Reading guide for the miniaturist by jessie burton bookbrowse. Built around a true historical artifact petronella oortmans cabinet house the novel explores duplicity and truth in a city obsessed with luxurious wealth but ruled by leaders preaching austerity. And i think its also important that the gender of the miniaturist is revealed and given the same name as nella, because it further emphasises this idea of overcoming female oppression. Jun 28, 2014 the miniaturist has a singular and vivid setting, and by rights it should beguile utterly. The miniaturist by burton spoilers page 2 book chat. Cambridge book club the miniaturist jade the obscure. Jun 02, 2015 nella arrives in amsterdam to begin a new life as the wife of illustrious merchant trader johannes brandt. But thats ok, life, and book clubs, would be boring if we all felt the same way about everything. I have to say i wasnt planning to read this one, and the woowoo seemed forced and unnecessary. Reviews arent meant to be like your book report from grade school. Nella arrives in amsterdam to begin a new life as the wife of illustrious merchant trader johannes brandt. Jessie burton is the author of three novels, the miniaturist 2014, and the muse 2016, published in 38 languages, and the confession which publishes september 2019. Jessie burton this is her first novel, and it comes with a great deal of hype, having been sold in 30.
If you and your book group have read the miniaturist and are looking for some questions to kick off your discussion, then youre in the right place. If you and your book group have read the miniaturist and are looking for some questions to kick off your discussion, then youre in the right. The following version of this book was used to create this study guide. But nellas world changes when johannes presents her with an extraordinary wedding gift. Buy the miniaturist main market by burton, jessie isbn.
Nov 15, 2014 yes, sandra, it was marins funeral, narrated by the miniaturist. A monthly book club for all keen readers or anyone wanting to get into reading. We all enjoyed the fact that we were reading about women becoming stronger through the book, while the men in story became weaker and weaker. The miniaturist jessie burton, 2014 harpercollins 416 pp. In april 20 her first novel, the miniaturist, was sold at an 11publisher auction at the london book fair, and went on to sell in 29 other countries around the world. Towards the end, through the miniaturists father, we learn that petronella is not psychic but instead had acute powers of observation and from that comment we can deduce that it is not possible to conceal all behind closed doors. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Please scroll down to the bottom to see the themes and all suggestions welcome. Set in seventeenth century amsterdam a city ruled by glittering wealth and oppressive religion a masterful debut steeped in atmosphere and shimmering with mystery, in the tradition. Some of these events appeared to be predicted by the miniaturist, also called petronella, who provided gifts to furnish the cabinet house. Bloomsbury reading group guides from bloomsbury publishing. This is the reason that the miniaturist was shot in.
As a result, many productions choose to shoot in other dutch cities. Bookclub, jessie burton the miniaturist bbc radio 4. Apr 27, 2015 last week i met up with the cambridge book club for the first time. To furnish her gift, nella engages the services of a. Now a television miniseries, as seen on masterpiece on pbs set in seventeenth century amsterdama city ruled by glittering wealth and oppressive religiona masterful debut steeped in atmosphere and shimmering with mystery, in the tradition of emma donoghue, sarah waters, and sarah dunant. Reading guide for the miniaturist by jessie burton discussion guide for book clubs. In some respects this felt like two separate stories a narrative on minority groups in seventeenth century amsterdam on one hand, and a psychicfantasy mystery on the other. The miniaturist filming locations and mustsee places for. Adapted from jessie burtons internationally bestselling novel, the miniaturist, a ravishing threepart period thriller, premieres sunday, september 9, 2018, 98c on masterpiece on pbs. Set in seventeenth century amsterdama city ruled by glittering wealth and oppressive religiona masterful debut steeped in atmosphere and shimmering with mystery, in the tradition of emma donoghue, sarah waters, and sarah dunant. I based my jenny wrens haberdashery on the pratts store. The miniaturist is that rarest of things beautifully written, yet also a compelling pageturner. If anyone remembers the programme larkrise to candleford which was in the bbc a few years ago believe it is also a book. Jessie burton discusses the miniaturist with james naughtie and a group of readers.
