There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed . . .
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?
Beautiful, intoxicating and filled with heart-pounding suspense, Jessie Burton's magnificent debut novel The Miniaturist is a story of love and obsession, betrayal and retribution, appearance and truth.
"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.
