The Miniaturist (The Miniaturist, #1) in Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge

Aug 29, 2015 Halsted Bernard rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This was a delightful, delicate read with some dark undertones ... just the kind of book I enjoy. I felt rushed through the middle third of the story, however, and wished for more details about the miniaturist. But perhaps that was the point: the miniaturist was more of a catalyst than a character. Regardless, it was beautifully constructed and I am eagerly awaiting Jessie Burton's next novel. ...more

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Sep 23, 2015 Caroline Donahue rated it really liked it

Honestly, I would give this three and a half. As others said, I couldn't put it down and the writing was quite good. However, there was a building that occurred over the course of the book that made a promise, one that I felt was unfulfilled in the end. I'm not sure if I wanted to be left with more mystery, or if I just felt the way things came to a close was ultimately unsatisfying. I give it four for atmosphere and keeping me up late at night, which is all too rare. ...more

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Nov 17, 2014 Kaitlin rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, historical, female-protagonist

If I could do half stars, this would be a 3.5, better than average, but not as wonderful as I felt it could have been.

The Miniaturist is very well written. The language is beautiful, the characters are round, the setting of 17th century Amsterdam was really interesting. The social structure along with it's challenges, the expectations of people, the wealth, really well without being overdone. I really enjoyed learning about the characters--Nella arrives in Amsterdam wed to a wealthy tradesman sh If I could do half stars, this would be a 3.5, better than average, but not as wonderful as I felt it could have been.

The Miniaturist is very well written. The language is beautiful, the characters are round, the setting of 17th century Amsterdam was really interesting. The social structure along with it's challenges, the expectations of people, the wealth, really well without being overdone. I really enjoyed learning about the characters--Nella arrives in Amsterdam wed to a wealthy tradesman she barely knows named Johannes Brandt. Her father died and left her family with debt, so she is their saviour. Her last name is an old one and is helpful to the brandt family. She is frostily welcomed into his home by his sister, Marin, who lives there and has ruled the roost for awhile. They have a maid / cook who was an orphan, and Johannes' man--a black man he seemingly rescued from a slave ship. They're relatively progressive in that way. There are other tradesmen who Johannes spars with. A family that is trying to have him sell their sugar. There's a woman who creates miniatures for a miniature cabinet that looks just like their home. The miniatures she sends seem to foretell things that are going to happen, eerily. However, her part in the story felt forced at times and it didn't really go full fledged for the magical realism it could have.

The plot was what left me a little cold--I felt like it didn't follow-through on all the promise it had. It almost peaked, but there was no real denouement. Some of the plot felt unearned (view spoiler) And I wish the story started a little earlier and went a little longer. It felt novella-like to me, despite the length of the book.

The world kind of falls apart all around Nella, and while she sort of steps up to the challenge, I wanted to understand a little more of her grit and motivation. Because she's so naive and the story is told from her perspective, we don't get a lot of the depth/motivation behind the other characters that I would have appreciated in the story and might have made it hit closer to my heart.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and thought the writing and characters made it a worthwhile read. It just wasn't memorable. I'll definitely read a second book by this author, good promise here.
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May 21, 2017 Mary rated it really liked it

I was sucked in by the conceit of the doll house as I really like miniatures. As a rule I don't like historical fiction but this book kept my attention. Doll houses, sugar, trade, puritanical hypocrisy......it's all there, and more. ...more

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