Come and chat to Sunday Times Number One bestselling author Jessie Burton about THE MINIATURIST, Weds 25 Feb 9-10pm

[TillyMumsnetBookClub]

Chances are you will immediately recognize the sumptuous cover of our February Book of the Month - THE MINIATURIST is one of the fastest selling debuts of the decade, clinching the top spot in the bestseller lists and winning a National Book Award. Set in seventeenth century Amsterdam, it is the story of freshly-married country girl Nella who arrives in her new townhouse to find a cast of strange characters. Johannes, her wealthy merchant husband, takes no interest in her, apart from giving her a miniature version of their opulent home. When Nella starts to fill it with tiny replica furniture, strange packages begin to appear, and the dolls house becomes an odd crystal ball that seems to foretell the fortunes of the house's occupants. As Mumsnetter tripfiction put it, ‘do you like The Girl with the Pearl Earring and Tulip Fever? (loved both myself). In which case I think you would love the Miniaturist’.

You can find out more on our book of the month page, where you can also win the chance to receive one of 50 free copies - go to the book of the month page to fill in your details. We'll post on the thread when all the copies have gone. If you’re not lucky enough to bag one of those, you can always get your copy here

We are delighted that Jessie will be joining us here on Wednesday 25 February, 9-10pm to discuss The Miniaturist, her tips on writing plus much more. Please feel free to discuss the book here throughout the month (avoiding spoilers if possible) and then come and meet Jessie on the night, and ask her a question or simply tell her what you thought of the book. Look forward to seeing you on the 25th.

I'd be interested to know if the 'real' Oortmans have been in touch and, if so, what do they think of the book?

I have lots of other questions about creating fiction around individuals who can no longer have a say in what you do with them, but hopefully someone else will ask those as we can only raise one point!

I loved it. Very different and I was lost in the time and atmosphere of the piece. What a debut.

I really enjoyed the book (read it this month by coincidence)

The questions I wanted to ask have already been asked - I would love to know whether the miniaturist will go elsewhere and weave her magic in another way (assuming it was magic and she wasn't just really perceptive)

I knew nothing about this period in history but found the book very evocative. Rooted for Nella the whole way through, and never found it in me to dislike Marin for which I was glad in the end!

I read this book over half term at our holiday home and I've never looked so forward to getting into bed! The weather was quite stormy and I would sneak off up to our little loft bedroom with the wind howling against the window, snuggle up under the duvet and become totally lost in the story (until my hubbys grumpy protests about needing the light switched off became too much!)
Jessie's writing of Amsterdam in the 1600's was, I felt, an amazing feat. I felt like id been transported there myself, the detail was so intricate. the characters personalities are so rich, they come to life on the page. Nella is a brilliant heroine- likeable enough that we are engrossed in her story and rooting for her to the end but also flawed enough to make her very human and relatable. I am 35 years old but I really related to her youth and inexperience, that feeling of being old enough to marry and morph into all the trappings of adulthood but with scant idea of what exactly you are supposed to be doing!
I was initially disappointed with the ending but I felt the Author wanted us to think about what happens next for ourselves. My own view is that nella starts out as a young and inexperienced pawn in a life that others seem to have invented for her, by the end that has changed (I don't want to put any spoilers in) and she has gained some vestige of power. She has realized her ability to take charge, that she is not as weak as she first thought. In short, she has grown up. I feel the message of the story is that there is no such thing as fate, and we must take control of our own lives. Of course I might be completely wrong!
I would like to ask Jessie:
How did you manage to write such an intricate account of Amsterdam in that era? Does Amsterdam hold any particular significance for you? And what was it that sparked the idea for the story?
Also, at the end of the book it was actually baby Thea I felt most worried for, I was lying in bed fretting about her future! So put us out of our misery and let us know "will there be a sequel"? Surely there is so much more life and room for exploration left in this story?

I wouldn't have chosen this book from the cover, title and description as it sounded so dull, but I decided to take a chance on the audio book. The Audible version is read by the author and it was great. No silly voices that you get with some audio books - just simple and eloquent reading. Being narrated by the author of course, the pace, emphasis and pronunciation were spot on. I very much enjoyed hearing about Nella and seeing her mature from a child and dealing with problems that life throws up. For me the character of the miniaturist was unnecessary and it was The dynamics between child bride Nella and her sister in law Maris, that fascinated. Some of the scenes later in the novel (no spoilers) were very emotional.

