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cassidylz's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
useyourgoodeye's review
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This book took a long time to get to the point. Angie's innocence and naivety was wearing on me throughout but the ending made up for it all. I just think it was kind of superficial at times and I would have loved to know more backstory from all the characters. It wasn't the worst thing but it wasn't the best.
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence, War, Racism, Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Sexism, Miscarriage, Suicide, and Pregnancy
bbrown0526's review
4.0
I think I enjoyed the character development of Angie the most. In the early parts of the book, her narration bothered me and came across as a silly, young, naive girl/women. The way that Swanson blew that character out as the story developed and she was presented with new information was so well done.
mccallistert61's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to the audio book and it was awesome! It started slow but picked up quickly as we heard the story from the 3 women in the story.
I couldn’t stop listening, it was full of mystery and twists and turns.
I couldn’t stop listening, it was full of mystery and twists and turns.
novelvisits's review against another edition
4.0
{My Thoughts}
What Worked For Me
Multiple Perspectives – One of the things I liked best about The Glass Forest was Swanson’s use of three different perspectives to methodically build this dysfunctional family mystery. From Silja, married to Henry, we learn about their whirlwind romance which ended with a quick wedding and pregnancy just before Henry shipped out to WWII. Silja’s part of the story covers the most time, moving from the 40’s right up until the point where she disappears in 1960. Angie, brother Paul’s very young wife and a bit of a ninny, often finds herself in the dark, but slowly gains the wherewithal to stand on her own two feet. Ruby, Henry and Silja’s daughter, adds even more layers to the mystery surrounding her parents, and she proves to be a most unreliable character.
Mid-Century Milieu – I always enjoy a book that uses time appropriate cultural references so well, and Swanson did just that. Paul smoked nonstop on a cross-country plane ride and Ruby mused about the duck and cover drills they had to do in school. Henry was on the lookout for Commies. Angie had never touched a Negro, and was surprised that a Negro woman could be a respected teacher in a white community. Both Silja and Angie easily submitted to their husbands’ wills despite Silja being the breadwinner for her family. Perhaps saddest of all, Silja could not get a divorce. At the time, adultery was the only grounds open to a woman.
Slow Building Questions – From the start of The Glass Forest we know that Silja is missing and Henry is dead. The questions of what happened to Henry and where Silja has gone are obvious, but what unfolds brings many, many more questions. What happened to Henry in the war and after? Why has Silja stayed? Something isn’t right about Paul, but what? Who is Shepherd? And Ruby? She knows a whole lot more than she’s letting on.
What Didn’t
Ruby – I didn’t always like Swanson’s handling of Ruby. It felt like she wasn’t quite sure how to tell that part of the story and too often hit dead ends. For example, Ruby was speaking to Shepherd and told him, “other things.” If you aren’t going to share what a character is saying, don’t leave us with “other things.” It feels weak. Ruby was often shut up in her room refusing to speak to anyone. She snuck out at night, and though reasons were given, they didn’t always add up. Even in the resolution, the choices Ruby made left me a bit confounded.
Unlikely Element – I feel ridiculous mentioning it, but one thing drove me nuts. It involved a boulder (not a rock, a boulder) that people seemed to easily be able to move. This boulder being moved was critical to the story and yet there was never any explanation as to how it was so easily accomplished. Why?
{The Final Assessment}
For me, The Glass Forest had a lot of moving parts that didn’t always come together quite as smoothly as I’d have liked. Despite that, I really enjoyed the era and much of the story. Swanson’s book was a fun, fast read, good for a change-of-pace. Grade: B
Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher (via NetGalley) in exchange for my honest review.
Original Source: https://novelvisits.com/glass-forest-cynthia-swanson-review/
What Worked For Me
Multiple Perspectives – One of the things I liked best about The Glass Forest was Swanson’s use of three different perspectives to methodically build this dysfunctional family mystery. From Silja, married to Henry, we learn about their whirlwind romance which ended with a quick wedding and pregnancy just before Henry shipped out to WWII. Silja’s part of the story covers the most time, moving from the 40’s right up until the point where she disappears in 1960. Angie, brother Paul’s very young wife and a bit of a ninny, often finds herself in the dark, but slowly gains the wherewithal to stand on her own two feet. Ruby, Henry and Silja’s daughter, adds even more layers to the mystery surrounding her parents, and she proves to be a most unreliable character.
Mid-Century Milieu – I always enjoy a book that uses time appropriate cultural references so well, and Swanson did just that. Paul smoked nonstop on a cross-country plane ride and Ruby mused about the duck and cover drills they had to do in school. Henry was on the lookout for Commies. Angie had never touched a Negro, and was surprised that a Negro woman could be a respected teacher in a white community. Both Silja and Angie easily submitted to their husbands’ wills despite Silja being the breadwinner for her family. Perhaps saddest of all, Silja could not get a divorce. At the time, adultery was the only grounds open to a woman.
Slow Building Questions – From the start of The Glass Forest we know that Silja is missing and Henry is dead. The questions of what happened to Henry and where Silja has gone are obvious, but what unfolds brings many, many more questions. What happened to Henry in the war and after? Why has Silja stayed? Something isn’t right about Paul, but what? Who is Shepherd? And Ruby? She knows a whole lot more than she’s letting on.
