“The Miniaturist” - Jessie Burton

 🍬 Magical realism abounds!

🍬 This novel is lush with historical detail about 17th century Amsterdam society and how the machinations of the Dutch East India Company, and Calvinist theology combine to form a volatile brew. Wealth, capitalism, and commerce stand in stark contrast to the austere piety preached by the hellfire sermons of Calvinism - preaching at once to love thy neighbor but also to watch and report their sins, or else the wrath of God will show itself in the form of destructive flood waters. Amsterdam society teeters on a crossroads: worshipping material riches and strict social conformity. 

🍬 Nella, is a young bride arriving in Amsterdam to begin her life as the wife of a powerful merchant. Initially, she is naive and nearly as much of an outsider to the social complexities of Amsterdam as the mysterious miniaturist she contacts. But we soon observe that she is a quick study and picks up all the social dos/don’ts like any native resident.

🍬 The foil to Nella, is her overbearing spinster SIL, Marin. Keenly intelligent, she studies and strategizes to push the family business ahead. But she is hiding secrets, which in this society, is incredibly dangerous.

🍬 The miniature house, a wedding gift/peace offering from Johannes to Nella, comes to be symbolic of the fact that the very underpinnings of Amsterdam society are rife with hypocrisy. The Brandts are eventual victims of the unforgiving norms they themselves uphold.

🍬 The mysterious miniaturist offers clear insight, free of the miasma of Amsterdam society. That is, they seem to evaluate Amsterdam society through the lens of the outsider, unlike nearly every other character in the story who conflate civic-mindedness with reporting on one’s neighbors for every perceived moral transgression (for the greater good).  They can see the decay and rot where others are fooled by a freshly painted facade. 

Unlike what I believe Nella thinks, I don’t view this person as a benevolent force. I view them more as a neutral seer who tells Nella what is, but not what ought to be done about it.