I loved this book and couldn't put it down.I had to go back and read the beginning again, and a week on from finishing it still find myself trying to understand the miniaturist. I'm assuming that was your intention - to leave us guessing - but do you have/ did you have from the start a very clear idea in your mind how/why the miniaturist did what she did? And if so are there clues we are meant to find which would help us understand, or is the fact that there is no explanation, logical or otherwise, what you wanted the reader to understand.

Thanks so much for coming to talk to us and congrats on a fab book, I'll be recommending it to all.

Hi Carrie,

Thanks so much - really looking forward to coming back later to answer all these brilliant questions!

All best
Jessie x

Good to see a guest being keen. Wouldn't be thinking of HH, oh no.

I loved the book. Lots of good questions above about storyline.

For me, the sense of place and time was quite compelling.
Did you spend much time in modern Amsterdam to get a good feel for the place and its history or was that all down to research from other sources ?

Hello,

I really enjoyed this book and we have chosen it for our school mum's book club this month too. It was a real page turner and very absorbing. But I must ask, the miniaturist. What happened to her? I am not sure I fully understood her character.

And also, would Nella and the baby face a very unstable/unsafe future? I was worried about this as an ending given the time and period. Should readers concern themselves with this or did you feel it doesn't matter? Many thanks and hope you enjoy the webchat.

Thank you for taking time to talk to us Jessie. Can I ask if you get time to read which authors you enjoy and what you are reading at the moment?

I loved the book. Thanks so much Jessie.

I have an oddly specific question, though. At what stage in the writing process did you decided to describe the funeral at the beginning? It didn't mean a lot to me when I first read it, and didn't really grab me at all. I was pulled in much more as soon as you started describing Nella in the first "real" chapter.

Like others, I would love to know more about how you did your research and the process of putting your novel together.

@ArgyMargy

Agree the end was disappointing. I've felt this before sometimes with novels as though the author has almost got a bit fed up and just ends it without really thinking about it. I loved the way she writes and the development of the characters. Just the poor finish was a let down.

Ah, I’m sorry you feel this way! I didn’t get fed up – I promise! Everything that has been left or taken out was entirely deliberate. I appreciate a rounded-off ending is often more satisfying, but for me, the miniaturist had to remain an enigma. Thank you so much for reading it though.

@hanbee

I loved this book and read it in 48 hours! I agree that the ending of the mystery was disappointing but the ending for the family of characters was much more important for me.

Thank you – I have to agree! I am happy to leave the mystery hanging. I find life a bit like that…but for me it was important to come full circle with Nella and her new, fragmented family by the end. Nella is a miniaturist too – finally in control of her own, messy life. The miniaturist has taught her (or Nella’s worked it out for herself) that solid flesh and blood is what matters most, not what you might think you’ve seen out of the corner of your eye…

@mrscumberbatch

On a more upbeat note- if she were to write another book focusing on said Miniaturist... I'd read it.

I think as a character she was too incidental whereas she should have been the focal point.

All in all, well crafted and, again, cannot fault the subject matter, characters etc but I just want more from it.

Thank you for reading – it always interests me when readers feel they want more from the miniaturist – for me, she would never have been the focal point. For Nella, who pursues the miniaturist with a fever, thinking she has all the answers, this kind of makes the reader do so too. But Nella has it wrong – the answers lie in herself, not in someone else. The miniaturist will never be truly solved, and I can understand that when one character has invested so much belief in her, this might frustrate.

Thank you very much for my copy MN.
Hi Jessie. Please can I ask if you particularly enjoy history/historical fiction?
Also I am, like others, fascinated by your research process. How did you go about it? Was this plot something that you considered for a long time before you decided to write or was it a sudden flash of inspiration? Finally, if you are not doing a sequel, would you write another historical book?

@DuchessofMalfi

I finished reading it yesterday afternoon, and am already missing it :o

First off, I would like to say how much I enjoyed reading The Miniaturist. I couldn't put it down, and just wanted to keep reading it. I loved it. It held my interest right from start to finish. It really showed that a lot of research had been done into 17th Century Amsterdam, and I found that fascinating (want to know more about it now!)

So, my question(s) for Jessie Burton are -

(Apologies if I'm plot spoiling for anyone - don't read on)

1. I found Johannes' fate really upsetting - did you come across many real life records, during your research, of this happening? It was brutal, an incident of cruelty inflicted by man upon man allegedly in the name of religion. I kept hoping that there would be a way round it. So sad.

