Readers United Book Reviews | The Collector and The The Miniaturist

In this installment, Ava Hathaway-Hacker '18 returns to share some deeply thought-provoking stories with convoluted themes and plots.

  

The Collector

John Fowles’s The Collector, often hailed as the first modern psychological thriller, explores the frightening product of one man’s obsession. Frederick Clegg is a lonely, uneducated, and antisocial man whose one true passion is his butterfly collection. Lacking social skills, Clegg has little interaction with others and is isolated and removed from the rest of the world. When Miranda, a beautiful middle-class art student catches his eye, he quickly becomes obsessed, unable to approach her and yet desperate to be with her. After winning a large sum of money in the lottery, he constructs an elaborate plan to collect her. He buys an isolated house in the English countryside and, in a way that feels emotionless and even involuntary on his part, kidnaps and keeps her in his carefully prepared cellar. There, Miranda becomes a part of his collection.

The story is told in three parts: The first from the point of view of Clegg, the second from the diary entries of Miranda, and the third again from Clegg’s point of view. Throughout the gripping and disturbing novel, the most unsettling aspect is the way in which Clegg tells it. Removed, cold, and sociopathic, Clegg never realizes that what he has done is wrong. He understands his collections, but not human emotions, and he tells his portion of the story in a detached voice. He seeks to capture the beauty that he is unable to appreciate and collect that which he cannot ever truly possess.

This is a gruesome novel, not in gore or violence, but in its stark exploration of the darkness and coldness of one man’s soul. Clegg is broken and unhinged, and while it is impossible not to despise him, it is also difficult not to pity the harsh and unfeeling way in which he views life. The ending is devastating, taking the story to a whole new level. Dark, sinister, and troubling, this novel will likely haunt you long after you put it down.

Verdict: Fans of psychological thrillers who can stomach a bit of horror will appreciate the gripping narrative and deeply complex characters.

The Miniaturist

Set in 1686, The Miniaturist, by Jessie Burton, tells the story of 18-year-old Nella Oortman, who moves to Amsterdam after being married off to a wealthy and much older businessman, Johannes Brandt. In the Brandt house, where Nella rarely sees her husband, Johannes Brandt’s cold and strict sister, Marin, commands the household. For her wedding, Nella receives an intricate replica of her new home, with tiny miniatures that match almost every aspect of the house. Nella begins requesting replicas of people and things from the elusive miniaturist. But things are hiding under the surface of the Brandts’ life in Amsterdam, and secrets seem to swirl in every corner of Nella’s new life. When they finally come to light, the revelations are shocking.

A detailed work of historical fiction, The Miniaturist tells a complex and interesting story. Yet, despite its intrigue, some aspects of the story fall flat. The beginning of the novel is fast-paced and exciting, but the plot begins to devolve as the novel progresses. The characters are strong and wonderfully developed, yet the title character, the miniaturist, remains a mystery that the story never seems to truly solve.

Despite its flaws, The Miniaturist manages to touch on multiple intriguing topics: racism, sexism, sexuality, societal repression, greed, and many other themes that transcend the story being told. In addition, the writing is beautiful and evocative. Barton tells a captivating story, if not a perfect one.

Verdict: Historical fiction set in the rich and captivating city of 17th century Amsterdam, this novel is easy to get into, yet slows as the story progresses. Those who love to examine the intricacies of society through literature will love the complex themes the author explores throughout this book.