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dmcorcoran's review against another edition
5.0
Atmospheric, told with different points of view....Loved this book!
stardustreader1's review against another edition
5.0
A slow burn mysterying, The Glass Forest is the perfect book to pick up this year.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and at the end of the, I was blown away. I couldn't believe the plot twists, elegantly crafted characters, and beautiful prose
This started off slow, but as time went on the pieces fell into place. My mind was blown by the end of this book and while I knew it reached the end, I was craving more! 5/5 star!
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and at the end of the, I was blown away. I couldn't believe the plot twists, elegantly crafted characters, and beautiful prose
This started off slow, but as time went on the pieces fell into place. My mind was blown by the end of this book and while I knew it reached the end, I was craving more! 5/5 star!
alicewonders's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this slow-burn character-driven ride.
I loved Ruby as a character.
I loved Ruby as a character.
Spoiler
just so I remember, Henry killed Silja, Ruby killed Henry and Paul.Spoiler
radioactve_piano's review against another edition
5.0
What a really phenomenal read! It's rare that I am so sucked in that I can pick up a book while I'm tired and it will keep me awake, but this one did just that.
What a great era to write about -- and read right now. It's so easy to see how fear can build up, and how untreated PTSD is a real problem, and how people get stuck in terrible situations because they make small concessions that just keep building.
Also, haunting characters -- all of them, so multi-layered (though two were clearly villains and two were clearly not villains, the fifth was delightfully straddling both personalities). I never read The Bookseller, but I will seek it out now!
What a great era to write about -- and read right now. It's so easy to see how fear can build up, and how untreated PTSD is a real problem, and how people get stuck in terrible situations because they make small concessions that just keep building.
Also, haunting characters -- all of them, so multi-layered (though two were clearly villains and two were clearly not villains, the fifth was delightfully straddling both personalities). I never read The Bookseller, but I will seek it out now!
afaber's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
ngb1980's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
Had to skip some sections.
I didn't like all the cheating and the weirdness of the uncle and the niece's affair.
Interesting story.
I didn't like all the cheating and the weirdness of the uncle and the niece's affair.
Interesting story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Death of parent
jwmcoaching's review against another edition
2.0
2 1/2 stars.
Not terrible but pretty predictable and way too much of a slow burn along the way. It takes over half the novel until the gears really start clicking and even then things continue to move pretty slowly. The three female lead characters are also unfortunately not that interesting and thankfully, Swanson is a decent writer because otherwise, this would potentially be an interminable slog. The suspense here should have been tightened up a lot more considering the type of novel she was trying to write.
Not terrible but pretty predictable and way too much of a slow burn along the way. It takes over half the novel until the gears really start clicking and even then things continue to move pretty slowly. The three female lead characters are also unfortunately not that interesting and thankfully, Swanson is a decent writer because otherwise, this would potentially be an interminable slog. The suspense here should have been tightened up a lot more considering the type of novel she was trying to write.
mayar_reading_stuff's review against another edition
3.0
2.5/5, again *sighs*.
In conclusion: The Glass Brothers should have been put down when they were babies.
This book had all what domestic thrillers have but with a touch of the 60'. Men tipped their hats -I could picture it vividly- and women were weak-willed and unhappy, plus of course racism and suspecting everyone to be a commie (Never thought I'll have a chance to use that word.) while the commies were generally good people who aren't involved in horrendous acts.
Angie was a small town girl before it was cool, married to her Cary Grant lookalike Paul Glass, and I don't know what all the fuss is about but whatever. He's sweet and loving and calls her Angel, but be aware reader, he is one sick puppy.
Selja -which is a lovely name- is a Finnish hard-working girl who falls in love with the other Cary Grant lookalike, Henry Glass. He doesn't try to be charming from the first meeting and on, he objectifies, abuses, and all-around acts like a jerk the whole time.
Ruby, whom I found the least attractive narrator but the most informative, is the daughter of Selja and Henry and she's peculiar and smart and crafty.
The story goes slowly until the last 15 chapters or so, but it's not impossible to get through. I didn't like it as much as The Bookseller but didn't hate it, I guess.
In conclusion: The Glass Brothers should have been put down when they were babies.
This book had all what domestic thrillers have but with a touch of the 60'. Men tipped their hats -I could picture it vividly- and women were weak-willed and unhappy, plus of course racism and suspecting everyone to be a commie (Never thought I'll have a chance to use that word.) while the commies were generally good people who aren't involved in horrendous acts.
Angie was a small town girl before it was cool, married to her Cary Grant lookalike Paul Glass, and I don't know what all the fuss is about but whatever. He's sweet and loving and calls her Angel, but be aware reader, he is one sick puppy.
Selja -which is a lovely name- is a Finnish hard-working girl who falls in love with the other Cary Grant lookalike, Henry Glass. He doesn't try to be charming from the first meeting and on, he objectifies, abuses, and all-around acts like a jerk the whole time.
Ruby, whom I found the least attractive narrator but the most informative, is the daughter of Selja and Henry and she's peculiar and smart and crafty.
The story goes slowly until the last 15 chapters or so, but it's not impossible to get through. I didn't like it as much as The Bookseller but didn't hate it, I guess.
marie_b4531's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best books I've read. Never saw those plot twists coming.