The Glass Room – December CC Book Club Selection

Parent Cafe
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<p>Our next selection for the CC Book Club is The Glass Room by Simon Mawer. The novel, set in 1930s Czechoslovakia, is the story of newlyweds who have their dream home constructed by a brilliant architect, only to see their family life threatened by the gathering storm of World War II and the Nazi occupation.</p>

<p>The Glass Room was named a best book of 2009 by The Economist, The Daily Telegraph, Financial Times, London Evening Standard, The Observer, and Slate.com. It was also named a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice.</p>

<p>“A stirring new novel that almost won this year’s Booker Prize….The Glass Room works so effectively because Mawer embeds…provocative aesthetic and moral issues in a war-torn adventure story that’s eerily erotic and tremendously exciting…[a] gorgeous novel.”—The Washington Post</p>

<p>“An old-fashioned, beautifully constructed novel of history, passion and ideas.”—The Seattle Times</p>

<p>Discussion begins December 1st. Please join us!</p>

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<p>How exciting! I happen to be reading this book at the moment. I will revisit later…</p>

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<p>^ That’s a happy coincidence! It will be great to get your input during our December discussion.</p>

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<p>Picked up a copy today. Apparently, this is the actual house featured in the book:
[The</a> Glass Room – The Tugendhat House (1928-30) form + words](<a href=“http://formandwords.com/2011/04/27/the-glass-room-the-tugendhat-house/]The”>http://formandwords.com/2011/04/27/the-glass-room-the-tugendhat-house/)
[View</a> Pictures - Building](<a href=“http://www.viewpictures.co.uk/Building.aspx?ID=17963]View”>http://www.viewpictures.co.uk/Building.aspx?ID=17963)</p>

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<p>Yes, the house in the book is based on a real house. We won’t have to rely on the author’s descriptions to picture the setting! :)</p>

<p>I’m waiting for my el cheapo used paperback copy of The Glass Room to arrive in the mail. In the meantime, I’m enjoying the plague of doves. Er, make that The Plague of Doves.</p>

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<p>Bump - How is everyone doing with The Glass Room as we approach the middle of this extremely busy November? I just managed to get caught up over the weekend - loving it so far.</p>

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<p>I’m nearly finished with the book…about 50 pages left to go. It’s intriguing in certain ways, and something of a page-turner plot-wise, but I find the characters to have little dimension (the women are particularly uninteresting and/or sketchily represented)…and there’s an awful lot of gratuitous sex.</p>

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<p>Two-thirds way done and finding it quite depressing. Loved the opening imagery, foreshadowing, etc. Not so impressed how it continued. Maybe the end will be better than I’m anticipating. I am too old for sad and ugly tales. :frowning: I keep putting it aside to read something more cheerful.</p>

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<p>I’m about halfway through and given the context of the times, the tribulations of these very wealthy people with fidelity issues are not resonating with me. But I’m keeping an open mind.</p>

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<p>Uh oh … I’m the one who expressed an initial disinterest in this book choice (but did say I’d read it). The above posts don’t help, y’all.</p>

<p>I definitely agree with alh: “I am too old for sad and ugly tales.”</p>

<p>I guess I’ll start it earlier than intended so that I too can put it aside at will.</p>

<p>On the other hand, maybe the “awful lot of gratuitous sex” mentioned by NJTM will help. ;)</p>

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<p>^It’s not that sad and ugly, Ignatius…in my opinion. Considering the time period in which it is set, a lot of unpleasant historical stuff is very, very lightly touched upon…to a surprising degree, I’d say.</p>

<p>I recently looked through a bunch of reader reviews of The Glass Room on the Goodreads site. I did this because all of the journalistic reviews of the book that I’d seen were so positive. On Goodreads, I was looking for more negative comments that mentioned some of the things I didn’t like too much about the book. I found a few such criticisms, but the vast majority of the Goodreads reviewers adored The Glass Room.</p>

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<p>I haven’t started the book yet. My dad passed away on Thursday and my life has not been my own these past few days –- and I expect the next couple of weeks will be consumed with helping my mom adjust to her new reality. But I’m ready to swap the drama of the real world for the drama of a fictional one, and I hope to catch up with you all and be ready to roll on December 1st.</p>

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<p>I’m so sorry to hear of the death of your father, Mary. I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers during this time of grief. </p>

<p>Remember to take care of yourself as you take care of your mom.</p>

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<p>Mary13, I’m so sorry to read of your father’s passing. Peace to you and your family.</p>

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<p>So sorry for your loss, Mary. Condolences to you and your family.</p>

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<p>Ah, Mary13, sorry to hear about your dad. I hope your mom adjusts well, as these things seem to be so hard for the surviving spouse sometimes :(.</p>

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<p>Mary, I am so sorry for your loss. Caring for your mother will consume you for months. Don’t worry about the book. It’s good, not fantastic, and lots of us will carry on for you until you are able to return. Be well.</p>

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<p>Mary13 very sorry to read about your Dad’s passing. It must be extra difficult with Thanksgiving around the corner.
I haven’t started the book, and am disappointed to read the above comments. Not very encouraging, and especially for you Mary13 you don’t need a depressing book now.</p>

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<p>So sorry to hear of the loss of your Dad, Mary. I will keep you and your family in my thoughts.</p>

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<p>Mary13, I am so very sorry for your loss.</p>