And so, the Miniaturist of the title is engaged to send items to furnish the house and it is then that the mystery and intrigue about this family, and about Amsterdam begins. Nella’s mother had made it clear what a wife could expect from marriage, but Nella’s husband is not interested in her in that way at all, and Nella begins to throw herself into furnishing the wonderful miniature house that Johannes presents to her. The two servants are not how Nella expects servants to be Cornelia is rude and cheeky and Otto is a freed black slave. The Brandt family live their lives very differently, and Marin makes it clear that she is unimpressed by Nella’s aristocratic background.

Marin is a domineering and possessive woman who thinks nothing of constantly interfering in the life of her brother and his new wife. Nella is greeted at the house, not by Johannes, but by his sister Marin and two servants. She has recently married Johannes Brandt, but knows very little about him, having only met him briefly at their wedding ceremony. I don’t think it’s a life changing piece of literature, it’s a best-seller, and as such is quite widely appealing and very readable.The setting is Amsterdam in 1686 and Petronella (known as Nella) has arrived at her new home for the first time. On the whole I really enjoyed the book, I found the storyline intriguing, and once I had started I struggled to put the book down. Travel back to Amsterdam in this unflinching tale of a family’s journey towards freedom in a repressive and judgemental society. Expect to uncover hidden loves, seething scandals, and a mysterious miniaturist who predicts her customers’ future. She soon realises the steps she must take to save the family from ruin. The Brandt household is not all it seems, however, and Nella soon find her new home life begins unravelling around her. Her feelings of isolation are further compounded, by her illusive husbands wedding gift to her, a cabinet-sized replica of her new home. She finds herself, not the mistress of a grand abode, but a stranger in a foreign land. The Miniaturist tells the story of 18-year-old Petronella “Nella” Ooortman, who travels from her humble family home, to a house in the wealthiest quarter of Amsterdam, owned by wealthy Dutch merchant, and Nella’s new husband, Johannes Brandt.Īs she steps beyond the threshold of the Brandt household, Nella is welcomed not by the warm embrace of her new love, but the cold words of Johannes’ sister, Marin, and the immature giggles of the household staff.

But for those of you who have avoided looking at the best-seller lists for the past few months, here’s a quick summary: The book up for discussion this month was Jessie Burton’s The Miniaturist, which, if you live anywhere other than under a stone, you will no doubt be familiar with. Last week I met up with the Cambridge Book Club for the first time.

Book review the miniaturist