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Book reviews from
Chorlton Bookshop
The Miniaturist
Jessie Burton
This debut novel has caused a real stir in
the publishing world. A six-figure deal from
Picador has ensured the level of interest
would be high.
Set in Amsterdam at the end of the 17th
century, the novel follows the fortunes of Nella
and the strange household in which she finds
herself.
18-year-old Nella arrives in Amsterdam, eager
to begin life as a married woman. Expecting
to see Johannes, her hugely successful
merchant husband, she is greeted instead
by Marin, her severe sister-in-law and two
household servants who don’t seem to know
their place. Despite this less than warm
welcome, Johannes does give her a lavish
wedding gift: a beautiful miniature house, a
replica of her new home.
In order to prove to Johannes that
she is capable of running a household
Nella must furnish this little house.
She seeks out ‘the miniaturist’, who
begins to deliver strange parcels
filled with objects that Nella didn’t
commission. He seems to making
predictions about her life that couldn’t
possibly come true… or could they?
Jessie Burton creates a world that
could have come straight from a
painting by Vermeer or Rembrandt.
It’s a dark and mysterious novel that
certainly lives up to expectations.
• Review by Jo Legerton
The Guts
Roddie Doyle
The Guts is a bonus fourth novel in the
Barrytown Trilogy series, which began
with The Commitments.
Now aged 47, Jimmy Rabbitte is facing the
family and health issues that face us all.
Not a very cheery subject for a book, you’d
think, but as ever, Roddy Doyle manages
to find humour in the darkest places.
25 years after introducing The
Commitments to the world, Jimmy is now
working for a company he used to own
with his wife. Life is about to get worse:
he’s been diagnosed with bowel cancer
and he’s got to find a way to tell his wife
and four kids.
Could things get any worse? The
recession is really beginning to bite and
Jimmy’s job is looking uncertain. But,
far from letting it all get him down,
Jimmy does what Jimmy does best: he
hustles. He’s not immune to desperation,
however, and makes some truly
terrible decisions that may well destroy
everything he’s created.
Using mainly dialogue, laced with Roddy
Doyle’s trademark irreverent humour,
helps keep the story pacey
and easy to read. Some familiar faces
from previous books also appear, which
will appeal to fans and make it a mustread.
This can be read as a stand-alone novel,
but why not give yourself a treat and
read the other three books in the series?
• Review by Jo Legerton
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