1. Were miniature houses often given to brides upon marriage as a way of teaching them how to manage their new home? Was it a fashionable status symbol amongst the wealthy merchants' wives, as implied here - something to boast about the cost and the materials involved in the making?

Curious that they were seen to be so controversial - subject to an arbitrary banning, for claims of papist idolatry

1. I loved that the miniaturist could use such a house to influence people's lives. I couldn't decide whether she was a visionary or merely a spy, or perhaps a bit of both. I like a bit of mystery, but would have liked to have had more about her in the book. So, do you plan to use her again in a future novel? Or maybe one completely about her? I was left wanting to know more.

1. It is horrible, from beginning to end – both the accusation and the punishment. I did indeed find that at the end of the 17th and through to the mid 18th century in Holland, sodomy was pursued with rigour, and was punishable by drowning in the sea or the river. It was a symbolic death. These men were considered to be going against the civic mores that kept society in tact, so they were punished by the very water that brought trade and money and success to the city. I did want Johannes to survive, very much. But that would have been unrealistic. You know, it might not always have been a religious concern – it might have been more that these men undermined the ‘fabric of society’ – family was so important for carrying on the ‘strength’ of the republic, and at that time gay men would have been seen to subvert that to an unacceptable degree.

1. They were more commonly given to young, middle- and upper-class girls BEFORE wife- and motherhood, to teach them how to manage a household. But some of the pieces were so intricate and valuable they did become adult collector pieces and an absolutely means to show off wealth and status. ‘Look! I’ve got so much money and can have my silver goblet shrunk to a completely useless size!’ etc etc. I was more interested in the use of the house as a form of self-expression for Nella – she is offended because she thinks she’s too old for this kind of thing, but she ends up being drawn to its storytelling qualities.

Curious that they were seen to be so controversial - subject to an arbitrary banning, for claims of papist idolatry

Yes – this is a reflection of the Calvinist streak that survived into the late 17th century in Holland – no idols! They did really ban gingerbread figures and dolls!

1. Yes – the miniaturist does seem to frustrate some readers in this regard (!) – who was she, why was she doing this? Your stance is pretty much mine – she is a bit of both. She is what you make her to be. Our perceptions of the world are so different, person to person. The world is not objective; we interpret it as we see fit. The character of the miniaturist is an opportunity for me to meditate on religion and faith, I suppose. Nella, in her weakest points, feels that the miniaturist is strong, holds all the cards, the key to her future. The truth is, Nella holds all that. She is the miniaturist of the story, not Petronella Windelbreke. Petronella Windelbreke is a talented, restless, rebellious woman who wants to teach Nella that she can be the architect of her own fortune. The two Petronella’s are not that unalike. Petronella Windelbreke is observant and sees things that are under people’s noses. Nella, in her chaos, can’t do that, so she misses so much. Like you say, the miniaturist is a visionary, not a witch. She doesn’t have ‘magic powers’. There’s no magic involved here, it’s educated conjecture.

As to writing about her more – it is interesting for me to see where the pressure will lie. To be honest, I feel that I know exactly why Petronella Windelbreke is who she is, and I don’t know if there’s a book in it. I have thought of setting a book around her, but I like the mystery of leaving her alone. I like that she exists on the liminal edge of things, even whilst being the beating heart of this book. I am more interested to see what lies in store for Cornelia, Nella, Otto and Thea….

Evening everyone

Firstly, thank you to all those who have posted their reviews and thoughts so far. It is always fascinating to see how a book evokes different responses.

I’m delighted to welcome the tremendous Jessie Burton to Bookclub this evening.

Jessie, thank you very, very much indeed for giving us your time tonight. And congratulations on your National Book Award and your terrific debut novel. We have a fair few questions to get through so I'll just add the standard Mumsnet ones that we like to ask all our authors...

What childhood book most inspired you?

What would be the first piece of advice you would give to anyone attempting to write fiction?

What is the best book you’ve given someone recently?

And the best you’ve received?

Over to you...

Hello and thank you for coming to talk to us about The Minaturist.

Initially I struggled with the book- I have never read a novel that historial and set in another country as well and so I found it quite hard to get my head around. As the book went on though, I got totally absorbed into it. I especially liked the brilliant character of Nella from a girl to a (strong) woman- it was excellently written and described.

