A review by hannahmayreads
The Naturalist of Amsterdam by Melissa Ashley

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

There is a lot of intricate detail in the Amsterdam sections of the book, and comparatively little about the voyages and Suriname, which I found disappointing. Add to this that beyond her mother, Dorothea's relationships lacked substance. I sensed a reluctance from the author to go to difficult places - there would be a large jump in time and we'd suddenly discover someone had died. Kim, who returns to Amsterdam with the family leaving behind her native Suriname, disappears from the narrative and we don't discover her fate until many chapters later which feels like an afterthought. The same with Philip, and Hanna's departure for Suriname. The sudden time jumps coupled with the slow pace were jarring, and wasn't able to engage with the text. It feels underbaked, lacking in comprehensive depth so I often felt myself drifting away.