The Miniaturist follows eighteen-year-old bride, Petronella “Nella” Brandt as she adjusts to married life in 1600s Amsterdam. Her husband, Johannes, is kind but distant, charming but elusive and rarely present in her daily life. Marin, Johannes’ sister, who is devoutly religious, further drives a wedge into their marriage with her unsettling closeness to her brother and seemingly haughty nature.  
 
As a wedding present, Johannes gifts Nella an extraordinary but impractical doll cabinet that he tasks her with furnishing. When she commissions furnishing from a local miniaturist, she receives more than she bargains for when extra items are sent with an unnerving similarity to real life.
 
The novel is a slow burn that is well worth the four-hundred page read. Burton is one of those precious writers of whom reading their work is a joy and pleasure of its own. She will also have you analyzing every scene and sentence, looking for clues. Although the story is branded as a mystery, at the heart of the story are the deeply flawed characters who are each self-serving towards their own interests. This conflict makes for a gripping read as do the social and religious hypocrisies highlighted throughout the novel.  

Do you want to be happier? Of course, you do. Everyone wants to be happy. But what is happiness, exactly? And how can we achieve that in our everyday life? These are some of the questions that historical biographer, Gretchen Rubin seeks to answer in her book, The Happiness Project.


After a bus-ride epiphany, Rubin decided she would embark on a 12-month quest to become happier and more fulfilled. Beginning with a ‘resolutions chart’, each chapter covers a different area of improvement for the month and within that, simple, tangible steps to achieve that goal. For example, in the month of “Marriage”, some of Rubin’s goals are as simple as ‘quit nagging’ but hold an unexpected weight in communicating and showing affection with your partner. In the month of leisure, some objectives could be practicing yoga or meditation, going on a daily walk, or reading your favorite book.


The casual and personable tone makes it accessible and easy to read, more like a warm embrace than a thoroughly researched book. In addition, although the author referenced many studies and psychological terms, she never goes into enough depth to cite these studies or elaborate on said research. Many readers may be relieved by the lack of psychology jargon although I feel that it might’ve made for a more interesting read. The self-help is not extraordinary or particularly unique, but it can be life-changing to be reminded of the things that we understand deep within ourselves; real happiness and real change is not caused by accident. It is a product of the time, effort, and mindfulness we put in to being content and learning to take pleasure in the small things, both by enjoying these things ourselves and sharing it with others.

“Keep your hands visible. Don’t make any sudden moves. Only speak when they speak to you.” These are the rules a father instructs his twelve-year-old daughter. This is the other talk. Not the birds and the bees but what to do if you’re stopped by a cop. As a black person.   Starr Carter is an ordinary sixteen-year-old girl trying to live between two worlds; her mostly black, lower-income neighborhood, Garden Heights, and the white, affluent Williamson Prep, where she goes to school. However, her life is thrown into a tailspin when she witnesses the shooting of her best friend, Khalil, at the hands of a cop. Suddenly, she is eyewitness to a tragedy that threatens to tear her community apart. She is given a difficult choice – speak out about her experience and take the risk of scrutiny, criticism, and even death threats or remain silent.   Although the book centers around Kahlil’s shooting and the steps necessary to secure justice, it is about more than that. We are introduced to multi-faceted characters with strong beliefs, moral codes, and a sense of identity. Thomas never sacrifices plot for character. However, the sheer number of minor characters can be overwhelming. I found myself flipping back several pages, trying to connect dialogue with names, not remembering who was related to whom and how they were related.  The writing is straight-forward, and the author’s superb story-telling skills shine through her excellent pacing and realistic teenage slang. Most importantly, we become emotionally invested and understand the devastating parallels to the real world. The novel is tragic and inspiring, truly a novel for the 21st century and will have you ready to “use your weapon”, your voice, just like Starr.  • • •
 QUOTES

“What’s the point of having a voice if you’re gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn’t be?”   “Your voices matter, your dreams matter, your lives matter. Be the roses that grow in the concrete.”   “It’s dope to be black until it’s hard to be black.”

The Truths We Hold tells of Vice President, Kamala Harris’ journey from daughter of immigrant parents to the second-highest position in the country. Reading about her parents’ divorce, her mother’s intelligence and service to those in need, and her family’s own community, we learn how Harris was shaped into the inspiring woman she is today. Most importantly, we can see ourselves in her.

The book is not an autobiography in the traditional sense, but Harris weaves in personal narrative with the complex, political reform discussed in the book. Written with an obvious bias toward Democrats, it can feel like preaching but her easy-to-read language and conversational tone help to make it feel more personable. Tough topics are not to be shied away from but embraced – scars and all. In less than three hundred pages, issues from women’s rights to gay rights to the ongoing battle of racism are on the forefront. This is what makes it feel like a book about America. At times, the sheer number of issues can arouse a feeling of shame and hopelessness for our country. It is important to bear in mind that this book was written in early 2019 before the world had experienced COVID-19 and Harris was elected to office. Nonetheless, we are given glimmers of hope not only through the current initiatives that Harris and others are working towards but also reminding us, as individuals, of our own power and impact. Marching in solidarity, peaceful protest, and writing to state legislatures are just a few ways that ordinary citizens have made extraordinary change. Because no matter how bad we may fall, we can always rise back to the top. These are the Truths We Hold.

