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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
More reviews available at my blog, Beauty and the Bookworm.
So, a while ago I had a ton of Karen White books on my to-read list. A ton of them. There's just something about her covers that appeals to me. They're so beachy and summery and they just look inviting. But then, I went through and cleared them all out after I read a non-Karen-White book, The Last Original Wife. The cover had some of the same feel as the Karen White books, and I hated the book. It made me feel like the Karen White books were going to be the same. And then, just within the past week or so, the Bookalicious Babe blog had a review of Karen White's Flight Patterns up. It was a really good review, starting off by stating that "Karen White is one of my go to Southern writers." Well, that's pretty high praise. So when I wandered into the library and saw The Sound of Glass on the Popular Reads shelf, I decided to give it a go.
I like the writing style here, I really do. The plot follows Merritt moving to a South Carolina town after she inherits a house from her deceased husband's family, and finds herself entangled with her stepmother and ten-year-old half-brother who show up unexpectedly on her porch, and with her brother-in-law who's trying to figure out what drew his brother to Merritt. Meanwhile, there are chapters that go back in time to Merritt's great-grandmother-in-law, who knows something about an airplane crash that happened in the 1950s and who has left a rather creepy mark on Merritt's inherited house. All of this takes place along the South Carolina coast, with some boat trips along rivers and marshes, talk of crocodiles, plenty of sweet tea, and a kitchen that comes straight out of the mid-1900s. All of this lent such a sense of atmosphere to this story that I couldn't get enough of it.
What I could get enough of was the mystery in the background here, and the spousal and child abuse that was rampant throughout this book. None of the main characters are abusers--but the number of people who are, floating about in the backstory, is truly astounding. It's mainly the members of Merritt's husband's family, with the exception of her brother-in-law. And the whole plot about the airplane crash and what actually caused it, and how Merritt ended up tied into the very family that holds the secret to the cause, even if they don't know it... It really did stretch my incredulity. I like when things are tightly knit, with all the ends tied together, but in this case the whole situation just seemed a little more far-fetched than my suspension of disbelief was willing to allow. The idea that someone would track down Merritt and get involved with her because her grandmother, who was already dead, Knew Something that Merritt clearly didn't know was just...crazy.
The building of relationships, though, is the true driving point of this novel, and I thought that was well-done. Merritt has problems connecting with people and a lingering resentment of her father and stepmother, so when her stepmother and half-brother show up it's a struggle for her to let them in--an ditto for her brother-in-law who seems to both dislike her, and who reminds her so much of her husband even though she quickly finds they're really not that alike. Merritt moving on from her past, in multiple ways, and learning to reconnect with people is the core of this, and I thought it was well done. Loralee, the stepmother, seemed like a character who would drive me crazy at first, but she really did grow on me, coming across with a hefty dose of Southern charm and some good--though often trite--advice. Owen was that rare creature in novels: a kid who isn't annoying beyond all belief. And Gibbes, the brother-in-law... Mmmm. What a nice addition.
So, despite the overly-contrived mystery here, I did really like this book as a whole, and I can definitely see myself reading more Karen White novels, especially in this summer season!
4 stars out of 5.
So, a while ago I had a ton of Karen White books on my to-read list. A ton of them. There's just something about her covers that appeals to me. They're so beachy and summery and they just look inviting. But then, I went through and cleared them all out after I read a non-Karen-White book, The Last Original Wife. The cover had some of the same feel as the Karen White books, and I hated the book. It made me feel like the Karen White books were going to be the same. And then, just within the past week or so, the Bookalicious Babe blog had a review of Karen White's Flight Patterns up. It was a really good review, starting off by stating that "Karen White is one of my go to Southern writers." Well, that's pretty high praise. So when I wandered into the library and saw The Sound of Glass on the Popular Reads shelf, I decided to give it a go.
I like the writing style here, I really do. The plot follows Merritt moving to a South Carolina town after she inherits a house from her deceased husband's family, and finds herself entangled with her stepmother and ten-year-old half-brother who show up unexpectedly on her porch, and with her brother-in-law who's trying to figure out what drew his brother to Merritt. Meanwhile, there are chapters that go back in time to Merritt's great-grandmother-in-law, who knows something about an airplane crash that happened in the 1950s and who has left a rather creepy mark on Merritt's inherited house. All of this takes place along the South Carolina coast, with some boat trips along rivers and marshes, talk of crocodiles, plenty of sweet tea, and a kitchen that comes straight out of the mid-1900s. All of this lent such a sense of atmosphere to this story that I couldn't get enough of it.
