another great review Michelle - I always want the book you have just read!

I am Nemostar on Book Crossing

Great idea Michelle - off to add mine. I am still obsessed with LT! EDIT - I have added my Library Thing and Book Crossing names to my profile but the Book Crossing name doesnt show at the side when I post?