Die Unmöglichkeit von Liebe: Roman

by Francesca Reece, Tobias Schnettler (translator)

Eine Liebesgeschichte über das Leben, für das wir uns entscheiden, und über das andere, das uns vielleicht noch glücklicher gemacht hätte. Auf einem abgeschiedenen Anwesen in den Wäldern von Nordwales verlieben sich Olwen und Gethin. Als Ol und ihr Mann viele Jahre später das Anwesen kaufen, ahnt Ol nicht, dass sie Geth damit die Lebensgrundlage entzieht. Und ebenso wenig ahnt sie, mit welcher unkontrollierbaren Gewalt sie sich noch immer zu ihm hingezogen fühlt. Doch reicht das aus, um ihren Mann und ihr Leben in London zurückzulassen?

 

Geth und Ol wachsen in einer Kleinstadt in Nordwales auf. Es sind die späten 90er Jahre, man hört Oasis und Pulp, geht auf Hauspartys und raucht Gras. Ol und Geth schleichen sich immer wieder auf das Anwesen im Wald, um das sich Geths Mutter kümmert, weil die wohlhabenden englischen Besitzer weder Zeit noch Interesse haben, das Haus selbst instand zu halten. Zwischen Ol und Geth entwickelt sich eine große Liebe, doch nach der Schule geht Ol nach London, um zu studieren, während Geth in Wales bleibt, um sich, wie zuvor seine Mutter, um das Anwesen zu kümmern.

Als Ol Jahre später, sie ist mittlerweile eine preisgekrönte Filmregisseurin und außerdem verheiratet, das Anwesen kauft, ahnt sie nicht, dass Geth noch immer dort arbeitet, noch immer sein ganzes Leben auf diesen Ort ausgerichtet hat. Zwischen den beiden herrscht auch nach so vielen Jahren noch eine Spannung, die Ols Leben auf den Kopf stellen könnte.

Ihr ursprünglicher Plan, auf dem Anwesen an ihrem neuen Dokumentarfilm zu arbeiten, wird bald von ihrer Anziehung zu Geth überschattet. Selbst ihre Recherchen über eine Protestbewegung im Wales der 80er Jahre vermischen sich zunehmend mit Geths Familiengeschichte.

Während die beiden einen intensiven Sommer verleben, kommen im Haus zunehmend bedrohliche Botschaften an, die Ols Vertrauen zu Geth auf die Probe stellen. Am Ende des Sommers muss Ol eine Entscheidung treffen.

Ein unwiderstehlich kluger Roman über soziale Klasse, das ländliche Wales und die eine Liebe, die man nie vergisst.

Von Tobias Schnettler aus dem Englischen ins Deutsche übertragen.  

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

403 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 25, 2024

Reviews

[Dibz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I somehow went 26 years of my life without ever reading a book set in Wales…

‘Glass House’ by Francesca Reece is part romance, part mystery and part political fiction about past and present English efforts to undermine Welsh nationalism and national identity.

We mainly follow two young people who grow up in a small town in North Wales. Olwen is the daughter of wealthy, hippy-ish English parents. During her teenage years she falls in love with her older brothers’ attractive Welsh friend, Gethin. ‘Glass House’ is about their electric love story throughout various years. The second half follows the characters actions when Olwen moves back to Wales and starts receiving mildly terrifying notes.

Much of the action in the book takes place in and around Ty Gwyder, a beautiful modernist home built in the woods of the town by an English architect.

Positives of the book - Reece is an *excellent* writer. The main characters all seem real and well fleshed out. The descriptions of the Welsh down and the house is lush.


However,

Negatives:- it was kind of boring. The book was longer than it needed to be in my opinion. The middle especially was a slog.

I think the author should have committed to *one* genre. It should have been largely a romance book, a thriller or a historical fiction about welsh nationalism. I think by being non committal the storylines became lost.

Personally, while I found Gethin and Olwen realistic characters, I didn’t find them likeable. Not in a ‘they’re so evil’ kind of way, but more in they’re boring kind of way. I ended up not caring about them or their love story. I think people who relate to the characters would be able to enjoy their story more than I did.

In conclusion:- I’d love to read another book from this author again because she can write, but would love something with a less meandering plot and/or more interesting characters.

[Raegan Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommend to my girlies who left small towns for big cities. An image that brought me to my KNEES: ‘Drizzle flecked the PVC window, and she remembered this specific kind of weather from her childhood, when all she wanted was to leave. It was a kind of watery drabness that evoked petrol stations in out-of-town shopping centres and flowerbeds in provincial council estates. Breakfast radio DJs. Adverts for bingo halls. The synthetic perfume of various modes of Saturday morning consumption.’ Like BRUH

[emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like a Welsh version of ‘Normal People’.

