Is the idea of visiting a remote glass hotel off an island a terrifying thought, or a welcome one? Personally, I love immersing myself in nature, so the idea of sitting in a five-star resort with not another soul in sight (other than the staff mixing my cocktails) is immensely appealing to me – even during a pandemic! Perhaps this is one reason why I was so excited to read The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel? Well I’m sorry to say that the glass hotel itself doesn’t play too large a role in the plot, but I did enjoy our short glimpses into it nonetheless. What kept me reading was the well-crafted story.
My review below isn’t too earth shattering as I I really enjoyed this book and in my eyes it’s worth all the attention its getting. Mandel’s writing is a thing of beauty, and the plot she weaves among her memorable characters is well timed, keeping all 300 pages turning at a steady rate. I also love the gossipy nature of the ponzi scheme conflict, and the glamorous world of the ultra-wealthy set against the lives of ‘regular’ people. All these different forces at work come together to create a highly readable but still intelligent novel, one you should be glad to tuck into while stuck at home.
I’m so used to adorable “Christmas Anne” with the pineapple hair (a style I’m currently sporting myself) that this video surprised me! You look like Queer Eye came over and curled your hair. Girl, are those Ray Bans?
BAHAHAH ok re: my hair, my big covid splurge purchase was a dyson airwrap!!! It’s so easy to curl my hair with it so I do it more often. Believe me tho, the pineapple hair comes out after my hair is due for a wash but I’m too lazy LOL
And the glasses are Valentino! I’ve been told i have to wear my glasses all the time now, b/c apparently once you hit 35 your vision goes downhill real quick. I may look into getting contacts…
I got glasses at 11 and contacts at 13. I hated glasses so much, especially when it came to gym and, you know, just being an awkward tween. But when I moved to Indiana, right down wind from Chicago and in a high pollen area, I started having contact problems. They would get so dry that they would fall out when I blinked. I’ve been wearing just glasses for about 4-5 years now, and while I don’t love it, picking out a cute expensive pair always makes me happy. I have Ray Ban glasses and Michael Kors prescription sun glasses.
What a great COVID splurge! I hate to say this, but because we’re cooking at home and not doing anything for entertainment out and about, we’re saving a lot of money per month. It’s wild.
For awhile there, we were saving a ton of money too, mainly b/c my son was no longer in childcare and we weren’t leaving the house…but apparently my online shopping habits have made up for that (cringe)
I love the little Lego glass hotel. Did you have to purchase and assemble that JUST for this review? 😀
And here’s a book that we’ve both enjoyed tremendously…I’m so glad to see that her way of telling stories has attracted steadily more and more attention. She’s always been very good at it and it’s nice to see readers (i.e. bestseller lists) taking notice!
Since my kids have a LITERALY TOYS R US STORE IN OUR LIVING ROOM there is an endless supply of props for my book photos lol. We have two huge bins of lego that my mother in law saved from my husband’s childhood that’s kept the kids nice and busy during the pandemic (thank god)
Love the visual (and the book)! And FYI, my eyes are actually getting better, and I’m a lot further down that hill :).
This gives me hope Cathy!!!!
This is one of my favorite books so far this year. She is such a beautiful writer.
ditto!!!!
What an odd concept to have some of the same characters in this book, since therefore we all know that they’re just about to die of flu or end up losing everything and living in a dystopia! I did enjoy her earlier book though not as much as a lot of people – this one is more tempting, I think…
Apparently this is an ‘alternate universe’ for some of these characters, so maybe they don’t all die? Who knows.
Very strange!
I’m so glad to hear you like this! I haven’t read it yet and have mostly heard good things but the last two people I talked to about it were very lukewarm and I was wondering if I would be disappointed.
I think you’d like it Karissa! Especially b/c it takes place in your neck of the woods
I know! That got me excited when I found out!
I have this one waiting for me, so I’m glad to hear you loved it. I love your little Lego glass hotel. I have to admit that every time I see the cover of the book I think it’s the front of a ship!
me too!!! and thank you, having so much lego around is really helping my book photo props haha