The Girl in the Glass - eBook
4.2
5
35
35
Self-Discovery and a History Lesson
Meg, Sophia, and Nora are the main characters of this book. Each woman is from a different generation and each one experienced brokenness in her childhood. It took some time to get into the rhythm of the book with the switches back and forth of which character you are tracking. Once you have the flow figured out, you can anticipate the next chapter of each story. The stories weave together when you consider how each girl was raised. The Nurse in the story deserves a parenting award for her encouragement of the forgotten Nora. Her lessons helped sustain Sophia as well. Meg learns a great deal on her self-discovery trip to Florence and it able to return home with a sense of peace about her father and herself. Not knowing the city of Florence myself, I was intrigued by the abundance of art in one place. I cannot comment on the accuracy of that part, but it made me curious to see the city. The author has written another story of history intwined with the modern day. I enjoy her books because they tell a story and they teach. I would have classified it as historical fiction and not Christian fiction, though.
March 12, 2013
Slow
Marguerite (Meg) Pomeroy was promised a trip to Florence, her NonnaâÂÂs birthplace, as a high school graduation gift, but sheâÂÂs now almost thirty and her father still hasnâÂÂt taken her. Now she might finally be going, and hopes to connect with Lorenzo and Renata DiSantis, the brother-and-sister pair who write and photograph travel books published by her San Diego employer. And she might also get to meet Sophia, their neighbour, a tour guide and would-be author who claims to be descended from the famous Medici family.
Girl in the Glass is written from three perspectives: MegâÂÂs first-person story, the first-person musings of a betrothed girl named Nora, and SophiaâÂÂs memoir. But it took quite a while to work out who Nora was (a long-dead Medici) and what relationship she had with the rest of the story (Sophia claims to hear Nora speak through art works).
This made the story quite hard going at first â in fact, I stopped reading at the 25% mark, because the points of view were confusing, nothing had happened, and I was getting annoyed with Meg moaning about wanting to go to Florence but not doing anything about it (goodness, this is the twenty-first century. Women can travel on their own, even such distances as San Diego to Florence). But I eventually picked it up againâÂÂand had to start again from the beginning, to remind myself what I was reading.
At this point I was thinking that Sophia's memoir was fascinating, a book I'd like to read even though I'm not a fan of art or memoir. Nora's short reflections of her childhood were interesting, even though it wasn't clear how these fitted into the larger story. MegâÂÂs story? Uninspiring. Boring, even. The writing was lovely. But there wasnâÂÂt enough story for my liking (or perhaps it was just that Meg had yet to prove herself likeable). Anyway, I persevered.
Finally, at the 28% point, something happened, and by the 40% mark, Meg was on her way to Florence, and the story picked up pace. Finally. But now I canâÂÂt tell you what happens, because that would be a spoiler. Suffice to say, the second half of the book was much better than the first and the ending was both perfect and unexpected. IâÂÂve visited Florence, and these scenes both brought back memories and made me want to see the city again, this time through MegâÂÂs eyes and with Sophia as a guide.
This book is published by WaterBrook, a Christian publisher, but the book hardly mentioned God or religion at all. If youâÂÂre looking for a novel with a strong Christian message, this isnâÂÂt it. If youâÂÂre looking for inspirational womenâÂÂs fiction, this may well suit, as long as you can get past the first hundred pages.
Thanks to WaterBrook Multnomah and BloggingforBooksî for providing a free ebook for review.
March 17, 2013
Book Review: THE GIRL IN THE GLASS
Since she was a child, Meg Pomeroy has dreamed of visiting Florence. However, when Meg finally has the chance to take the long-anticipated trip, it turns out to be far different than she has expected.
Anticipating to meet her father there, Meg arrives in Florence and discovers that she is on her own. Hospitable Sofia Borelli welcomes Meg to Florence and to her home, but as Meg gets to know Sofia and the beautiful city, she discovers some surprising truths about both- and about herself.
This book wasn't totally my style, and I felt like the ending was a little strange, but I must say that this book was very well-written! I as the reader felt pulled into the story. The depth of the book was stunning due, I am sure, to the careful and precise research of the author. She did a great job of making her readers feel as if they were actually seeing the story with their own eyes. This book was, overall, a pretty good read.
I appreciated the opprotunity to read this book, thanks to the library! :-)
March 15, 2013
Beautiful, Hopeful & Refreshing!
As usual, Susan hooked me within the first few pages. MegâÂÂs story begins with a theme of âÂÂborrowingâ thatâÂÂs much too prevalent in her life. SheâÂÂs taken the safe path & made good choices, but a passion & desire for something more lies dormant inside her heart where she keeps it safely tucked away. A cast of interesting & complex characters each contribute to MegâÂÂs journey towards owning her future. Venice has always called to me, but Florence has certainly been added to my bucket list as a result of this beautiful story. IâÂÂll also never look at art the same way again. I absolutely adored Sophia even when her fantasies & flaws surfaced, maybe even more so after I understood her better. Meg wouldâÂÂve never learned to fly without SophiaâÂÂs lovely & gentle âÂÂMaryâ spirit. I honestly didnâÂÂt know which conclusion I was rooting for, but SusanâÂÂs wonderful ending eclipsed both of the scenarios I imagined! Need to âÂÂget awayâ - this is the book for you - it's romantic, beautiful, hopeful & refreshing!
January 8, 2013
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