[Minnette Melton-Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ omg I loved this one, it took me by surprise but wow!! I both loved and didn’t like the ending but ultimately it works well for both characters

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked this but probably not for the reasons I would normally expect - I found the Welsh (especially Welsh language) and political references slightly overdone, but I loved the descriptions of desire, adolescence and nature. Solid read

[Razwana · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF. Enjoyed listening to this on audio with a Welsh speaker, well written but not compelling enough for me to keep listening unfortunately. May come back to it, who knows?

[Julia Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5!

[Elen Boore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wedi mwynhau’r perspective am tai haf

[Майя Ставитская · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is very good, I want it to find its reader. Francesca Rees' The Observer has become one of Belle Lettre's most talked-about novels, garnering reviews ranging from enthusiastic to sharply hostile, but it is far inferior to this book of hers. In the "Glass Houses" there is a depth and volume of authentic literature, rare at all times, and in today's abundance it is completely piecemeal.

A study of the nature of adultery from today's positions, not from the time of "Madame Bovary" and "Anna Karenina". The highest level of emotional involvement - having never been in a similar situation, you experience it as your own. Perfectly built motivation chains - you absolutely believe. And an incomparable ending to the story of modern Tristan and Isolde.

March, before reaching the middle, has already pleased me with many good novels, but this one will definitely be my Book of the Month.

Валлийская история
вдруг повстречавшись в том же месте,
где расставались жизнь назад.
Мы знаем, что в состав Юнайтед Кингдом входят Англия, Шотландия, Ирландия и Уэльс; что наследник престола носит титул Принца Уэльского; и знаем, что, в отличие от бесконечно бунтовавших ирландцев и шотландцев, валлийцы относительно мирная часть населения Королевства. Мы не знаем об Уэльсе примерно ничего (ну, за исключением читавших Сезонную тетралогию Али Смит, но таких, подозреваю, немного).

Итак: у валлийцев достаточно серьезное движение за национальную независимость все тысячелетие английского правления - Лливелина, стоявшего во главе восстания пятнадцатого века, помнят и чтут по сей день. Конец века двадцатого с Движением в защиту Уэльса, стал временем еще одного всплеска сопротивления. Валлийцы не хотели инвеституры принца Чарльза - зачем нашим правителем объявят этого сопляка англичанишку? Выступали против строительства ГЭС для снабжения Ливерпуля электричеством, в ходе которого плодородные земли были затоплены и несколько деревень ушли под воду. Сопротивление жестоко подавлялось, участники объявлялись экстремистами и террористами с принятием соответствующих мер.

Это вступление нужно было за тем, что без него не понять глубину пропасти, разделяющей героев "Стеклянных домов", а книга уж очень хороша, хочется, чтобы она нашла своего читателя. Смотрите, какая история: валлиец Гетин Томас и англичанка Олуэн Йейтс познакомились в 96-м, когда ему было 15, а ей 12, и он приятельствовал с ее братом. Йейтсы, богемная семья, художники и скульпторы, приезжали в эту глубинку на лето, у них тут домик - не богачи, но могли себе позволить вакации, в то время, как мать Гетина должна была трудиться каждый день, к обычной своей работе добавив присмотр за домом в глубине леса: знаменитый архитектор построил его в начале карьеры как модернистский стеклянный куб; кто-то считает Ти Гвидр уродливым, кто-то прекрасным, Гет влюблен в этот дом, который владельцы богачи за все годы ни разу не посетили. Тогда, конечно, подросток не обратил на малявку Олуэн никакого внимания, все изменилось, когда они встретились снова, спустя три года.

Его брутальная привлекательность, ее расцветшая красота, гормоны, первая серьезная любовь для обоих. Удивительно, но встречи удалось сохранить в тайне, приютом их любви стал Ти Гвидр, Гетин давно взял на себя присмотр за домом и привык считать его своим. Влюбленные строили какие-то планы, в глубине души понимая их несбыточность: ее ждала учеба в колледже, ему нужно было работать. Изначально из разных сфер и слоев: она обеспеченная горожанка из образованного среднего класса, он валлиец из рабочего. Есть еще один фактор, о котором ни он, ни она не думают, но в их истории ему суждено сыграть роковую роль - дядя Гета Естин, так же околдованный в 80-м Марго Йейтс, как его племянник, спустя 16 лет, ее дочерью, наделал глупостей, попался на крючок полиции и сдал парней, которые участвовали в поджогах
летних домов состоятельных англичан. О его стукачестве никто не узнал, но опасность разоблачения висит над Естином дамокловым мечом и винит он Йейтсов, которые вообще никак в ситуации не участвовали.

Прошло двадцать лет, в 2017 Гет, который работает в здешнем лесном хозяйстве и по-прежнему приглядывает за Ти Гвидр, узнает. что в его услугах больше нет нужды, дом продан. А покупатели - супружеская пара из Лондона, Джон такой-то и его жена Олуэн, многообещающая молодая режиссер-документалистка. Хозяйка приезжает, чтобы все тут обустроить и, вы ведь не удивитесь, если я скажу, что первая любовь не ржавеет? "Наблюдатель" Франчески Рис стал одним из самых обсуждаемых романов Бель Летр, собрав отзывы от восторженных до резко неприязненных, но он сильно уступает этой ее книге. В "Стеклянных домах" глубина и объем подлинной литературы, редкой во все времена, а на сегодняшнем засилье выпускников крэйтив врайтинг, штампующих книжки из писательских наборов "сделай сам", как из кубиков лего - так и вовсе штучной.

Исследование природы адюльтера с сегодняшних, не времен "Госпожи Бовари" и "Анны Карениной", позиций, с удивительно мало изменившимся эгоизмом влюбленных и равнодушием ко всему, кроме себя. Высочайший уровень эмоциональной вовлеченности - не побывав ни разу в подобной ситуации, переживаешь ее, как свою. Безупречно выстроенные мотивационные цепочки - веришь абсолютно. И совершенно бесподобный финал истории современных Тристана и Изольды.

Март, не дойдя до середины, уже порадовал многими хорошими романами, но моей Книгой Месяца, точно, будет эта.

[Buchdoktor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Olwen (w) und Gethin (m) wachsen, getrennt von Klassenschranken, in Nordwales auf. Gethins Mutter Ffion (sein Vater ist unbekannt) muss jeden Job annehmen, der ihr angeboten wird, so dass sie auch die Verwaltung des leerstehenden gläsernen Architektenhauses Tŷ Gwydr samt See und Wald übernimmt, dessen Besitzer schon seit Jahren nicht mehr im Dorf gesehen wurden. Ihr Bruder reagiert entgeistert, wie sie „für diese Leute“ arbeiten kann. Er meint Großgrundbesitzer, die keine Waliser sind, keine Arbeitsplätze schaffen und für den Niedergang der Region verantwortlich sind. Als Jugendlicher beschafft Geth sich einen Zweitschlüssel zum Anwesen und genießt dort regelmäßig die unvergleichlich idyllische Aussicht. Geth, der schon in der Grundschule Walisisch so gut wie Englisch beherrscht, kennt als Lebensweise nur Armut. Als er in den 90ern Olwen Yates kennenlernt, deren Eltern im Dorf ein alternatives Leben als Künstler suchen, begreift er erst langsam, dass ihre Familie wenig Geld hat, aber nicht arm ist. Zunächst hält Geth sich den Yates-Kindern für überlegen; denn er ist hier verwurzelt und kennt jeden. Olwen besucht eine Privatschule und ihre Eltern wissen, wie man sich um Stipendien bewirbt. Sie wird den Ort verlassen, sich auch in der Fremde durchsetzen, und ihr Bruder Tal findet sich sowieso in jedem Milieu zurecht. Der circa 1980 geborene Geth dagegen entscheidet sich nach der Schule für einen Kettensägen-Lehrgang, um als Holzfäller zu arbeiten. In eine Rahmenhandlung der Gegenwart werden Ereignisse aus der Zeit antibritischen Protests der 70er bis 80er eingeblendet, die für Gethins Onkel Iestyn und seine Partnerin Angharad traumatisch war. Es war die Zeit, als ein ganzes Dorf für den Wasserspeicher einer Großstadt zerstört wurde, der Brandanschläge auf unbewohnte Landhäuser, der Attentatsdrohungen und von Polizeiwillkür, die die Protestbewegung befeuerte.

Als Jahre später nach dem Tod des Besitzers das „Glashaus“ zum Verkauf steht, scheint das für Geth das Ende seiner privaten Idylle am See zu sein. Gekauft wird das Anwesen von Olwens wohlhabendem Ehemann James, der ihre sorgenfreie Karriere als Regisseurin finanziert hatte. James kauft den Besitz, weil er es kann – und „Ol“ scheint damit zunächst nichts anfangen zu können. Immerhin nimmt sie wahr, dass der Dorfladen nur noch ehrenamtlich geführt wird. Während Olwen hier die Magie des Waldes, der Hexen und Füchse als Stoff für ihre Zwecke entdeckt, flammt ihre Teenagerliebe zu Gethin wieder auf. Die privilegierte Engländerin trifft den Waliser ohne Berufsausbildung, ohne sich der Brisanz alter Kränkungen im Dorf bewusst zu sein.

Fazit
Der Originaltitel „Glass Houses“ trifft die Beziehung zwischen Owen und Gethin und das Sozialgefüge eines walisischen Dorfes besser als der deutsche Titel und dessen Anspielung auf Liebe. Es geht auf politischer Ebene u. a. um die britische Klassengesellschaft, die Rolle von Großgrundbesitz für die Verödung ganzer Landstriche, Unabhängigkeitsforderungen, Respekt vor der walisischen Kultur; im Privatleben der Figuren um falsche Entscheidungen, Kränkungen, den Umgang von Dorfgemeinschaften mit Diversität. Vor außerordentlich atmosphärischen Landschaftsbeschreibungen entfaltet Francesca Reece Sozialgeschichte einer idyllischen Region und deren Vermarktung. Ein berührender, durch walisische Eigennamen und Wechsel zwischen Zeitebenen, aber auch komplexer Roman.

[this.catreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

#adprgifted

Thanks so much to Tinder Press for giving me the chance to get my hands on a copy of this beautiful book, which published at the end of May.

Have you ever loved a building so much that it becomes a part of the story of your life? Forester Gethin has been caretaking the beautiful Tŷ Gwydr for so long that he almost views it as home, and when he hears it will be sold to a wealthy couple from London, his world is turned upside down.

When the new owners arrive in the village, everything becomes yet more complicated. The new owners are Gethin's first girlfriend, Olwen, and her husband, James.

Gethin and Olwen quickly establish that a powerful chemistry still exists between them, but with Olwen being married and the arrival of malicious letters, all is not as simple as it could be.

There are plenty of flashbacks, which not only give us the story of how Gethin and Olwen met, but they also reveal something of a darker history in the village where the police are carrying out a heavy-handed investigation into incidents of Welsh nationalism that have led to cases of arson.

I did get in a bit of a knot with the timings on occasion (they do jump around a fair bit!), but this nostalgia-tinted tale of first love including a bit of the ol' 🌶, politics and class (with loads of very cool music and some wry humour) held me nicely engaged this weekend.

The Guardian reviewer says: '...flickers of menace are enhanced by prose that’s atmospheric and spiky.'
Sounds just about right to me.

[gannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you to @headlinebooks and @tinderpress for sending me a copy of this one!

I've never before read a book set in Wales, so I was looking forward to this being my first. It sure is a lively setting, with rich greenery and the isolated countryside vibes. The descriptions were really grand, and I liked basking in the lines of Reece's, whose writing is whimsical and nostalgic. The chemistry between Gethin and Olwen and the recounts of youth and then their lives later on are charming and enjoyable to follow.

I had a hard time pinpointing the genre of this book, it's a cross between a love story, urban fiction, and political fiction. There was no main plot really, but it could be looked at as a tale that follows the characters, their art, their connection, Welsh culture, the differences in class and wealth.

I do think it had some strong elements, but they didn't follow as interesting of an arc as i wanted them to. The characters were also unlikeable to me really, I was either not a fan or I didn't care for them. They're not really the kind of characters that you grow a warmth or closeness too.

Despite that, I think it was interesting in ways. I am definitely curious about the author's upcoming works and also more Welsh fiction now. I think the ending was particularly interesting, it's undefined and a bit confusing, which drove me a little crazy. I think not knowing the definite meaning behind it keeps us our thoughts running even after we turn over the last page, how did it end for sure...?

[Theo Malings · Rating 4 out of 5]

[The free ARC of this book was provided to me by the publisher via Netgalley]

It is rare for books to be set in my corner of North Wales. It is even rarer for them to be so and be published by an English publisher, so it was an absolute no-brainer for me to request this.

Initially, I found it fine. The early sections, which focus on Gethin and Olwen's teen years and growing relationship, felt a little too much like several other books I've read. This one, although well written and engaging enough, didn't feel as though it was doing anything new or different with the ideas of the poor, rural childhood. However, after the first third things became much more interesting. Unfortunately, I can't explain why or what's so interesting about it because this is an ARC and that would be spoiler territory.

I will say that I really liked the idea of the book's direction and the things it was considering, although I felt it left a few important questions on the table and didn't interrogate some aspects quite as much as it could have done. In particular, the wider questions of Welshness are left unexamined in a way that felt frustrating to me. The empty house with its absent English owner looms large from the first page; the story is Gethin - the Welsh-speaking local boy - and Olwen's - the daughter of hippy middle-class incomers who goes to public school in Chester. (Did I think about Normal People when I read this? Yes. Yes, I did, and in a good way this book felt in conversation with that.)

So, because this is the story of a relationship, the storyline mentioned in the blurb - of the mysterious messages arriving at the house - is a fairly low-key part of the plot (it feels almost comical at one point) and anybody hoping for a novel that drives to solve the question is going to be disappointed. The sections of the book which develop that story initially felt a bit out of place. This is an unwinding character study, not a thriller.

But Reece writes with a gorgeous subtlety. I especially admired the way she's able to show entire friendships in a single paragraph. The dialogue is pitch-perfect. She's writing a place I know in a way I recognise. Reece understands people and the delicate tightrope of how to be.

If you like stories about flawed human people and their feelings, Glass Houses is one to pick up.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

7.3. As ever cannot give half stars.

Takes a hell of a long time to get going and you really question why you're bothering at points, but something keeps you in it and as Part Two gets going it steadily grabs you by the throat and doesn't let you go.

The title indicates the quiet star of the show here. The role it plays is unassuming throughout, but ever present. Its status by the end is unavoidable and it is quietly devastating.

If it didn't take so long to get up to speed I'd be marking this higher, but ultimately it's the thinking person's Richard Curtis film, albeit if you tone the laughs down heavily.

[Anna Heledd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book was so special to me. Glass houses was like a time travel ticket back to running around in the woods with friends, getting pissed at 14 with friends at house parties, and all the shit and wonderful parts of growing up in such a rural community. I loved the characters and felt like I immediately knew what they all looked like. Olwen and Geth will leave an imprint on me for a long time to come.

Thank you Francesca for creating such a rich story about north Welsh culture, written in such a beautiful and heart wrenching way.❤️

[Bobby Den · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘Glass House’ by Francesca Reece is part romance, part mystery and part political fiction about past and present English efforts to undermine Welsh nationalism and national identity.

I liked the writing of this book, but felt like the constant switching between different times was unnecessary. I felt like the Welsh nationalism bits didn't add much. Maybe it was an attempt at being original rather than writing yet another romance novel, but it distracted from the character driven part of the book which I found quite strong.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh! I liked this one.
The first love story that ran through it, a near obsession really.
To be swept up and so utterly consumed by someone.... it was quite the read.
The background though, the house, the village, the trying times, it was all just fab.
I grew up in Wales, and have a fondness for any decently written book that uses places and phrases that bring back those memories. This one did perfectly.
I think I know Geth and Olwen, or if not them, people just like them.
Very very good.

[Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this. Really compelling writing and rich, relatable characters. Deeper than your run-of-the-mill love story, this shines a light on Welsh separatist movements and the uneasy relationship of holiday house owners to locals. Also, there should be more male masturbation scenes across literature. Their presence here made their absence elsewhere all the more notable. In short: I couldn't put it down.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's not often I find a book that's set in the lovely Welsh valleys but here we are. I absolutely loved this book and it was an absolute joy to read. Four stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the eARC of this book.

[Becci · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book - the expression and descriptions of Wales; I was back there and I could see everything so clearly.

Life doesn’t always have neat edges or warm fuzzy endings - it’s sometimes complicated, messy and unforgiving; like this story.

[Cath Barton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling

[Vanessa Rooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really sure about this one

[Hannah Griffith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoy this! A special read with lovely character development. I liked the welsh touch too, really descriptive and felt like I could picture a lot of the scenes.

[Daria Tyuneva · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF. Great writing but no storyline

[Megan Katia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, lowkey was left with a pang of sadness at the ending tho

[Mamie Philp · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mixture of a North Wales setting, characters' stories past and present plus a political backstory brought together beautifully.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-balanced multiple timelines POV and the fantastic nature writing really made me immerse myself into the serene welsh setting, which is what I enjoyed most about this novel. The historical political context added a unique facet and helped the story to some depth. Also the pacing of the storyline made this feel different from other character-driven literary fiction. However, what the scenery writing offered in intricate detail, the character writing itself was lacking. It was difficult to connect with any of the protagonists, which made the romance a lot less compelling or impactful. Usually I’m not a fan of an open(ish) ending, but this one I read three times before I could close the book and it stayed with me upon finishing the story.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5