When her mother dies in a car accident, nine-year-old Beth finds herself an orphan in a strange place, Methuen Home.  She seems to be all alone in the world, but things are about to change when she’s introduced to the game of chess by the orphanage’s janitor, Mr. Shaibel. Gruff but kind, Mr. Shaibel is reluctant to teach her but soon realizes she’s a gifted player. Still, this new-found interest does not save her from other evils, mainly the green tranquilizers she is given daily. Beth eventually grows dependent on them, something that puts her health and chess game in jeopardy.

The idea of the story is intriguing but that is all it is, an idea that falls short of its full potential. Trevis, who himself is a chess player, has an unwavering truth and realism to the game he writes about. Although it can be tedious for readers not familiar with chess, the real failure is his missed opportunity for connection with the characters. When Beth inevitably loses her first match, the story could delve deeper into the significance of this as a reflection of her self-worth and not just her embarrassment in the moment. Instead, readers view the story more as strangers looking in than as close confidantes. This is further exacerbated by sparse and generic descriptions. Despite the novel’s shortcomings, the television adaptation is a good example of a series that manages to add more to the story than was already there. The characters are nuanced and the storylines more developed. Beyond checks, checkmates, and stalemates, we are shown the humanity behind the chess pieces. In the end, both the book and the series share the same idea; that of finding purpose and belonging in the things we love and the people who share our passion.

Bernadette Fox, a once famous architect, lives in Seattle with her tech genius husband, Elgie, and their brilliant teenage daughter, Bee.  A beautiful city, marriage, and child. She seems to have it all. Except, like most people, she really doesn’t. Bernadette’s past trauma and anti-social personality inhibit her daily life to the point that she hires a virtual assistant to run her errands. After promising to take Bee on a trip to Antarctica, she finds herself under increasing pressure and anxiety until she disappears completely. Bee and Elgie must try to find her even with the ever-pervasive distractions of life.

An epistolary novel, the work is as wacky and endearing as it is witty and satirical.  The different formats keep things lively and allow Temple the best of both worlds; first person (Bee) and omnipotent narrative (the numerous emails, hand-written notes, phone calls and faxes exchanged between characters).  The characters are lovable and their sentiments relatable. However, sometimes it seems as if everything but the kitchen sink was thrown into the story only to see if it would work.  It is an experimental novel that doesn’t quite manage to land on its feet.  The ending was satisfactory but the movie adaptation smoothed out the rough edges better.  Overall, a nice weekend read but nothing that will stay long after putting it down.  

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a reader in possession of an intelligent mind must be in want of a Jane Austen novel. From devoted “Janeites” to literary scholars, her stories are as important now as they were when she began, two hundred and ten years ago.

Pride and Prejudice follows the Bennet family in Regency England as they attempt to marry off their five daughters: Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Lydia, and Kitty. No one is more enthralled by the visit of wealthy bachelor, Mr. Bingley, then Mrs. Bennet. Alas, all does not run smoothly. Bingley’s serious and perpetually brooding friend, Mr. Darcy has an agenda of his own.  Matters are further complicated by a nosy, conniving, and utterly enrapturing cast of characters, who are blinded by their own pride and prejudices.

The beauty and complexities of both social structures and interpersonal relationships is what makes the novel remarkable and memorable. Austen wields a sharp pen in her description of social etiquette with a protagonist centuries ahead of her time. The language is precise, sometimes flowery but always eloquent. Although Pride and Prejudice may market itself as a tale of romance, marriage, and even sisterhood, the contradictory and ever-evolving nature of people is the heart of this novel.

Everyone should read Never Split the Difference. There is no negotiating about it. However, that is exactly what former FBI hostage-negotiation, Chris Voss, discusses in his self-help book. Voss introduces us to an empathy-based approach that some of us do unconsciously; forming a connection, a rapport with the person we’re reasoning with. Still others take an old-school I’m-right-and-you’re-wrong approach. Through Never Split the Difference, we discover how negotiating can be applied to our everyday life and dispels the idea that these encounters have to be confrontational.

Concepts such as labeling (identifying and labeling your counterpart’s emotions), mirroring (repeating back their words), and tactical empathy (empathizing to build rapport) are just some of the strategies presented to readers. We also delve into why we shouldn’t aspire for an immediate “Yes” and why the phrase “You’re Right” can indicate underlying problems.

With clear, concise language and real-life examples, Never Split the Difference makes itself accessible for all people and ages. Different ideas and theories are split (no pun intended) into many chapters, each building on one another. I found myself losing the book towards the end, reading the last chapter or two more as an impulsive need to finish what I started rather than the fact that I had to know what happens next. Voss should also be weary of over-promising his strategies. It’s as if he must repeatedly prove his book is worth your time. However, it does hold its own. Beyond just being a guide to negotiation, at its core, Never Split the Difference is about building trust, nurturing empathy, and helping both sides get what they want. For that, it is a lesson we should all strive to learn.

Practice makes perfect. Jonathan Livingston Seagull lives out this mantra every day. Rather than conforming to the eat-sleep-repeat mantra of his fellow peers, he strives for perfection each day.

Jonathan is trapped in a monotonous existence with no real meaning to his life. It’s a problem that we humans all encounter at one point or another. But Jonathan isn’t a person; he’s a seagull and he loves to fly. He loves it so much that he spends his days practicing nosedives, low-flying, and spins among other aerial tricks. All for the sake of perfection.

Bach’s novel is like a stick of dynamite, small and unassuming but has you reveling in its wake. Jonathan learns what it means to limit yourself and the beauty of releasing yourself from those constraints. The wisest stories are the simplest to read and the most complex to understand.  Jonathan Livingston Seagull is no exception.