Joining the Year in Books link up over at Circle of Pine Trees hosted by Laura. If you haven't yet visited or joined the Year in Books it is well worth a visit. Many good books, lovely blogs to find, and Laura welcomes everyone and anyone who wants to join.
For my January read I chose 'The Miniaturist' by Jessie Burton. Set in 17c Amsterdam, it concerns 18 year old Nella Oortman, who has married an older, wealthy, merchant Johannes Brandt. She doesn't know him well; but though nervous, she is committed to the idea of married life. The Brandt household is grand, imposing, but suffocating with secrets. It soon becomes clear that Nella has been selected for her youth and supposed malleability, rather than for any notion of love. The servants seem insolent, with more power than Nella is used to. Her husband's domineering sister, Marin, controls the household, and makes Nella's life difficult. The Miniaturist of the title is a will-o'-the-wisp, a woman who lives nearby and predicts Nella's future via miniature dolls and household objects delivered to the house in mysterious circumstances.
On the whole this book was a disappointment. The opening chapters were intriguing, if slightly confusing in places, but after the 'big reveal' the story lost some momentum. Nella came over as a girl of very modern sensibilities; she didn't have the 'feel' of a period character. The Miniaturist of the title is not, in the end, a catalyst, merely a commentator, albeit with a magical or supernatural bent. Lots of descriptions of food, feasting and cooking, which I enjoyed. I would have liked to find out how the characters coped with their changed circumstances by the end of the book, but the ending was abrupt, leaving many questions unanswered. Not my particular cup of tea, but it was a huge best seller last year, so perhaps I am missing something.
My book this month is 'The Rosie Effect' by Graeme Simsion.
It is a follow up to 'The Rosie Project', which I read last year for my terrestrial book group. The lead character, Don Tillman, is an 'innocent abroad' who sees the world from his singular point of view; missing many of the more subtle nuances of everyday social interactions and relationships, and unwittingly causing havoc. However this is no slapstick comedy. Although there are laugh-out-loud moments on almost every page, Don Tillman is highly intelligent; kind, honest, well intentioned, and keen to find love. The way he goes about the latter provides the plot for 'The Rosie Project' . 'The Rosie Effect' is his further adventures as, now married, he navigates the tricky business of everyday life with the added complication of a wife. I am so looking forward to reading this book.
Incidentally 'The Rosie Project' is a fine example of the power of book groups to open your eyes to books you would never usually select yourself. I was well aware of 'The Rosie Project' but I wouldn't have read it, partly because of the gaudy cover, and partly because it was on every supermarket shelf. (Which I accept is literary snobbishness. Which I deplore. Officially.) However; it was selected by another book group member for discussion, so had to be read, et voila, a firm favourite and one which goes on my list of books to read when you are down/unwell/otherwise requiring a bit of comfort and good cheer.