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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
I was excited for The Glittering Hour because it was a historical fiction novel not set in the WWII era. As much as I love that time period (honestly, it's my favorite), it has become overdone in novels recently. We need variety as readers and this book seemed to give us that reprieve.
The Glittering Hour is set in dual time periods, in 1925 with The Bright Young People, a frivolous set of British society's youth and 11 years later in 1936 with a young girl stuck in her grandparents' home while her mother and father are away on business. In between these chapters are often letters from mother to young daughter, as the mother describes the details of her trip and sets up a treasure hunt around the grounds of the girl's grandparents' gigantic estate. I loved the concept of the treasure hunt, as it revealed details about the mother's past to her young daughter. This plot point made me very interested in the story from the beginning. Unfortunately, the story never really piqued my interest from that point forward. I had to take a break around 30% because it was no longer holding my interest. The promise of the great reviews on Goodreads mentioning what was ahead kept me hanging on.
My main issue with this book is the terribly slow writing. The bottom line is that it's infinitely too wordy for my taste. I would find my mind wandering in each paragraph and eventually had to begin skimming to get through the story. I wasn't interested in the adventures of The Bright Young People because their exploits were shallow and vain. The only people in the story who sparked feeling from me were Lawrence and Alice, and their parts in the story were far too short, and still somehow still drawn out and too descriptive.
The plot of the story as a whole was incredibly beautiful and heartbreaking. It seemed like exactly the type of book I would love and honestly would have loved if not for the writing style used. I needed a quicker plot and fewer words to make this feel less like a tome I was slogging through for a grade in school. I desperately wish I could have connected to the story, the bones of an epic plot were there, but unfortunately, it wasn't for me.
Please don't just take my word for it. This is likely to be a popular read, being a Book of the Month selection for December. It already has numerous five-star recommendations from excellent reviewers and will surely hit the right notes for many readers.
The Glittering Hour is set in dual time periods, in 1925 with The Bright Young People, a frivolous set of British society's youth and 11 years later in 1936 with a young girl stuck in her grandparents' home while her mother and father are away on business. In between these chapters are often letters from mother to young daughter, as the mother describes the details of her trip and sets up a treasure hunt around the grounds of the girl's grandparents' gigantic estate. I loved the concept of the treasure hunt, as it revealed details about the mother's past to her young daughter. This plot point made me very interested in the story from the beginning. Unfortunately, the story never really piqued my interest from that point forward. I had to take a break around 30% because it was no longer holding my interest. The promise of the great reviews on Goodreads mentioning what was ahead kept me hanging on.
My main issue with this book is the terribly slow writing. The bottom line is that it's infinitely too wordy for my taste. I would find my mind wandering in each paragraph and eventually had to begin skimming to get through the story. I wasn't interested in the adventures of The Bright Young People because their exploits were shallow and vain. The only people in the story who sparked feeling from me were Lawrence and Alice, and their parts in the story were far too short, and still somehow still drawn out and too descriptive.
The plot of the story as a whole was incredibly beautiful and heartbreaking. It seemed like exactly the type of book I would love and honestly would have loved if not for the writing style used. I needed a quicker plot and fewer words to make this feel less like a tome I was slogging through for a grade in school. I desperately wish I could have connected to the story, the bones of an epic plot were there, but unfortunately, it wasn't for me.
Please don't just take my word for it. This is likely to be a popular read, being a Book of the Month selection for December. It already has numerous five-star recommendations from excellent reviewers and will surely hit the right notes for many readers.
emotional
reflective
sad
I think I would have enjoyed this book a lot more if I'd had more time to read and therefore read it in a shorter period of time. I feel like I say this a lot. This was one of the best historical fiction books I've read in the post-WWI period for making it clear why the Bright Young Things of the era were living the way they did, as Selina specifically says she's living for herself and her brother killed in the war too. The romance was almost too intense to feel real. But the mother/child relationship is what really sold the book. Alice's pieces are the best part of the book. Her innocence and longing for her mother are absolutely heartbreaking, and getting invested in her life is what really moved the story along for me.
The fine print: received ARC from NetGalley.
The fine print: received ARC from NetGalley.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I found it hard to get into the book, but after a few chapters I couldn’t lay it down
A fascinating and sometimes sad read. But it was well worth the time spent reading. I highly recommend this book. I voluntarily read this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
Historical romance between “star crossed lovers” in the 1920s (post WWI) with alternating chapters to a 1930s storyline about the female lead characters.
DNF - Loved the first part with the sad, lonely girl in the big mansion, and the language (and the narrator) is lovely. But too soon introduced are the brats of the previous generation. Even the girl’s scenes are spoiled by the stereotypical attitude towards the little lord of the manor.
Oh my goodness! This book! Don’t you love it when a book with that kind of cover comes into your life, one you have been anticipating reading for months now, and it lives up to your every expectation? The Glittering Hour was just that kind of read for me.
The Glittering Hour is set in England during the 1920s and 30s, in the time leading up to WWII. Immediately, I was excited about this time period as a nice change from all the traditional WWII fiction I read.
Selina Lennox is a “Bright Young Thing.” She is roaring into the 20s like all the young people her age, drinking and partying. Her wealthy parents have plans for her, but she wants no part.
Lawrence Weston is a painter, rather common, and the two fall in love even though they known it’s unlikely they can stay together because they live in such different worlds. They still dream of being together when tragedy strikes.
Selena and Lawrence’s story is one of forbidden love. I was lost in the writing and mesmerized with the power of their bond. I had tissues nearby as this one brought out all my emotions. I never expected to be so enthralled with these two characters.
Overall, The Glittering Hour is an enchanting story that makes you believe in love again. Oh, and don’t miss that ending!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
The Glittering Hour is set in England during the 1920s and 30s, in the time leading up to WWII. Immediately, I was excited about this time period as a nice change from all the traditional WWII fiction I read.
Selina Lennox is a “Bright Young Thing.” She is roaring into the 20s like all the young people her age, drinking and partying. Her wealthy parents have plans for her, but she wants no part.
Lawrence Weston is a painter, rather common, and the two fall in love even though they known it’s unlikely they can stay together because they live in such different worlds. They still dream of being together when tragedy strikes.
Selena and Lawrence’s story is one of forbidden love. I was lost in the writing and mesmerized with the power of their bond. I had tissues nearby as this one brought out all my emotions. I never expected to be so enthralled with these two characters.
Overall, The Glittering Hour is an enchanting story that makes you believe in love again. Oh, and don’t miss that ending!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader