"The Miniaturist" by Jessie Burton

There is no simple way to describe this book. Set in Amsterdam in late 1600s, the book follows young Nella Brandt who arrives at the house of her new husband, a wealthy merchant named Johannes. Nella is overwhelmed and confused by what she encounters in her new house: her husband is distant, her sister-in-law is arrogant and seems to be in charge of the entire household, and the servants are independent-minded and outspoken. She feels lonely and sad until her husband purchases her a cabinet house - a miniature replica of their life. The cabinet has an eerie resemblance to their actual house and is populated with miniature dolls that look exactly like the actual members of the Brandt household. With each package, the miniaturist seems to either be predicting what's to come or revealing secrets hidden behind the closed doors of the Brandt household.

I went into this book knowing close to nothing about the plot. In hind side, it was the best way to read this book, in my opinion. The story is not fast paced, but as it progresses new shocking information is revealed about the life of the Brandt household. The atmosphere of the 17th century Holland is recreated perfectly. The outward piety and religious fervor of citizens are just a cover for greed, intolerance and hypocrisy. The plight of women during that period is very well described. As I read the book, I couldn't help but wonder what it must have felt like to be shut up in the house, being good only for birthing children, and having no other prospects in life. The female characters in this book are all extraordinary: strong, smart, compassionate, and yet completely dependent on men. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to all fans of historical fiction.