The Glass Hotel

3.5:

This is only the second book by Emily St. John I have read, and yet it's twice now that she's made my favorite character kick the bucket :( you stop that, Emily >:c

Perhaps, because of the deep fondness I have for Station Eleven, I had incredibly high expectations for this one, and although the storyline was fascinating, it fell a little flat for me.

For one, I thought the whole “why don't you swallow broken glass?” graffiti shtick was blown ridiculously out of proportion. I mean, I can sort of see what the intention was but, seriously? Vincent cried over it? The whole outrage around it? I don't get it, the drama. Be for fucking real, it sounds like a 13 year-old's idea of a witty comeback, at best. I just don't see anyone in real life reacting in the way everyone did, and I couldn't keep from being annoyed every time it came up.

Then there's the fact that Emily can be INCREDIBLE when it comes to handling a large roster of characters, but that quality didn't shine as bright in here as it did in Station Eleven. There were a few characters that popped in, then were mentioned again later on and I'd be like, who's this again?

I was quite amused, however, by the fact that I didn't actually like any of the characters. They were all terrible, selfish, greedy, shitty people. I particularly hated Johnathan, for obvious reasons, but I felt repulsed every time Paul made an appearance. Snivelly little prick. it's funny because I'd accidentally started reading Sea of Tranquility before this, read the first scene he was in, and it was on sight. Disgusting. See? I'm already irritated.

Now for the good, I was tense and on edge at so many points in the story, and I kept pondering over the very real life worry I get sometimes of suddenly losing the very little I own, and what I'd do in that situation. Lose my mind, most likely. I did not need that! I'm shocked that a book about Ponzi schemes could be so entertaining.

I also liked the bits of magical realism. I wonder if those were ghosts, or maybe visitors from somewhere else. Either way I found it oddly charming, and the ending scene was beautiful and moving.

The book was good, I was just expecting something different. I'd still recommend it on the basis that this is Emily St. John Mandel and I want to eat her writing like a dog eats homework. I'm gonna finish reading Song of Achilles, and then finally get to the last installment of this trilogy of sorts. Can't wait!