Books
by Jessie Burton
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The Miniaturist |
Seventeenth-century Amsterdam: Nella, married-off to a rich and powerful merchant, is effectively abandoned by him to his austere sister and two faithful servants. His wedding gift of a cabinet-house and the deliveries of curious and prophetic miniatures have a sinister edge. Tantalising, but I felt much was lunexplained and perhaps was just inexplicable. Despite the strong depiction of a heroine who shows herself a match to adversity and lots of promising chapters, I was unsure.
(Rebecca Howell - bwl 78 Autumn 2015) |
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The Miniaturist |
The year is 1686, and the young Nella Oortman has just arrived in Amsterdam to begin married life with her older, wealthy, merchant husband. As a wedding gift, he has given her a cabinet-sized replica of their home on a prominent canal. Nella begins to furnish the replica home with the help of a mysterious 'miniaturist', but as she does, the lives within the real home begin to spiral downward. Life turns surreal, leaving some questions forever unanswered. Magical, and rich in period detail.
(Sharron Calkins - bwl 103 Winter 2022) |
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