What I could get enough of was the mystery in the background here, and the spousal and child abuse that was rampant throughout this book. None of the main characters are abusers--but the number of people who are, floating about in the backstory, is truly astounding. It's mainly the members of Merritt's husband's family, with the exception of her brother-in-law. And the whole plot about the airplane crash and what actually caused it, and how Merritt ended up tied into the very family that holds the secret to the cause, even if they don't know it... It really did stretch my incredulity. I like when things are tightly knit, with all the ends tied together, but in this case the whole situation just seemed a little more far-fetched than my suspension of disbelief was willing to allow. The idea that someone would track down Merritt and get involved with her because her grandmother, who was already dead, Knew Something that Merritt clearly didn't know was just...crazy.
The building of relationships, though, is the true driving point of this novel, and I thought that was well-done. Merritt has problems connecting with people and a lingering resentment of her father and stepmother, so when her stepmother and half-brother show up it's a struggle for her to let them in--an ditto for her brother-in-law who seems to both dislike her, and who reminds her so much of her husband even though she quickly finds they're really not that alike. Merritt moving on from her past, in multiple ways, and learning to reconnect with people is the core of this, and I thought it was well done. Loralee, the stepmother, seemed like a character who would drive me crazy at first, but she really did grow on me, coming across with a hefty dose of Southern charm and some good--though often trite--advice. Owen was that rare creature in novels: a kid who isn't annoying beyond all belief. And Gibbes, the brother-in-law... Mmmm. What a nice addition.
So, despite the overly-contrived mystery here, I did really like this book as a whole, and I can definitely see myself reading more Karen White novels, especially in this summer season!
4 stars out of 5.
This was a book I bought for a friend's birthday because both the cover and resume really appealed to me and I thought it would to her as well. She lent it to me when she was finished with it.
The writing is nice but the story dragged too much and the characters were very stereotypical. Each and every one of them got on my nerves.
Anyway, I am not going to rate this one because I didn't finish it. It's a shame because there were some interesting elements, but I just couldn't be bothered to keep going.
The writing is nice but the story dragged too much and the characters were very stereotypical. Each and every one of them got on my nerves.
Anyway, I am not going to rate this one because I didn't finish it. It's a shame because there were some interesting elements, but I just couldn't be bothered to keep going.
Originally published at Desert Island Book Reviews
This book features three strong women whose lives intersect through the course of the book. First, there's Edith, who really isn't who I would consider the main character, even though we do meet her first. She's from the past and isn't living through the majority of the book, but she drives much of what happens. Then there's Merritt, who moves from Maine to South Carolina after her husband dies because she (through his estate) inherits his grandmother Edith's house. She's got a lot of issues, but whether she knows it or not, she's strong and capable of handling everything that comes up. Then, finally, there's Merritt's step-mother Loralee. They've never gotten along, but when Loralee and Merritt's younger brother Owen (whom she's never met) show up at her new doorstep, she can't bring herself to turn them away.
The lives of these three women come together to form a story filled with humor, mystery, and heartbreak. As we learn more about each of them, it's impossible not to feel connected to them in one way or another. I especially enjoyed seeing Merritt's character grow and change as she created a new life for herself in South Carolina. That said, I felt that I could have read an entire book about Edith, too. She was so interesting and I loved her character so much.
The plot was interesting if a little predictable, and for me it had enough facets to it to stay interesting throughout. I'm not sure how realistic a lot of it was, but it didn't really matter to me since it all came together so well. I don't want to say too much because it could easily spoil the story to reveal any details, but since the very first chapter mentions the plane crash, I will say that I was surprised at how that part of the plot was resolved. I was glad to get an answer since it was brought up so early, but I didn't expect it to go where it did.
I listened to The Sound of Glass as an audiobook, which can always impact my feelings about a book. I really enjoyed the narrator in this book, which helped bring the characters to life for me. She did such a good job at giving each character his or her own personality through voice, and I'm not sure I would have done so well reading it on my own.
I would recommend reading or listening to this book if you enjoy women's fiction, especially Southern women's fiction. It was entertaining and emotionally satisfying. This was my first book by Karen White, and I doubt it will be my last. I give it four stars.
This book features three strong women whose lives intersect through the course of the book. First, there's Edith, who really isn't who I would consider the main character, even though we do meet her first. She's from the past and isn't living through the majority of the book, but she drives much of what happens. Then there's Merritt, who moves from Maine to South Carolina after her husband dies because she (through his estate) inherits his grandmother Edith's house. She's got a lot of issues, but whether she knows it or not, she's strong and capable of handling everything that comes up. Then, finally, there's Merritt's step-mother Loralee. They've never gotten along, but when Loralee and Merritt's younger brother Owen (whom she's never met) show up at her new doorstep, she can't bring herself to turn them away.
The lives of these three women come together to form a story filled with humor, mystery, and heartbreak. As we learn more about each of them, it's impossible not to feel connected to them in one way or another. I especially enjoyed seeing Merritt's character grow and change as she created a new life for herself in South Carolina. That said, I felt that I could have read an entire book about Edith, too. She was so interesting and I loved her character so much.
