I loved this book. It was mysterious, full of intrigue. You wanted to keep reading to really understand the characters and try to uncover the mysteries.. The overlaying of the miniaturist was a masterstroke. This kept the mystery going throughout. Recommend going back to the first chapter at the end which is confusing when first read. I love historical fiction so enjoyed understanding what made Amsterdam tick during this period. The awkward juxtaposition of commerce and religion and how both seems to underpin everything.

Spiritually close to "The Girl with a Pearl Earring" where Tracy Chevalier got inspired with famous Vermeer painting, "The Miniaturist" was apparently inspired with a real life Dutch dollhouse exhibited in Rijksmuseum that belonged to certain Petronella Oortman. This is where young, pretty actress-turned-writer Jessie Burton started to cook her ideas about the novel set in 17th century Amsterdam - she soaked informations about life back than, how citizens of Amsterdam lived, what they ate, wore, believed in, how did they presented themselves to the outside world and what did they cherish most of all. Burton really makes you feel like you are walking the streets of old Amsterdam with her (she correctly describes right spots in the centre of town, which I found very entertaining as I lived there), you feel the curious glances, hear the smirking comments hidden behind polite facades, taste the salted herring and smell the fog coming from the famous canals. There is a nice little plot involving young provincial bride who was being sent (sold?) by her impoverished family to big city where she starts new life in a outwardly wealthy but actually cold and stern household and if at first story progress somewhat slowly, Burton writes so well that before you know it, you got swept into reading more and more - myself, I gulped it in two readings and it actually became quite gripping afterwards.

Noteworthy are two things: Burton perfectly describes certain mindset of Amsterdam society (and this is not just 17th century but something typical of Dutchmen to this day) where outward propriety and dignity kind of apologizes for accumulated wealth and where strict protestant outlook frowns at anything that shows off the wealth and pleasures (in this case, occupants of wealthy household eat the most simplest and unappealing food in order to please God with their piety, although they could easily afford something decent). Burton also looks closely at the status of 17th century women, who could manage some resemblance of independence only trough intrigues and machinations but always in a shadow of some male member of the family, as themselves they didn't have any official power. As one character in the novel notes, even in the supposedly open minded Amsterdam single woman could not live alone without appearing promiscuous.

So now I know all about life in seventeenth-century Amsterdam. Kinda plodding and dreary.

Amsterdam, a dollhouse, 17th century... I loved so many things about this and loved that the story was so unpredictable. I found the ending a let down - things weren't explained and I question why many scenes were in the book at all. But i really did enjoy the ride.

Meh - not sure what all the hype was about; I found this book to be a bit boring. It starts slow, and never speeds up. The only intriguing part of the book was the mystery of the miniaturist, however, that part of the story never truly wrapped up, therefore left me with a "MEH" feeling. I guess this "historical" novel just wasn't my flavor. Overall, this book left me feeling awful for the people of this time period.

ENDED UP DISAPPOINTING
After a series of more challenging literary works, I decided to take a break with The Miniaturist. To begin with, I became totally engrossed in the novel. I has high hopes of it being a modern day Wilkie Collins. However, by the end I was pretty disappointed because I felt that too many aspects that had created suspense and mystery throughout the story were simply not satisfactorily resolved. I later watched the BBC mini-series that was based on the book, and whilst that also shared some of the inherent failings of the novel, others were addressed and more or less resolved.

I had heard great things about this book but for me it just fell flat. The characters and the plot did not produce any emotion in me what so ever. I told my book club that I hated it, but I don't even think that is true because that would be an emotion. I just didn't like it, however others in the book club enjoyed it quite a bit.

Very readable and vividly drawn with a strong narrative.