Reviews with content warning for Death - The Miniaturist

Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

49 reviews

odds's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

My only previous encounter with Burton's books was reading The Confession which, although enjoyable enough, was more an "I saw a signed book on whim" kind of buy for me and wasn't the sort of book I usually seek out. Perhaps it wasn't the right one to start with. However, I had heard good things about The Miniaturist. My copy of this is pre-owned and a little shabby, but in a way that I think gives it character. I like it when books look well-read.

This is an incredibly well-crafted story about secrets, with a perfect historical setting to clash with the ideas of personal freedom and choice - in Amsterdam - "Where the pendulum swings from God to a guilder". People must live as they're supposed to - observed, like clockwork, all playing a well-oiled part in society. Absences are noted, money powers everything. Entirely deliberate then, I imagine, (small spoiler) that "The Miniaturist" whose presence seems to throw so many lives into turmoil was apprenticed to a clockmaker. It's about appearance warring with desire and reality, the lies and secrets that even the most pious seeming people tell and keep. Mostly a cast of women, it also involves a great deal of frustration at their various places and overall powerlessness in society. You form an opinion of each person, then have it altered by their actions before the end.

It has a sense of mystery which propels a reader through the story. I guessed a couple of the twists, but there are always more to come. You think you've worked something out, but it's a distraction. It's fantastic to read a story that features the figure of a "prophet", when the characters and reader both are often unable to see the warnings until events have already passed.

In short, I thought it was exceptional!

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danikajoan's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Read this during my trip to Amsterdam and really enjoyed reading it within that setting (and gasped when I saw the cabinets at the Rijksmuseum that are so similar to the ones described in the book). I like this specific “young bride, mysterious husband (mean sister)” plot, reminds me of The Mercies and Phantom Thread and so many other stories I love. I felt like the writing here lacked a little bit of focus or direction but not enough to keep me from enjoying the story.

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nicolaparty's review against another edition

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mysterious sad medium-paced

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

2.0

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theneighborhoodbookwyrm's review against another edition

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3.75

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thecozyrogue's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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ok7a's review against another edition

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dark emotional slow-paced

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

3.75

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fbarros's review against another edition

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adventurous reflective medium-paced

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

3.25

A beautifully toned book with a seventeenth century Amsterdam as background.

I was a bit disappointed with the final turn of events as well as the explanation of the main plot though. I also didn't feel very connected to the characters.

However the intigre and the background of the book made it worth my time.

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