The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton | Lifestyle

I have been on a hunt for a new book, I haven't read a good book for quite sometime and for some reason every time I walk into a book shop nothing stands out to me until I stumbled across The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton. 

The blurb reads:- 

"On an autumn day in 1686, eighteen-year-old Nella Oortman arrives at a grand house in Amsterdam to begin her new life as the wife of wealthy merchant Johannes Brandt. Though curiously distant, he presents her with an extraordinary wedding gift: a cabinet-sized replica of their home. It is to be furnished by an elusive miniaturist, whose tiny creations ring eerily true. 

As Nella uncovers the secrets of her new household she realises the escalating dangers they face. The miniaturist seems to hold their fate in her hands - but does she plan to save or destroy them?" 

I like a bit of a mystery, I like to be kept guessing so I was really keen to read this one. So what are my thoughts on this novel? I must admit it's quite a slow start, I mean it's great in the sense it slowly builds up to make sure you have and understanding of the Amsterdam surroundings and the date etc but it was a little too slow for me. You have to read a good half way through the novel before the first secret is revealed. I like the concept of the miniaturist and the dollhouse, it is interesting but I just wanted so much more. 

What this book does really well is the fact it encourages the reader to ask questions, there are lots of little things that don't quite make sense. There are a couple of secrets in the novel that may have not been expected but it's just so slow. I really felt underwhelmed when this book finished, I just wanted it to be a quicker pace and more mystery. The book is set in the 1600s so the secrets that are revealed would have been scandalous back then and it is a sad story but it just wasn't for me. 

Have you read The Miniaturist?

What I'm Reading | Books

I thought I would do something a bit different and show you what books I've purchased and why. I've been spending far too much money on beauty products recently and I realised I haven't read a book in a very long while so I bought two on the famous "buy on get one half price" offer that WHSmith always does. 


The Quick by Lauren Owen

Blurb taken directly from the back of the book: - 

"You're about to discover the secrets of The Quick.

But first you must travel to Victorian Yorkshire, and there, on a remote country estate, meet a brother and sister alone in the world bound by tragedy.

In time, you will enter the rooms of London's mysterious Aegolius Club - a society of some of the richesr, most powerful men in the fin-de-siècle England. 

And at some point - we cannot say when - these worlds will collide.

It is then , and only the, that a new world emerges, one of romance, adventure and the most delicious of horrors - and the secrets of The Quick are revealed."

This book appealed to me for a few reasons actually, the cover is just gorgeous, I mean the black, the white and the red how could you not want to pick this book up? There is something quite deliciously dark about this book actually, lots of secrets and mystery which is what I want in my novels, I want to be guessing until the last minute. I like the fact that it is set in England too and the Victorian era. Also there are some lovely little reviews on this book which just makes me hope that it is just as dark as I imagine.


The Gift of Darkness - V.M.Giambanco

Blurb taken directly from the back of the book: - 

"Last night, a family of four was found brutally murdered, the words "thirteen days" scratched near their lifeless bodies. 

Homicide Detective Alice Madison ran away from home as a child, one breath away from committing an unforgivable act; as an adult, she found her peace chasing the very worst humanity has to offer. Madison believes these murders are linked. And she has thirteen days to prove it. 

To stop a psychopath, Madison must go back into the wood and confront the unsolved mystery of the Hoh River Boys. She must forget her training and flow her instincts to the terrifying end as enemies become allies and, in the silent forest, time is running out to save another life."

I think that this book is a pretty standard detective novel, like many others really. I love all novels like this, bit gory, bit dark, but ultimately the bad guy gets caught. I haven't read anything from this author so I'm quite excited to see what her writing style is like. 

If you have read either of these novels please don't tell me how they end. Thank you!! I may actually review these books after I've read them, we'll see. 

Have you got any book recommendations?

You Came Back by Christopher Coake

Like everyone else, I love a good book, I received You Came Back by Christopher Coake about a year ago when I went to an event it was free in my goodie bag. 

When I first saw You Came Back I knew it wasn't really my type of book, I tend to like novels that have a dark twist within them but this kinda looked like  a relatively light book. I know I know, you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover however the cover is pretty impactful especially when you like a certain genre.

That being said there is a slight darkness in the book, it's all about love and the power of hope.

The story

You Came Back is about a man called Mark who was previously married to a woman called Chloe and had a son with her, the son dies in an unfortunate accident which then ends the marriage as they both realise it's something they cannot move past. 

The novel starts with Mark and his new girlfriend Allison, he is trying to move into his future with his new partner but he meets another lady who will change things forever...

I won't go further because I really wouldn't want to ruin it for people who may want to read it or already be reading it.  

The narrative

I'm quite used to the modern way of writing in the sense that I'm used to duel narrative books, I like it when there are two tones of voice in one book. I like the way some blend from one character to another and  the change in tone, I love it. However this novel is very much told by the author, you don't even really read it from Mark's perspective which is quite rare with novels these days. Though, maybe duel narratives are a type of writing I'm used to with different genres I read. 

My verdict

I read this book in about 4 hours, I read books incredibly quickly. It's not that I skim read them, I can tell you in detail all of the book, but I just have the ability to inhale novels. It's a running joke with my friends.

I'll be honest it's not something I would usually go for but I quite liked it. It didn't have me on the edge of the seat but it was an easy read that made me turn each page. I would read something from Christopher Coake again but the book itself doesn't make my Top 20 list, it's good, it's well written but it's just not a genre I'd ever pick up. 

Have you read this book? What would you recommend from Christopher Coake?