I am most intrigued about the photo at the beginning of the book of "Petronella Oortman's cabinet house, The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam". Was Nella a real person? Did you find out much about the real person in your research? Did you come across the cabinet house in the museum and were inspired accordingly or had you already had the idea of the Minaturist and came across the one in the museum (and therfore Nella's name) during your research for the book?

@MovingBack

Thank you to Picador/Mumsnet for sending me a copy of this book. I received it last week and read it in one day - I LOVED it! The quality of the writing itself is superb, such beautiful prose. And the content is utterly compelling. The author has evoked the time and place incredibly well - I was completely immersed in 1680s Amsterdam. Also the characters are very well drawn - it is a huge achievement that the characters, particularly Nella and Marin, develop in such a short space of time but in an utterly convincing way. As if that's not enough there is so much to the story, both the main story regarding the miniaturist and several other themes as well - religion, marriage, town vs country, public/private lives to name but a few. It's definitely one of those books that you race through to discover the story and then re-read to savour the prose and mull over the multiple themes. In short, a triumph of a first novel! Well done Jessie, I look forward to reading your next book

Thank you so much for these kind words. I am delighted you felt this way. Always so lovely to know!

@DontWorryBaby

Thoroughly enjoyed this book and grew very fond of Nella who matured as the story progressed. Despite the tragedies, the ending left me feeling hopeful for Nella as the woman of the house meeting her responsibilities. I'd love to know if you are planning a sequel or if this is a standalone novel?

Thank you – my whole intention was for hope at the end. There IS a chance of happiness, I just know it. The book starts with Nella entering the house, the book ends with her entering the house again, as a changed woman. (I love Nella btw). Now, as to sequels, I did not plan to, as some people have suggested BUT now I’ve had some time away from Holland 1686, I am quite interested to see how young Thea fares…..watch this space!

@TillyBookClub

Evening everyone

Firstly, thank you to all those who have posted their reviews and thoughts so far. It is always fascinating to see how a book evokes different responses.

I?m delighted to welcome the tremendous Jessie Burton to Bookclub this evening.

Jessie, thank you very, very much indeed for giving us your time tonight. And congratulations on your National Book Award and your terrific debut novel. We have a fair few questions to get through so I'll just add the standard Mumsnet ones that we like to ask all our authors...

What childhood book most inspired you?

What would be the first piece of advice you would give to anyone attempting to write fiction?

What is the best book you?ve given someone recently?

And the best you?ve received?

Over to you...

Hi Tilly!
Thanks so much for having me.

My childhood book which most inspired was A Traveller in Time by Alison Uttley

First piece of advice? Take it slow. Do it in pieces, try not to write a whole book, all at once...

Best book I've given someone recently: Dept of Speculation, Jenny Offill

Best received: What I Loved, Siri Hustvedt

@booksandwool

I thought the setting was very well drawn and am intrigued to know whether the author was interested in Amsterdam in this period, then decided to set a book there, or came up with a plot, and then chose this place and period.

Thank you. I actually had no prior interest in Amsterdam until 2009, when I went there on a trip. I saw the 1686 dolls’ house in the Rijksmuseum that did actually belong to Petronella Oortman. When I found out that it cost the same as real house AND that she’d shrunk her real house to miniature, AND that it took her 19 years to fill it, then I was really intrigued. Why did she do that? I thought Amsterdam was a very interesting city – a real mix of the old still alive in the new - and I was completely fascinated to read about late 17th century merchant life. Their preoccupations (money, travel, trade, wealth, luxury, silks, spices, music etc) and their fears (hell, drowning, homosexuality, single women(!) etc), struck a perfect chord in the symbol of this dolls’ house, and it went from there. It was a perfect city to explore a secretive world.

Hi Jessie,

I absolutely loved your book - I gushed about it further up on this thread!

I'd love to know how you started writing - did you do any courses? Your writing is so accomplished and as an aspiring writer I'm very envious!

Also please say there will be a sequel or another book soon

@gingercat12

I read it last week. My family did not like it. They said I kept hiding from them, got up early and went to bed late and generally ignored them while reading. It is probably true. Totally engrossing. As soon as it is published on my native language (in March) I'll order it for my Mom .

Will you continue the story or is it up to our imagination to guess what happens next?

Ha! Apologies to your family and thank you for reading.
I am thinking of writing a sequel, but I am not sure yet what are of the book I am going to use as my jumping-off point. I am curious as to what happens to Thea next…