Author: Jessie Burton
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age group: Adult
Pages: 416 (Paperback)
Publisher: Ecco
Publication date: June 2, 2016
Synopsis from The Miniaturist's Goodreads page
Set in seventeenth century Amsterdam—a city ruled by glittering wealth and oppressive religion—a masterful debut steeped in atmosphere and shimmering with mystery, in the tradition of Emma Donoghue, Sarah Waters, and Sarah Dunant.
“There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed . . .”
On a brisk autumn day in 1686, eighteen-year-old Nella Oortman arrives in Amsterdam to begin a new life as the wife of illustrious merchant trader Johannes Brandt. But her new home, while splendorous, is not welcoming. Johannes is kind yet distant, always locked in his study or at his warehouse office—leaving Nella alone with his sister, the sharp-tongued and forbidding Marin.
But Nella’s world changes when Johannes presents her with an extraordinary wedding gift: a cabinet-sized replica of their home. To furnish her gift, Nella engages the services of a miniaturist—an elusive and enigmatic artist whose tiny creations mirror their real-life counterparts in eerie and unexpected ways . . .
Johannes’ gift helps Nella to pierce the closed world of the Brandt household. But as she uncovers its unusual secrets, she begins to understand—and fear—the escalating dangers that await them all. In this repressively pious society where gold is worshipped second only to God, to be different is a threat to the moral fabric of society, and not even a man as rich as Johannes is safe. Only one person seems to see the fate that awaits them. Is the miniaturist the key to their salvation . . . or the architect of their destruction?
Synopsis from The Miniaturist's Goodreads page
Set in seventeenth century Amsterdam—a city ruled by glittering wealth and oppressive religion—a masterful debut steeped in atmosphere and shimmering with mystery, in the tradition of Emma Donoghue, Sarah Waters, and Sarah Dunant.
“There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed . . .”
On a brisk autumn day in 1686, eighteen-year-old Nella Oortman arrives in Amsterdam to begin a new life as the wife of illustrious merchant trader Johannes Brandt. But her new home, while splendorous, is not welcoming. Johannes is kind yet distant, always locked in his study or at his warehouse office—leaving Nella alone with his sister, the sharp-tongued and forbidding Marin.
But Nella’s world changes when Johannes presents her with an extraordinary wedding gift: a cabinet-sized replica of their home. To furnish her gift, Nella engages the services of a miniaturist—an elusive and enigmatic artist whose tiny creations mirror their real-life counterparts in eerie and unexpected ways . . .
Johannes’ gift helps Nella to pierce the closed world of the Brandt household. But as she uncovers its unusual secrets, she begins to understand—and fear—the escalating dangers that await them all. In this repressively pious society where gold is worshipped second only to God, to be different is a threat to the moral fabric of society, and not even a man as rich as Johannes is safe. Only one person seems to see the fate that awaits them. Is the miniaturist the key to their salvation . . . or the architect of their destruction?
THOUGHTS:
I've seen this book all over European BookTube, and I've been meaning to pick it up and read it for awhile. While I was on vacation earlier this month, I was able to find it in a used bookstore (an amazing bookstore as well) and finally sit down and read it.
I absolutely love historical fictions books, especially ones that take place in this time period and especially ones that take place in Europe. This book was different though, as it takes place in Amsterdam, so I was extremely excited when I sat down to read it about what I would be able to learn about the city and how the people lived in this time period.
First off, I loved the setting of the novel. Amsterdam is one of the top places that I want to travel to one day and I just gathered up as much as I could about the city and about the houses and places in it. The description of the city was just beautiful, and I loved how the buildings and rooms were described throughout the entire novel. It just makes me want to travel there even more now!
I also loved the characters in the novel. I found some to be a little frustrating at times, but as the novel progressed you learn why they are the way they are. I also loved how each character was so different, and how they each had their own traits and how they all had flaws and vulnerabilities. The author did an amazing job with these characters, because by making them all have such visible (and hidden) flaws, they all seemed to become more real. They were easier to connect with, and to understand.
I also absolutely loved the plot of the novel. The storyline kept building and building throughout the entire novel, and I loved how the end of the book seemed to feel like the climax. So much of the story was spent just building up to the sudden ending, and although I usually like to have more happen after the climax and have things wind down a bit afterwards, I feel that this book could not have been better if that had happened. This story needed to have the sudden climax, the massive building until the very end, and everything that happened in the novel happened exactly where it should have.
The only problem I had with the novel was that some parts of it dragged a little bit more than it should have, but other than that there was nothing wrong with it. The characters were amazing, the plot was wonderful, and the storyline was absolutely perfect.
Overall - ★★★★☆.5
I also absolutely loved the plot of the novel. The storyline kept building and building throughout the entire novel, and I loved how the end of the book seemed to feel like the climax. So much of the story was spent just building up to the sudden ending, and although I usually like to have more happen after the climax and have things wind down a bit afterwards, I feel that this book could not have been better if that had happened. This story needed to have the sudden climax, the massive building until the very end, and everything that happened in the novel happened exactly where it should have.
The only problem I had with the novel was that some parts of it dragged a little bit more than it should have, but other than that there was nothing wrong with it. The characters were amazing, the plot was wonderful, and the storyline was absolutely perfect.
Overall - ★★★★☆.5
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