A Review
The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton
I found it initially difficult to get into, the first paragraph didn’t grab me so I found it easier to put down and not go back too. However eventually, I picked it up again and started reading more. By the second chapter it became more engaging and questions started to arise that’s when I became almost attached to the book.
The writing style is easy to absorb, any word that isn’t needed has been taken out making it more concise and direct.
The characters were I felt well developed, there is very little description of the characters which has worked out rather well as it allows the reader to picture how the characters look in their own mind’s eye.
What became abundantely clear is the amount of mystery, which was well managed and brought through the story. It did seem to be very controlled at certain points it was very clear that the writer wanted me to know this piece of information which was perhaps a bit too obvious. It did feel as if you were being led through the story at times, at others it felt like the characters had taken over a bit more which made it more enjoyable. Perhaps if it had been loosened a bit more it would have felt more realistic.
The ending I felt was good, the characters were in completely different situations as to when the story had started which certainly made it feel like you had witnessed their journey. However there were a couple of loose ends, questions still unanswered such as, ‘what does all of this mean for them now?’. Evidently the phrase, ‘Things can change’ meant a great deal to the story, perhaps even the main message of the story. But I wasn’t sure if it was a bit too a simple a phrase for everything the main character Petronella had been through, certainly things do change naturally in life but everything had changed in hers and only at the age of nineteen.
Overall I thought the book was excellent especially as a first novel. The characters were brilliant some more believable than others and certainly some plots more realistic than others. However it all adds to the mystery and to the fact that the main conundrum the one that Petronella was so desperately searching for remains unanswered. Was this a good idea to leave it so open? I’m not sure but certainly if there is a sequel in the works, which I hope there is.
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