The Glass Room by Simon Mawer (22-Apr-2010) Paperback

by Simon Mawer

Paperback

About the author

Simon Mawer was a British author who lived in Italy.

Reviews

[Benjamin Kahn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I struggled my way to page 97 before I gave up on this book. I don't like the way Mawer writes. It feels like a distant, very surface level story. I don't like his characters - they seem simplistic, and poorly-defined. I hoped things would pick up as the story got going, but it's taking too long to get going.

I have to admit, I usually avoid books set during the Second World War - I've read too many of them over the years, and I don't feel the need to go there again, so that wasn't a real draw, and when I found I couldn't even summon the will the finish the short chapter I was trying to read, I finally gave up.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Difficult book to get into because the characters aren't developed well, and it's hard to understand their motivations. Why do they make these choices and pretend it'll all blow over? Except for Viktor, who does understand because he's Jewish.
The author is a scientist, I learned, and he's not adept at delving into what makes people do what they do even knowing it's the wrong choice. One of the main characters, Viktor Landauer, becomes obsessed with another woman while his wife is oblivious, as well as most of their aristocratic friends. It's set in 1929 though the 1930's and the writing sounds like it was written then.
Simon Mawer creates an atmosphere of oblivion to the looming threat from Germany. Could they have been so out of touch? I suppose. But all that matters is this enormous Glass House, (which actually is real and was designed by Mies van der Rohe), but in the story is designed by a fictitious Viennese architect. It's an expensive undertaking but Viktor is a successful car manufacturer and his wife, Liesel, is in love with the idea of the house. They build it. They entertain. They have children.
The Czech republic rolls over to the Third Reich and by 1938, they finally realize they have to flee.
Millions of people suffered during that time and were crushed by the ravages of war. But for the most part, the immediacy of that isn't conveyed but is almost glossed over, as if the author is numb as well. It moves through the German occupation, then the Soviet and how the house was used over decades until it's finally restored and reborn as a museum.

[Becky Gill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring and beautiful at the same time. I don’t think we ever spent enough time with each of the characters to be fully invested in them. If it had focused on any of them more it would have been better. I would have loved more about Hana’s story. But choosing it to be about the house rather than the people was a good idea but just lacked those connections.