Rating: 2 starsCover Synopsis: Chevalier transports readers to a bygone time and place in this richly imagined portrait of the young woman who inspired one of Vermeer's most celebrated paintings.
This book was a best seller, got rave reviews on Amazon and had a movie made out of it (that I haven't seen). I thought, "Hmm. Must be a good read. I'll check it out."
But this is proof that just because many other people like something doesn't mean I will. I found the book boring, stiff and contrived. I mean, I'm really supposed to believe that Vermeer needed the servant to tell him what was artistically wrong with one of his paintings because he couldn't tell? And a lot of the book focuses on how secretive the servant needs to be to help her master in mixing paint colors. Really? He's in charge! If your master asks you to mix colors, you do it and the rest of the family gets over it. I just didn't get most of the premise here. There are also several uncomfortable scenes that didn't seem pertinent to the story.
I award it two stars because I didn't flat-out detest the book. But I'm left wondering why I read it?
