The month of July saw our book club indulge ourselves with a novel that all members of Novel Tea 'n Pages enjoyed. Members agreed that Tracy Chevalier's tale, centred around the old world painter Johannes Vermeer, was well written and a light, quick read that added some interest, yet in our already busy lives, didn't bog us down.The story starts and revolves around young Griet who leaves her home to take a position as a maid in the home of Johann Vermeer with his wife and family. Johann and his wife come to Griet's home to meet her before she takes up the household position and Vermeer finds Griet very interesting in the way she lays out the vegetables in order of colour and type of vegetable. She is very particular and pays extreme attention to detail. As an artist, Vermeer is most taken with this particular quality in Griet.
The story develops around not only the relationship Griet has with her family, and also the family of Vermeer, but Chevalier studies the deeper relationship between the painter and young Griet. From the blurb on the back of the book, the reader is led to believe that there is a scandal, and there is of a sorts, but probably not in the way you might expect. The reader though, must remember that this story was set in 1664.
It is a beautiful tale of respect and longing and Chevalier uses extraordinary language that gives a life and richness, as any artist's palette.
Lines like, 'I was chopping vegetables in the kitchen when I heard voices outside our front door - a woman's, bright as polished brass, and a man's, low and dark like the wood of the table I was working on. The were the kind of voices we heard rarely in our house. I could hear the rich carpets in their voices, books and pearls and fur.'...'My mother's voice - a cooking pot, a flagon - approached from the front room. They were coming to the kitchen. I pushed the leeks I had been chopping into place, then set the knife on the table, wiped my hands on my apron, and pressed my lips together to smooth them...' sets the tone and voice so well and urges the reader to read on...simply delicious.
Chevalier uses beautiful language throughout her work and her descriptions are a treasure trove of wonderful images.
When Vermeer meets Griet for the first time, the following exchange takes place...in the kitchen...
"'What have you been doing here, Griet? he asked.
I was surprised by the question but knew enough to hide it. 'Chopping vegetables, sir. For the soup.'
I always laid vegetables out in a circle, each with it own section like a slice of pie. There were five slices: red cabbage, onions, leeks, carrots and turnips. I had used a knife edge to shape each slice, and placed a carrot disc in the centre.
The man tapped his finger on the table. 'Are they laid out in the order in which they will go into the soup?' he suggested, studying the circle.
'No sir.' I hesitated. I could not say why I had laid out the vegetables as I did. I simply set them as I felt they should be, but I was too frightened to say so to a gentleman.
'I see you have separated the whites,' he said, indicating the turnips and onions. 'And then the orange and the purple, they do not sit together. Why is that?' He pick up a shred of cabbage and a piece of carroty and shook them like dice in his hand.
I looked at my mother, who nodded slightly.
'The colours fight when they are side by side, sir.
He arched his eyebrows, as if he had not expected such a response. 'And do you spend much time setting out the vegetables before you make the soup?'
'Oh no, sir,' I replied confused. I did not want him to think I was idle.
From the corner of my eye I saw a movement. My sister, Agnes, was peering round the doorpost and had shaken her head at my response. I did not often lie. I looked down.
The man turned his head slightly and Agnes disappeared. He dropped the pieces of carrot and cabbage into their slices. The cabbage shred fell partly into the onions. I wanted to reach over and tease it into place. I did not, but he knew that I wanted to. He was testing me."
The map inserted into the front and back sleeve of the 1999 edition was great to explore and get a real sense of place.
We highly recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction. It is a short tale and most enjoyable.