What Didn’t
Ruby – I didn’t always like Swanson’s handling of Ruby. It felt like she wasn’t quite sure how to tell that part of the story and too often hit dead ends. For example, Ruby was speaking to Shepherd and told him, “other things.” If you aren’t going to share what a character is saying, don’t leave us with “other things.” It feels weak. Ruby was often shut up in her room refusing to speak to anyone. She snuck out at night, and though reasons were given, they didn’t always add up. Even in the resolution, the choices Ruby made left me a bit confounded.
Unlikely Element – I feel ridiculous mentioning it, but one thing drove me nuts. It involved a boulder (not a rock, a boulder) that people seemed to easily be able to move. This boulder being moved was critical to the story and yet there was never any explanation as to how it was so easily accomplished. Why?
{The Final Assessment}
For me, The Glass Forest had a lot of moving parts that didn’t always come together quite as smoothly as I’d have liked. Despite that, I really enjoyed the era and much of the story. Swanson’s book was a fun, fast read, good for a change-of-pace. Grade: B
Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher (via NetGalley) in exchange for my honest review.
Original Source: https://novelvisits.com/glass-forest-cynthia-swanson-review/
ddrosche's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book very much. I will say though, that it was not the thriller I was expecting. Rather it is a bit of a slow burning domestic drama with a little mystery. At least for the first 80% of the book. However, at this point the pace picks up significantly, as does the suspense. I'll admit that the couple of twists toward the end caught me off guard - I was not expecting them. However, I was pleased with the way the book turned out. Sometimes going into a book with one expectation but then having the book go in an entirely different direction is a good thing - this is one of those instances for me. While not an edge-of-your-seat, nail biting novel it did have a constant undercurrent of unease. You knew something was brewing - just not what exactly.
gracie_schrader19's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
lisawreading's review against another edition
5.0
The Glass Forest is a multi-layered look beneath the surface of a family, slowly peeling away the facade to reveal the deep, dark secrets and hidden truths. Told through alternating chapters focusing on Angie, Ruby, and Silja, we get multiple timelines, all converging by the end to show the truth behind Henry's death and Silja's disappearance.
The three main female characters -- Angie, Ruby, and Silja -- are well-drawn; not always likeable, but despite their flaws, they all possess an inner strength that helps them survive. Silja is a particularly sympathetic character, as we see how the years of her marriage change her. Angie, years younger, seems to be following in Silja's footsteps to an extent in the early days of her marriage; barely twenty-one, she rushed into marriage with someone who seemed to be the man of her dreams, and only later starts to realize that there might be more to know about him. And Ruby, the teen daughter left behind by Silja and Henry, seems to be a mysterious, secretive girl -- but as we find out, there's a lot more to Ruby than meets the eye.
I really don't want to say much about the plot, because it's full of so many surprises, all deftly handled with a masterful set-up. There are shocking developments, but looking back, I can find the little breadcrumbs scattered through the earlier parts of the story that lay the groundwork for the bigger moments later on. The story as a whole is so well done, building to an ending that's very much unexpected, but that absolutely fits.
I know I'm being deliberately vague here, but really, I just don't want to ruin the reading experience for anyone. The Glass Forest is a compelling read that got harder and harder to put down, the farther I read. This would make an excellent book group choice -- because I promise, when you finish reading it, you'll be dying for someone to discuss it with!
I rarely go back to the beginning of a book once I finish. The Glass Forest is a rare exception where I ended up skimming back through the entire book once I'd finished to find all the hints and details that didn't seem all that important the first time through -- and ended up amazed all over again by how well put together the story is.
I loved Cynthia Swanson's previous novel, The Bookseller. The Glass Forest is another winner. Check it out.
Note: I received a review copy from the publisher.
The three main female characters -- Angie, Ruby, and Silja -- are well-drawn; not always likeable, but despite their flaws, they all possess an inner strength that helps them survive. Silja is a particularly sympathetic character, as we see how the years of her marriage change her. Angie, years younger, seems to be following in Silja's footsteps to an extent in the early days of her marriage; barely twenty-one, she rushed into marriage with someone who seemed to be the man of her dreams, and only later starts to realize that there might be more to know about him. And Ruby, the teen daughter left behind by Silja and Henry, seems to be a mysterious, secretive girl -- but as we find out, there's a lot more to Ruby than meets the eye.
I really don't want to say much about the plot, because it's full of so many surprises, all deftly handled with a masterful set-up. There are shocking developments, but looking back, I can find the little breadcrumbs scattered through the earlier parts of the story that lay the groundwork for the bigger moments later on. The story as a whole is so well done, building to an ending that's very much unexpected, but that absolutely fits.
I know I'm being deliberately vague here, but really, I just don't want to ruin the reading experience for anyone. The Glass Forest is a compelling read that got harder and harder to put down, the farther I read. This would make an excellent book group choice -- because I promise, when you finish reading it, you'll be dying for someone to discuss it with!
I rarely go back to the beginning of a book once I finish. The Glass Forest is a rare exception where I ended up skimming back through the entire book once I'd finished to find all the hints and details that didn't seem all that important the first time through -- and ended up amazed all over again by how well put together the story is.
I loved Cynthia Swanson's previous novel, The Bookseller. The Glass Forest is another winner. Check it out.
Note: I received a review copy from the publisher.
machadofam8's review against another edition
4.0
Good taut thriller. Slowly to develop but it worked well with the location and characters.
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
2.0
Love myself a good family drama where they are tested with something difficult and need to come togheter and come through it, but this wasn't that for me. I wasn't invested with the family's issues and the characters didn't stand out to me which is both important for me. Finished it for the sake of finish it