Reviews

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

reagansmith120's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

stephen_baird's review against another edition

4.0

I was hooked from the very start, the detail in this book would match the detail of the Miniaturist.

This is, on the face of it, a story of love and marriage in 17th century Amsterdam, between a young, country girl and an older, rich merchant.

Johannes gifts Nella a cabinet-sized replica of their home, and this gradually gets filled with uncannily precise miniatures of their own possession and other facets of their life.

There is tragedy, magic and intrigue throughout this book, following Nella and Johannes relationship, and also the relationships of others around them.

The description of 17th century Amsterdam as a place and a society also rings true, adding to the depth and convolutions of the story.

This was a great introduction to historical fiction for me, and has opened doors to another genre that I had missed out on.

snowsnakes's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

cellocat6's review against another edition

3.0

Compelling story but dark.

missycatarina's review against another edition

3.0

Star-rating: 3.25
Read: September 2023
Favourite quote: I Love you, I Love you. From back to front, I Love you.
Reading Format: Audio

I started reading this on Kindle but struggled to get past the first few chapters, so I switched to Audio.

emybookblog's review against another edition

4.75

Book club book (03 April 24) suggested by me (recommended by Christine T)
set in Amsterdam 
Family drama with sinister aspect to it 
Enjoyed it then read the sequel straight after 

franzcomma's review against another edition

4.0

Curioso, inaspettato e intrigante...

el_bez's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I couldn't put this down. The 17th century Amsterdam setting was beautifully captured by the author's beautiful imagery. Reading this was like watching a Master at the craft of writing and I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

mostruose's review against another edition

3.0

“Il Miniaturista” è un romanzo dalla raffinata ambientazione storica. Peccato che questa ambientazione non abbia trovato la sua strada nel intrecciare quello che è il mistero, attorno alla figura del miniaturista. La casa in miniatura svolge la sua funzione di presagio, che dovrebbe essere un elemento macrabo o quasi horror. Ma questo elemento nella trama viene più sopraffatto dagli accadimenti reali. La protagonista ha dei pensieri a volte ripetitivi e a tratti fastidiosi. Nella è molto ingenua, conforme anche alla sua età. Sebbene il contesto storico si rivela affrofondito e coerente. Il finale al contrario segna una sorta di sparti acque che però sembra interrompersi quando la storia ha subito tanti punti di svolta. I personaggi femminili, ad eccessive di Petronilla, sono personagge molto interessanti.

Sicuramente leggerò il seguito recentemente uscito.

bella_bennett8307's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.25