Overall Rating and Opinion of "The Miniaturist"

Discuss the February 2015 book of the month, The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton.

How do you rate The Miniaturist?

1 star - poor, recommend against reading it
0
No votes
2 stars - fair, okay
12
30%
3 stars - good, recommend it
21
53%
4 stars - excellent, amazing
7
18%
 
Total votes: 40

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Scott
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Overall Rating and Opinion of "The Miniaturist"

Post by Scott »

What is your overall rating and opinion of the February 2015 book of the month, "The Miniaturist" by Jessie Burton? What do you like most about the book? What do you like least? Do you recommend the book for other people to read? Why or why not?

I really enjoyed reading this book. I think the author is a very talented writer and storyteller. I felt it started slow, but then I really got into the story. However, the ending seemed abrupt and unsatisfying to me.

(Don't just vote in the poll; add the book to your shelves on Bookshelves! Here is the direct link: "The Miniaturist" on Bookshelves)
"That virtue we appreciate is as much ours as another's. We see so much only as we possess." - Henry David Thoreau

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Post by gali »

I started it today and hopefully will finish it by the end of the week. I agree about the slow start. It is already on my shelves. :)
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Post by bookowlie »

I just started reading it a few days ago. I agree about the slow start, but it's an interesting read so far.
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Post by ratzille »

I started this book yesterday and haven't been able to put it down for long. It has caught my attention and I can't wait to find out what happens next! The author does a great job of capturing your attention and I feel as if Nella is a friend. I only want the best for her. I don't usually read historical fiction but it seems I have been missing out. I am looking forward to finishing the book and finding out all of its hidden mysteries.

I
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Post by Janiac02 »

I just finished reading it. I thought it was interesting concept, but I was not mentally prepared for the many layers of tragedy. Even still, it was not a chore to pick the book up and read. I agree that the ending was a little abrupt, and left me with more questions than answers.
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Post by TammyO »

I am halfway through the book. Yes, the beginning moved very slowly. However, the pace does pick up as the story progress. I will vote and share my thoughts once I am finished reading the entire novel. I must say that I am really enjoying it thus far.
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Post by BookWorm07 »

I just finished reading it. Around halfway into the book, I had an inkling of how the book would end. But the mystery kept me going on. The writing gives us a feel of 17th century Amsterdam and I liked reading Nella's point of view.
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Post by ananya92 »

I'm halfway though the book. It has quite an interesting concept, though initially it was rather slow. I think make out how the story would proceed. The story has a lot of layers and the author has crafted the background of the story quite well. It is a good read till now.
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Post by gali »

I am halfway through the book as well and enjoy it so far. Overall I don't like writing in the present tense, but here it is done well. I find the miniaturist an intriguing character.
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Post by katryan »

Just got this!! So excited to start reading. How long before the story picks up, since most of you said that it starts rather slow?
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Post by angelbeats1 »

I am about 3/4 of the way through the book. I've definitely waaaaaaayyy worse, but I've also read better. I guess my opinion of this book is neutral.
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Post by SharisseEM »

A good book with amazing descriptions that bring the scenes to life. First part of the book was really interesting and made it very hard to put the book down. Even though I really enjoyed Burton's writing style, the ending was abrupt and left me wishing for more answers but I guess that adds to the charm of the book and the mystery. I liked the buildup to tense moments but then there was no follow up. I get really into it and then it just falls flat. It's still a good book for a debut novel.
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Post by LauraBambrey »

I can't wait to get stuck in to it this weekend- even more so now I've read all of your thoughts!
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Post by gali »

I just finished it and liked it, but the end was indeed abrupt and unsatisfying. There were too many loose threads left untied. I suspected some of the mysteries, while others came as a surprise. For the most part the book lived up to its promise and I found it a great read. I rate it 3 out of 4 stars.
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Post by Fran »

I finished The Miniaturist in the early hours.
An interesting book. On the plus side I appreciated the level of research Jessie Burton did and the detailed depiction of Amsterdam in 1686 with it's oppressive fundamentalism, obsession with sin and a thinly veiled hypocrisy and the insight it gives into the lives of traders and entrepreneurs of the period.
On the negative side I found much of the book stretched credibility and left much unresolved or unexplained. Overall while I liked Nella I just did not find her to be totally credible. I felt she morphed from a wide-eyed country innocent to a knowing street-smart woman, accepting of all the secrets and peccadilloes of her new family much too readily and with little or no conflict of conscience, just did not ring true with me.
That said it is a reasonably entertaining book but I felt the ending was unresolved and ultimately frustrating, she had hyped up the "secrets" and the mysterious happening and then just failed to provide resolution.
IMO an OK read but not one I would be rushing to recommend.
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