The Miniaturist: A Richard and Judy Book Club Pick and Beautifully Atmospheric Historical Novel

by Jessie Burton

The phenomenal number one bestseller and a major BBC TV series.
A Richard and Judy Book Club Pick.
Winner of the Specsavers National Book Award and Waterstones Book of the Year.

Beautiful, intoxicating and filled with heart-pounding suspense, Jessie Burton's historical novel set in Amsterdam, The Miniaturist, is a story of love and obsession, betrayal and retribution.

On an autumn day in 1686, eighteen-year-old Nella Oortman knocks at the door of a grand house in the wealthiest quarter of Amsterdam. She has come from the country to begin a new life as the wife of illustrious merchant trader Johannes Brandt, but instead she is met by his sharp-tongued sister, Marin. Only later does Johannes appear and present her with an extraordinary wedding gift: a cabinet-sized replica of their home. It is to be furnished by an elusive miniaturist, whose tiny creations mirror their real-life counterparts in unexpected ways . . .

Nella is at first mystified by the closed world of the Brandt household, but as she uncovers its secrets she realizes the escalating dangers that await them all. Does the miniaturist hold their fate in her hands? And will she be the key to their salvation or the architect of their downfall?

'My first instinct on finishing this book was to immediately read it again' - Hannah Kent, author of Burial Rites

• ISBN10: 1447250915
• ISBN13: 9781447250913
• Publish Date: 3 July 2014
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Pan Macmillan
• Imprint: Picador
• Format: eBook (EPUB)
• Pages: 256
• Language: English

Reviews

[jnkay01]

I came for the dollhouse miniatures, and I regret staying for the drama.

[clementine]

I loved everything about this: the plot, the characters, the richness of the world. So many hints were dropped along the way but I was kept on my toes throughout.

[mrs_mander_reads]

This book! So many twists and turns that I was not expecting. I thought the characters were amazing, surprising, and lovable. My heart hurts for Nella, and I'm dying to know how she, Cornelia, and someone else (**spoiler!!) end up! I'm ready to read more of Burton, for sure.

[mitabird]

2.5 stars

[Artemis]

The only thing I did not like about this book was that you never find out any real background about the Miniaturist and her motive involving the Brandt family.

[Terri M. LeBlanc]

I was delighted when I downloaded The Miniaturist from my library and started listening to it and immediately recognized the voice of Davina Porter. She narrated the Outlander series which I adore. Because I was familiar with Davina’s narration style it was easy to settle into Nella’s world.

Amsterdam of the 17th Century was wonderful painted by Burton. I was able to see, feel and smell the City and the home Nella lived in. Each of the characters was as beautifully wrought as the items the Miniaturist sent so Nella. It was magical.

Nella does an amazing amount of maturing during the course of the novel. Married to a man almost twice her age, she starts out quite naive and as the story progresses we see her take in the events of her life and figure out how to make the situation work best for her.

The one thing that bothered me about the book was the Miniaturist. When I reached the end of the story and almost all the secrets were laid out, I couldn’t help but think of that episode of The Big Bang Theory when Amy ruins Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark for Sheldon. I didn’t understand any more about the Miniaturist and their uncanny skill at the end of story then I did at the beginning. I couldn’t help but feel like Nella would have come to the same end without the Miniaturist’s influence. So the question, I ask, is what was the point of the the Miniaturist? Honestly, I haven’t got a clue!

I would definitely recommend this book for readers who love historical fiction. The attention to detail regarding life, government and religion in 17th Century Amsterdam is amazing. You will feel like you are living and breathing in the same time as Nella. You will admire her strength in the face of some astonishing obstacles and come to love her as she fights for household and her identity.


This review was originally posted on Second Run Reviews

[celinenyx]

There are three reasons I bought The Miniaturist. It was cheap, has a lovely cover, and has a historical setting in Amsterdam - finally a book that features my country!

I didn't start with any particularly high expectations, because historical novels aren't necessarily my favourite kind of books, and the average rating on Goodreads isn't all that great either. I did quickly fall in love with the characters of The Miniaturist. I was intrigued by the home life of Nella and how she deals with being swooped away from anything she knows on the countryside and surviving in an Amsterdam she has only heard of.

The Amsterdam Ms Burton describes is fabulous. I really enjoyed the way Nella visits places I have visited in Amsterdam myself. The author really captured the feel of the bustling sixteenth century city, and I felt she did sufficient research. The element I wasn't much enamoured with was the plot.

I feel like this book would have been much better if it had kept its focus on the Brandt household and the social struggles, rather than introducing a weird subplot featuring the miniaturist. Every time a miniature arrived, I felt like the story was slipping. There was simply nothing interesting about it. All of the miniaturist scenes felt very deus ex machina, like some divine intervention that didn't even serve a purpose in the end.

About halfway, I lost interest in the book. The pages that so quickly turned when I started, all of a sudden became a slog. The final impression The Miniaturist has left on me is that this was a good idea, a book with great promise, but one that could have been improved if it had had a different focus. Maybe if it had paid more attention to Nella herself, or the 17th century society in Amsterdam, anything deeper really, I would have enjoyed The Miniaturist more.

[Joséphine]

Initial thoughts: I AM FINALLY DONE READING THIS BOOK! I cannot describe the relief I feel about being done with it because I reckon it put a damper on my will to read over the past three weeks. Most of the books I did finish during that time were audiobooks because the narrator dictates the pace. But for The Miniaturist, it was up to me to set my reading pace and let me tell you, it was difficult to keep reading.

There are two reasons I didn't give up on this book: (1) I spent money buying the book, and (2) I read it for a read-a-long, so not finishing it would've meant no contribution from me in our discussion. There were so many promising elements but the prose, the characterisation, the plot — everything fell short of the mark. What saved The Miniaturist from being a zero-star read for me is that there were surprising elements that I hadn't expected. Beyond that, the book only left negative impressions on me.

[annieb123]

"There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed…"

....except pretty much every single plot factor in the entire book.

If the review were based on writing and prose or even effort to try to make the book historically accurate and based on thorough research, this book would make it into the 4-5 star category.

When I finished it (after trying 3 or 4 times to pick it up only to put it down again), all I could think was 'what a weird book'.

It's powerfully descriptive. I can even say I 'probably' enjoyed reading it (still a bit conflicted there). I'm left with a completely unfulfilled desire for denouement and resolution though. It just ends. I have a very dissatisfied feeling, and perhaps that was the author's intention. If that's the case, I can only say well played, she achieved her intentions.

If you like creepy weird strange well written prose that just ends, this might be something for you. I found myself being irritated and melancholy in about equal measure. I did NOT find myself caring much about the characters, they were fairly flat and two dimensional (again, possibly at the author's direct intention).

I did finish the book, and usually if a book irritates me, I just move along, since my TBR pile is daunting. I stuck this one out to the bitter end however.

[meowstina]

I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I have heard a lot about this book, mostly good things, but alas I don’t have a lot to say. I think it’s okay, but I don’t have a lot to expand on. I like how it explores highly talked-about and relevant subject matter but sets them and their consequences in the past (I can’t say anything without spoiling huge twists). Upon first reflection this book isn’t about the miniaturist as much as it suggests, but now that I think about it a lot of the connections are hidden and metaphorical. I feel like that’s the point and that’s what makes this book so layered and interesting. Nella becomes obsessed with the miniaturist and receiving more pieces, but the majority of her attention is focused on house drams. A lot happens in this novel and it can be quite dramatic. I enjoyed reading this book for the most part (it dragged a bit at the beginning), and while I don’t find it as amazing as others, I see its value.