Carole, Girl With a Pearl Earring was wonderful, though I fear you may be bored! Very subtle and artsy, pardon the pun, but simply stunning! I read the book a few years ago. Vermeer has always been my favorite artist and a slew of fictional books based on his life were out then, including Pearl Earring and Girl in Hyacinth Blue! Did someone mention Russell Crowe? Oh, be still my heart, thump, thump!