The miniaturist by burton spoilers book chat central. Johannes is always locked in his study or at his warehouse office, leaving nella alone with his sister. Jessie burtons the miniaturist and more the new york times. Although the miniaturist was set in amsterdam, amsterdam is a difficult setting to shoot films in as many of the historic buildings have been modernized. The book up for discussion this month was jessie burtons the miniaturist, which, if you live anywhere other than under a stone, you will no doubt be familiar with. In 2019 we are trying something new and having a monthly theme for the book. The miniaturist is one of the years most hyped novels, and its easy to see why. The world is dancing on the edge of revolution, and nowhere more so than on the greek island of hydra, where a circle of poets, painters and musicians live tangled lives, ruled by the writers charmian clift and george johnston, troubled king and queen of. Oct 01, 2018 keep reading for the miniaturist filming locations in the netherlands.
Jessie burton the miniaturist book trailer on vimeo. The freedom offered to women in being able to walk along the streets of amsterdam, unaccompanied, contrasted with life in london and paris where this was not allowed. Its haunting, magical, and full of surprises, the kind of book that reminds you why you fell in love with reading. Handsome set pieces and exceptional performances help make the miniaturist engaging enough, even if its version of events doesnt quite measure up to. On an autumn day in 1686, eighteenyearold nella oortman arrives at a grand house in amsterdam to begin her new life as the wife of wealthy merchant johannes brandt.
In the miniaturist the insights into the brandt family in the 17th century and the prosperity of amsterdam were fascinating. Jan 04, 2015 this, combined with a racy plot, makes the miniaturist read like downton abbey as told by hilary mantel. Then saw costume cavalcade had the two figures in pink. In this case, the miniaturist was an unknown the whole way through. Laura as this book takes a feminist approach, i think the main role of the miniaturist is to show how nella, a young woman living in a patriarchal society more as this book takes a feminist approach, i think the main role of the miniaturist is to show how nella, a young woman living in a patriarchal society thus, living a life of oppression despite johannes words develops as a. Published august 26th 2014 by ecco press first published july 3rd 2014 more details. Enchanting, beautiful, and exquisitely suspenseful, the miniaturist is a magnificent story of love and obsession, betrayal and retribution, appearance and truth. The miniaturist was a book club pick and probably not something i would have picked up ordinarily. Its 1676 and 18yearold nella oortman arrives with her trunk and her pet parakeet at a stately and beautiful house on amsterdams herengracht.
An intoxicating novel set on leonard cohens hydra in 1960, a place and a bohemian society that has captivated the world for decades. This is jessie burton the miniaturist book trailer by forest of black on vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. Like i said, it isnt something i usually would have picked, but i guess thats the point of being in a book club. The miniaturist of the title is a mysterious woman who seems to know too much about the household.
Meetings on the last sunday of the month usually with 1 new book every month. I had thought the miniaturist would be a central part of the book, but instead she seemed tacked on, a device to make the plot work. The book up for discussion this month was jessie burtons the miniaturist. Jessie burtons debut novel the miniaturist is a fascinating tale of love and secrets set against the backdrop of 17th century amsterdam. This study guide consists of approximately 59 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the miniaturist.
Jessie burton is the author of three novels, the miniaturist 2014, and the muse 2016, published in 38 languages, and the confession which published september 2019 and became an immediate sunday times bestseller. Now a television miniseries, as seen on masterpiece on pbs. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the miniaturist. Finally obliged to become that architect of her own fortune, nella acts to break the miniaturists spell and save everything she holds dear. The miniaturist is the 2014 debut novel of english actress and author jessie burton. The miniaturist went on to sell over a million copies. The miniaturist, in a way, has helped nella, and many more women, to understand that they are the architect of their own lives. Even th her father and his explanation was unsatisfactory for me. I felt that the book promised more than it delivered in the end and would not recommend that highly. Last week i met up with the cambridge book club for the first time.
Dolls house miniature market place public group facebook. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Nella is a young woman from assendelft, a pastoral area of the netherlands. With its oblique storytelling, crescendo of female empowerment and wrenching ending, this novel establishes burton as a fresh and impressive voice. An international bestseller, it was the focus of a publishers bidding war at the 20 london book fair. Click download or read online button to get free download pdf the miniaturist for free book now. Or perhaps the miniaturist could prove actually useful and rescue him somehow. It was published by picador in the uk and holland in jessie burton studied at oxford university and the central school of speech and drama, where she appeared in productions of the house of bernarda alba, othello, play and macbeth.
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