The plot was interesting if a little predictable, and for me it had enough facets to it to stay interesting throughout. I'm not sure how realistic a lot of it was, but it didn't really matter to me since it all came together so well. I don't want to say too much because it could easily spoil the story to reveal any details, but since the very first chapter mentions the plane crash, I will say that I was surprised at how that part of the plot was resolved. I was glad to get an answer since it was brought up so early, but I didn't expect it to go where it did.
I listened to The Sound of Glass as an audiobook, which can always impact my feelings about a book. I really enjoyed the narrator in this book, which helped bring the characters to life for me. She did such a good job at giving each character his or her own personality through voice, and I'm not sure I would have done so well reading it on my own.
I would recommend reading or listening to this book if you enjoy women's fiction, especially Southern women's fiction. It was entertaining and emotionally satisfying. This was my first book by Karen White, and I doubt it will be my last. I give it four stars.
Complicated but intriguing. Took me awhile to get interested, but one of those books that makes you smile at the end.
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book, especially since at the beginning neither of the main female characters appealed to me. But I loved the way their personalities were unraveled, revealing why they were the way they were, and showing their growth. I loved all of Loralee's bits of wisdom throughout the story - many of them were good enough to write them down myself! There was also a mystery that I didn't expect that kept me turning pages, even when I thought I had it figured out.
Karen White is a good storyteller. Her writing isn't obviously deep and literary (though she does have something to say about domestic violence), it's not obscure or flashy or startlingly beautiful. But it flows easily and keeps you comfortable, like a favorite stuffed chair and ottoman. This is good women's fiction. I'm giving The Sound of Glass a 4.5 because I so enjoyed my time spent between its covers.
Karen White is a good storyteller. Her writing isn't obviously deep and literary (though she does have something to say about domestic violence), it's not obscure or flashy or startlingly beautiful. But it flows easily and keeps you comfortable, like a favorite stuffed chair and ottoman. This is good women's fiction. I'm giving The Sound of Glass a 4.5 because I so enjoyed my time spent between its covers.
Well I will start by saying that my favorite character in the book was Loralee, larger than life, full of "truths" that she writes down in a pink journal. Okay now my least favorite character was Merritt, now I did eventually grow to like her but she was very sour on life at first. I guess compared to Loralee's big-hearted ways (and not to mention hair) it was hard for me to relate to Merritt's closed off judgmental ways in the beginning of the book. Now I know a sign of a very good book for me is when I take the character's actions personally! I loved the setting of the book, Beaufort S.C. and the way the author describes the house and the surrounding marsh land.The fact that there was a bit of a mystery to the story appealed to me as well. The story brings to light the legacy of domestic violence and how it can affect each generation for many years, this can be a hard topic to write and read about but very necessary to bring it out in the open more.
The end part of the book has one or two surprises. Well to wrap it up, I enjoyed this book and had a hard time letting the place and the characters go when I finished the book.This review was originally posted on
The end part of the book has one or two surprises. Well to wrap it up, I enjoyed this book and had a hard time letting the place and the characters go when I finished the book.This review was originally posted on
I listened to the audio. The narrator did a fantastic job. I enjoyed listening to it.
Im between 3 and 4 stars here
A couple years after Merritt's husband dies, she finds out his grandmother has died and left him her house. Since Merritt's husband predeceased his grandmother, the house belongs to her now.
She needs a fresh start and she decides to move into the house. She's never been to her husband's home state and knows basically nothing about his life before her or his family.
Shortly after she moves in, her father's second wife shows up on her doorstep with her son and wants to move in.
At first this sounds rough, Merritt doesn't even know her half brother or her step mom. She avoided them while her dad was still alive and now that he's deceased too, she doesn't even know them. But her step mom turns out to be a very loving person and ofcourse Merritt grows to appreciate finally getting to know her brother.
There is also Merritt's husband's brother In the picture and a long ago mystery involving his grandmother.
I enjoyed the characters, the storyline (present and past) and the setting. The only question I had at the end was, why the heck did the grandmother give the house to Calvin, Merritt's husband, instead of his much nicer brother?
A couple years after Merritt's husband dies, she finds out his grandmother has died and left him her house. Since Merritt's husband predeceased his grandmother, the house belongs to her now.
She needs a fresh start and she decides to move into the house. She's never been to her husband's home state and knows basically nothing about his life before her or his family.
Shortly after she moves in, her father's second wife shows up on her doorstep with her son and wants to move in.
At first this sounds rough, Merritt doesn't even know her half brother or her step mom. She avoided them while her dad was still alive and now that he's deceased too, she doesn't even know them. But her step mom turns out to be a very loving person and ofcourse Merritt grows to appreciate finally getting to know her brother.
There is also Merritt's husband's brother In the picture and a long ago mystery involving his grandmother.
I enjoyed the characters, the storyline (present and past) and the setting. The only question I had at the end was, why the heck did the grandmother give the house to Calvin, Merritt's husband, instead of his much nicer brother?