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 societymore 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. In retrospect, we realise the identity of the very first character we meet in the church. And will she be the key to their salvation or the architect of their downfall. Petronellas cabinet house was elaborate, gilded with silver and inlaid with tortoise shell, but this was not a unique purchase for a woman of her time.
Reading guide for the miniaturist by jessie burton discussion guide for book clubs. 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. The miniaturist tv series 20172017 the movie database. As a wedding present johannes gives her a dolls house, a replica of his own home, which she furnishes with beautiful tiny items sent by an anonymous miniaturist who seems to know a lot about the house. The 17th century historical detail was fantastic, if terrifying.
Book in a jar book club open for eeeeveryone good reads group. I love historical fiction and the miniaturist is a small slice of life in 17th century amsterdam. The miniaturist is one of the years most hyped novels, and its easy to see why. The following version of this book was used to create this study guide. Its true that not every mystery is explained and this book is certainly not a. Much of the discussion was spent asking questions about aspects of the plots and. An international bestseller, it was the focus of a publishers bidding war at the 20 london book fair. The miniaturist is that rarest of things beautifully written, yet also a compelling pageturner. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the miniaturist. On september 12th, i had the opportunity to meet jessie burton, debut author of the miniaturist at the barnes and noble in tribeca. Book club questions for the miniaturist by jessie burton. But her new home, while splendorous, is not welcoming. The miniaturist by jessie burton is a book that almost defies explanation. Watson, new york times bestselling author of before i go to sleep.
Adapted from jessie burtons internationally bestselling novel, the miniaturist, a ravishing threepart period thriller, premieres sunday, september 9, 2018, 98c on masterpiece on pbs. Watson, author of before i go to sleep a fabulously gripping read that will appeal to fans of girl with a pearl earring and the goldfinch, but burton is a genuinely new. The miniaturist, the millioncopy bestselling debut novel by jessie burton is available in paperback and as a tvtie in edition now. Rarely is a movie as good as a good book but this 3part miniseries was not only true to the book gripping, suspensefilled, moody, unpredictable it was as. The miniaturist is a fascinating mix of real creepiness and surprising bravery, all set in amsterdams socalled golden age, when the city grew fat on trade with the far east. Any page references refer to a usa edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions. You can buy it here well get together to discuss it the first week in march. The miniaturist is that rarest of thingsbeautifully written, yet also a compelling pageturner.
If you were nella and had to take up her role at the end of the book, what. 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. The miniaturist by jessie burton literary transgressions. To furnish her gift, nella engages the services of a. Book club questions for the miniaturist by jessie burton december 17, 2014 books december 2014 historic fiction jessie burton richard and judy what a haunting, atmospheric and richly layered story jessie burton has woven in this wonderful novel. We all decided we enjoyed watching petronella becoming such a strong woman who really tried her best given the circumstances to protect her family. Our may book club was on jessie burtons the miniaturist read back our lively discussion by hitting the tab above or clicking here.
Like nella in the miniaturist, the real petronella oortman ordered a cabinet house to be made in 1686 to the exact scale of her own home. The cast of the miniaturist share their experiences filming the show duration. 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. But for those of you who have avoided looking at the bestseller lists for the past few months, heres a quick summary. Like i said, it isnt something i usually would have picked, but i guess thats the point of being in a book club. This article is within the scope of wikiproject novels, an attempt to build a comprehensive and detailed guide to novels, novellas, novelettes and short stories on wikipedia. The miniaturist is narrated by a thirdperson narrator who has insight only into nellas thoughts and feelings. Last week i met up with the cambridge book club for the first time. Yes, sandra, it was marins funeral, narrated by the miniaturist. Reading guide for the miniaturist by jessie burton bookbrowse. Its a tragic story of love, sin, betrayal, and revenge, and it will linger in my mind for days to come. 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 two part adaptation of the miniaturist, starring romola garai and anya taylorjoy, airs on bbc one at 9pm on 26th and 27th december 2017. Nella arrives in amsterdam to begin a new life as the wife of illustrious merchant trader johannes brandt.
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 book up for discussion this month was jessie burtons the miniaturist. Reviews arent meant to be like your book report from grade school. At the end of it, i closed the book, leaned back, and felt utter blankness.
As i loved reading her debut novel about a high middle class. It can still be seen today in the rijksmuseum in amsterdam. Richard and judy book club questions for the miniaturist by jessie burton. A woman moves to live with her new husband in 17th century amsterdam, but soon discovers that not everything is what it seems.
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. This way anyone who couldnt be there, can still join in with the fun. This was an interesting discussion point within the group. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Rad book clubs latest meeting was about the miniaturist.
As announced back in january, our first book is the miniaturist, the bestselling debut novel by jessie burton and winner of all sorts of awards including the waterstones book of the year 2014. More, unsolicited items follow, including figurines of marin and johannes. 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. Beautiful, intoxicating and filled with heartpounding suspense, jessie burtons magnificent debut novel the miniaturist is a story of love and obsession, betrayal and retribution, appearance and truth. On a brisk autumn day in 1686, 18yearold nella oortman arrives in amsterdam to begin a new life as the wife of illustrious merchant trader johannes brandt. Book club questions for the miniaturist by jessie burton whsmith.
Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of ecco. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. She was in conversation with a blogger, maris over at slaughter house 90210. Cambridge book club the miniaturist jade the obscure. Johannes seems unwilling to consummate the marriage, and. I have to say i wasnt planning to read this one, and the woowoo seemed forced and unnecessary. We also discussed the whole aspect of the miniaturist and why she was in the book at all. The miniaturist by reading guidebook club discussion. Discussion questions the questions below were kindly submitted to litlovers by joanna brown and wendy mazenauer, who developed them for their book club discussion.
This book is not for readers who like fast action but in its own way, its a page turner. It was acquired by picador in the uk for a six figure sum and went. Add the shows you like to a watchlist and let the site take it from there. A tense bbc period drama featuring an excellent anya taylorjoy performance. Indeed, you might say youve come to the old curiosity shop and found jane eyre in there. Last year, 33yearold actressturnedauthor jessie burtons debut novel, which she wrote while working as a jobbing secretary, stormed the bestseller charts. I liked the book, did see the homosexuality angle coming seems like ive seen that a lot in the past couple of years but dont ask me where was surprised by the pregnancy and by the father. That is true of the miniaturist by jessie burton, a debut which is now being released or eagerly anticipated all over the world.
But nellas world changes when johannes presents her with an extraordinary wedding gift. So, here we go, the first ever rock my style book club meeting. Only one person seems to see the fate that awaits them. Johannes is kind yet distant, always locked in his. The miniaturist was a book club pick and probably not something i would have picked up ordinarily. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. The miniaturist is the 2014 debut novel of english actress and author jessie burton. As i had already read the novel about a week or two previously, i was familiar with the chapter she chose. Johannes is always locked in his study or at his warehouse office, leaving nella alone with his sister. Our may book club was on jessie burtons the miniaturist read back our lively discussion by hitting the tab above or clicking here a bit about the miniaturist. Though the miniaturist was a bit out of my comfort zone, im so glad i got the chance to. Its haunting, magical, and full of surprises, the kind of book that reminds you why you fell in love with reading.