Renaissance is a word with hope infused in every letter.
Since she was a child, Meg has dreamed of taking a promised trip to Florence, Italy, and being able to finally step into the place captured in a picture at her grandmother’s house. But after her grandmother passes away and it falls to her less-than-reliable father to take her instead, Meg’s long-anticipated travel plans seem permanently on hold.
When her dad finally tells Meg to book the trip, she prays that the experience will heal the fissures left on her life by her parents’ divorce. But when Meg arrives in Florence, her father is nowhere to be found, leaving aspiring memoir-writer Sophia Borelli to introduce Meg to the rich beauty of the ancient city. Sofia claims to be one of the last surviving members of the Medici family and that a long-ago Medici princess, Nora Orsini, communicates with her from within the great masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance.
When Sophia, Meg, and Nora’s stories intersect, their lives will be indelibly changed as they each answer the question: What if renaissance isn’t just a word? What if that’s what happens when you dare to believe that what is isn’t what has to be?
I come into reading The Girl in the Glass knowing that Susan Meissner made my absolute favorites list with The Shape of Mercy and I enjoyed but did not love another one, White Picket Fences I believe. The background for Meg and Nora's story sounds enchanting and I do believe that I have come to find that the combination of contemporary with historical switch offs is my favorite setting for novels these days. Especially when it is a time and place that I have not read much about before, such as Italy.
At about 40% into the story I'm curious and a little confused, but I think I'm confused right along with my fictional friend Marguerite, another form of my name that I love. I believe the contemporary aspects make this a novel that many people today can relate to with the surprise and unreliability of certain people we think should be perfect in life and are not. As the door opens here, I believe that the adventure is just beginning for Nora, Meg and Sofia.
More review and thoughts to come as I progress in the book...
So I finished the read, finally and it took me quite a while. [b:The Shape of Mercy|2752607|The Shape of Mercy|Susan Meissner|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320443627l/2752607._SY75_.jpg|2778306] was amazing and tops the list within a handful of my favorite reads. Yet the problem when you enjoy something as much as that other books do not always live up to it. What I can tell you is that I will definitely continue to read Susan's books and eagerly await new stories. However, this one was just so-so on my scale. It was interesting, it was a contemporary / historical mix. There was some romance, some deep family pain, and somethings beyond normal comprehension. It just wasn't awesome and did not keep my interest well.
Thanks to Blogging for Books for providing a copy for review.
posted: http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2014/05/30/girl-in-the-glass/
Reading updates
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Started reading
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17 May, 2014:
Finished reading
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17 May, 2014:
Reviewed