The Glass Room Simon Mawer 060918 Coeur de Lion
WM (proposer) found this a very interesting book, covering historical events and personal stories, very well conceptualised and written. The focus is on love, betrayal, destruction and hope. The house features as the embodiment of a rational, clear-cut, lucid vision for the future in contrast with the irrational, messy, or destructive behaviour of the people who pass through it. The male characters, von Abt apart, are presented as quite calculating and business-like whereas the females are passionate and romantic. Hana combining both passion and romance with a clear-eyed or almost cynical view that things do not always turn out for the best. Overall impression of the writing is that it is quite intellectual, gradually becoming warmer to a very emotional ending. 9.0
RV A tremendous book with a fascinating plot. The characters are all believable and each is clearly defined while the author captures their interlocking relationships with each other and the house. The descriptive passages are amazingly well done, as are the period details, for example with the plight of the refugees, and the antisemitism. Apparently the descendants of the original family (the Tugendhats) are not at all happy with the house being appropriated by the author, as it was by the communist regime and the Czech Republic, and by the representation of the fictional family with which they could not help but be concatenated. 9.5
MT Very much enjoyed reading this book. Great description, in parts quite erotic. Could feel the pain of the refugees. Disappointed by the latter part especially the Tomas / Zdenka section, couldn’t see the point of it in the overall story. Had made considerably more notes but the dog ate them between John o’ Groats and Lands End. 7.3
CB Initially found the book very irritating, especially when compared with recent Albanian experience. Found it very cerebral and could not get excited by the house or the lives of a very rich, bourgeois family. However the passion of the relationships and the increasing threat gradually got me - would they get away? It all rang true. Eventually the use of house worked well and loved the Hana character. That the author is a polymath - architecture, music, history - was enjoyable. Made me really think: are we forever divided by class? What is the point of human existence? 8.0
SC Really difficult to decide, a mixed bag and flawed. Agree with a lot of what others have said but find it odd that the author started where he did and the focus on very privileged people who, although threatened, could use their money to escape. The Kata character was fascinating, but disappeared three-quarters of the way through. Some gratuitous sex but loved the use of the house ‘the evolution of design of domestic dwellings’. 6.5
MW Can relate to a lot of what Steve said - overall enjoyable but flawed. Took a while to get into it - not interested by the architecture - but eventually found the characters and description of the approach of the Germans excellently written, and some lovely descriptive passages throughout. However, found the last third disappointing with its secondary cast of characters. The ending was contrived but worked because of being very emotional. 7.9
AA Central characters very privileged but a weighty subject matter. Some beautiful description and superb introductions to characters and events, but the smoothness of the writing took away from the seriousness of what was happening despite the tension. Liked the idea of a second cast, but the characters were weaker and was disappointed to lose the most interesting character, Kata, at that stage. The end was very moving. Was Liesel involved in whatever happened to Kata?? (Lots of dissenting voices from fellow readers to this idea!) 8.0
JH Loved it! The idea and creation of the glass ‘space’. Love Bauhaus and this is a very important building, both architecturally and politically - it is where the treaty was signed separating the Czech Republic and Slovenia. Was the character of Viktor underplayed? After all he was the one who planned ahead, moved money out of the country and arranged to get others through the emergency. 8.0
CW Didn’t appreciate the origins of the novel - the author was travelling around Europe looking for a idea for a book - or was he looking for a film deal? The building itself had a deep character. The lesbian sex seemed contrived. However, the Hana character was really interesting and could have had a real story of her own. Enjoyed it but began to lose interest and was disappointed. Was reminded of The Hare with the Amber Eyes. 6.5
Overall mean score: 7.8555
