Sisters of Glass

A quick read that ignites so much insight into the world is exactly what I needed today, without realizing. It's amazing how books can sometimes identify our moods better than ourselves. Sisters of Glass shows us a world full of vibrancy, in the people and the places they live, leaving us to wonder and love what we sometimes cannot see with our own eyes but with the eyes and words of someone else, someone like Stephanie Hemphill. Sisters of Glass is harmless relief and quiet indulgence, and I enjoyed every second, despite the opening to infer so much where aspects remain unclear. However, THAT is absolutely part of the fun of reading Sisters of Glass.

Some may argue that there's no depth in such a fanciful, poetic telling of a sweet love story, one between family and between lovers, but I have to disagree. Hemphill obviously carefully entwined so much emotion with her soft words, as cautiously as the glassmakers she presents to us would handle their glass worlds of color. The emotion and images she sketches with her words are dazzling and enrich the story in a way that I don't think would've been quite possible in a conventionally written story. Yes, there's so much left up to interpretation, but there's truth and a conclusion that warms our melting hearts.

When do we object to happily ever afters, after all? Whimsical words, endearing characters, and a weaving of events that sits exactly right and wouldn't work any other way. A fabulous, rich story suitable for those quiet moments before bed or for our times of despair when a quick boost is necessary, Sisters of Glass holds subtle wonders in its thin pages, ones that should be visited, explored, and marveled at, much like the extraordinary glass pieces and their kind makers we encounter.

Originally posted at Paranormal Indulgence, 3/23/12

Having actually been to Murano, I was super excited to read this book. There's nothing better than getting to remember the awesome places I've been! What I did not know going into this book was that it was written in verse. At first, I assumed it was my lack of attention, but it's not in the description anywhere, so go forward with this knowledge as my gift to you.

Ordinarily, this would have been a revelation of tragic proportions, since I'm not typically a big fan of poetry, but I just read and enjoyed Love & Leftovers, so I went into this with an open mind. Besides, the first sentence, while not quite arresting, is pleasant. I like the comparison of the polishing, which implies that the girl is an object like the mirror.

However, the verse really didn't work for me in this one. Maria doesn't really seem like she would think/speak/write in verse; she's an artist, not a linguist. The language did not seem, to me, to flow very naturally from her. Additionally, the lines do not read like verse to me; most of the time, they feel like prose that has been hacked up into smaller lines. Of course, I'm not well-versed in verse, so take that for what its worth.

Also, I totally don't get why Maria's sister Giovanna is so rude about her father having decided to marry off the younger daughter first. Even if she doesn't like that she was passed over, it's not like Maria asked for the honor to be bartered to the highest bidder. That totally made me angry.

The story I liked, although it wasn't especially original; it had a very Shakespearean comedy type feel to it. If you like quick, cute stories, you might like Sisters of Glass.