It is time for another edition of Beth Ann’s Book Reviews here on It’s Just Life. I love a good novel and this one, written by local author Katherine Scott Crawford, is one that will stick with me for a very long time. I was able to go hear Katherine (Katie) do a presentation at our local library about her process in doing research for the book and I loved hearing all of the details that went into the writing of her novel. She is an exceptional speaker and her presentation was really well done . I had decided to wait to read the book until closer to book club time so had not read it when I went to her presentation at the library and it worked to my advantage.
Our lovely local bookstore, Highland Books, hosts book clubs every Wednesday and Katie’s book was our selection this week. I was able to attend the discussion and then afterwards Katie showed up to talk with us further about her book, answered questions and was her lovely self. What a treat. (Katie is in the middle not holding her book).
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So what did I think about the book? I loved it. It surprised me how much I loved it. Below is my review. I highly recommend it so stop at your local bookstore and get a copy today. You won’t be sorry.
Reading The Miniaturist’s Assistant is like taking a mini vacation. It truly was an escape into a world of mystery and intrigue. Throw in a little time travel, romance and a dual time line and author Katherine Scott Crawford has crafted an incredible journey for any reader who is game to open the cover of her beautifully written book.
I always love to support local authors and when I heard that one of our own Brevardians had written another book I was all in and rushed to buy my own copy as soon as I could. I loved everything about this book from the beautiful cover to the unique voice that the author has. I am not a lover of either time travel novels or dual timelines but I was hooked once I started reading. The chapters flowed seamlessly, the characters were vivid (Oh Toliver —how I wish you were real), and the writing was flawless.
Historical novels are a genre I love to read and it was so evident that author Katherine Scott Crawford did her research. I knew nothing about “miniatures” and the artists that crafted them and after reading this book I am ready to hop in the car and go visit the Gibbs Museum in Charleston to see their collection. Crawford ‘s writing is so engaging and so thorough that I felt that I actually knew what a conservator does by the end of the book –something that I know she spent hours upon hours learning about herself in order to complete this novel.
So what about the time travel and the dual timelines? It worked! So well. And perhaps some of the unexplained things that happen in the book are just that –things that can not be explained and don’t need to be. An air of mystery perhaps?
Charleston is the focus of many novels but this one took me down those alleys that I have walked and reminded me of a city that is full of history –both good and bad —and the author did not shy away from writing about some of the darker parts of the city.
Kudos to Katherine Scott Crawford for a truly wonderful book that held my interest from page to page and will stay with me for a long time. A wonderful book that is sure to charm others as it charmed me.
Connect with Katherine in the following places:
