In a Glass House

by Nino Ricci

This is the second novel in Nino Ricci's Vittorio Innocente trilogy, following the award-winning The Book of Saints . As the young Italian boy Vittorio Innocente arrives in the New World, leaving the arms of his dying mother for the troubled haven of his father, he and his half-sister Rita must make their way in a farming community whose ways are both magical and forbidding.

Genres: Fiction, Canada, Historical Fiction, Literature, Canadian Literature

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Nino Ricci’s first novel was the internationally acclaimed Lives of the Saints. It spent 75 weeks on the Globe and Mail‘s bestseller list and was the winner of the F.G. Bressani Prize, the Books in Canada First Novel Award, and the Governor General’s Award for Fiction. In England it won Betty Trask Award and Winnifred Holtby Prize, in the U.S. was shortlisted for the Los Angeles Times Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction, and in France was an Oiel de la lettre Selection of the National Libraries Association.

Published in seventeen countries, Lives of the Saints was the first volume of a trilogy that continued with In a Glass House, hailed as a “genuine achievement” by The New York Times, and Where She Has Gone, nominated for the Giller Prize. The Lives of the Saints trilogy was adapted for a television miniseries starring Sophia Loren and Kris Kristofferson.

Books in Canada commented that Ricci’s trilogy “so amply demonstrates the author’s tremendous talents that we would be foolish as readers not to follow him down whatever road he next chooses to follow.” That road led him to Testament, a fictional retelling of the life of Jesus. Hailed as a “masterpiece” by Saturday Night, Testament was a Booklist Choice for the Top Ten Historical Novels of the Year and a Times Literary Supplement Book of the Year. It was shortlisted for a Commonwealth Prize and for the Roger’s Writers’ Trust Award for Fiction and was a winner of the Trillium Award.

Ricci’s national bestseller The Origin of Species earned him the Canadian Authors Association Fiction Award as well as his second Governor General’s Award for Fiction. Set in Montreal in 1980s, the novel casts a Darwinian eye on the life of Alex Fratarcangeli, who is torn between his baser impulses and his pursuit of the Good. “This novel does so well, on so many levels,” wrote the Toronto Star, “that it’s hard to know where to begin tallying up the riches.”

Ricci is also the author of Pierre Elliott Trudeau, a short biography that forms part of Penguin’s Extraordinary Canadians series, edited by John Ralston Saul. Ricci’s biography, according to HistoryWire, “provides the best, and best written, perspective on Trudeau there is.”

Ricci's newest novel is Sleep, out in the fall of 2015.

Reviews

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really looked forward to reading this second novel in Nino Ricci’s Vittorio Innocente trilogy, following the award-winning Lives of the Saints. And I believe it could have been another award-winner, if not for the number of flaws in the narrative.

The first book covered Vittorio’s life until the age of seven. In this book which spans two decades, we follow Vittorio from the farm on Lake Erie in SW Ontario, through his years in university, to his journey to Nigeria to teach, back to the farm, and at the end, as he prepares to leave for Toronto.

The title of the book refers to the glass greenhouses where Mario, Vittorio’s father, raises vegetables, eventually prospering, despite a harsh climate. In contrast, he never tries to accept Vittorio’s half-sister, Rita, the result of his wife’s death delivering the child that was conceived in an affair back in Italy. Even Vittorio is stranger to him than his beloved tomatoes.

Rita eventually concocts a ruse to get taken in by another family, and although Vittorio attempts to connect with her, they remain awkward with one another, unable to truly relate to each other. Vittorio has the same problem with his peers: he doesn’t understand, even when a friend basically tells him that a relationship is a two-way street. Even from his own self, Vittorio is divided: there is “a hollowness at the centre of me”.

So, however thin, there is a plot to this story: a family that can’t seem to bond, that in fact, grows further and further apart; and it’s questionable whether or not a sub-plot exists, whether or not this can be called a coming-of-age story when Vittorio doesn’t really come to terms with things. Near the end, prior to leaving Africa, he says: I seemed to be leaving as I’d come, from dark to dark, stealing away like some scuttling sea thing beneath the wrinkling surface of the day.”

I marked several eloquent passages such as the above, but ultimately, Ricci’s exquisite prose was extinguished by his overuse of certain words. A beautifully written passage often needed air (delete key). Often the repetition of a word, like the steady dripping of water from a tap, distracts the reader, who might otherwise be caught up in Ricci’s potentially brilliant prose.

I know how difficult it is; how we all have our favourite words, and are often blind to them. In Ricci’s case it’s ‘somehow, merely, finally, simply, the sense that/of’, and even ‘I dunno’. I tried, unsuccessfully, to find a narrative purpose for the over-use. There were four words that stood out, becoming more irritating with each repetition, taking me “out” of the story -- furtive(ly): 19; gloom(y): 30; suddenly (not counting ‘sudden’): 88; but the worst offender by far was ‘seemed/ing’ (not counting ‘seem’!), which Ricci used, in 374 pages – hard to believe! – over 600 times.

It’s possible Ricci was attempting to achieve a particular tone, or rhythm, or perhaps to make some point about his narrator, but it didn’t work for me. I rewrote lines or passages without ‘seemed’ for example, enough times to confirm that neither meaning nor tone would be lost.

Why, you might ask, did I continue reading? My only response is: because I have the final book of the trilogy, and I am choosing to be optimistic! Where She Has Gone was a Giller Prize Finalist, after all. I hope this time to find the writing a little less cluttered, and to appreciate Ricci’s real talent; and I’m hoping that there will also be resolution, finally, for Vittorio.

[LuLu · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the first book of this trilogy. I can't really say the same for "In A Glass House". It started out with the same energy has the first but midway I felt that it lost something. It almost felt as though a different author finished writing the book. I look forward to seeing what the third book has in store of the characters and hope that it has the same feel as the first book rather than the second.

[Kerri Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unless you want to be dragged down into the depths of an existential crisis with its accompanying hopelessness and gloom, do not read this book. I am not going to comment on the auhor's writing, which is perhaps too clever for me, but God, the characters! A bunch of more morose, unpleasant self absorbed people would be impossible to find. It didn't matter what happened to Vittorio, whether it was his first girlfriend, his first sexual experience, his long anticipated admission to university, or even the counsellor whom he consulted after having suicidal thoughts, he, in a very short time, for them all, and every other experience he had, had nothing but disdain. It was awful to read and I gave up halfway through, then, a week later, having recovered my usual equilibrium, decided to give it another go. Didn't work. Twenty pages later, I gave up for good. I can't remember the last time I so loathed a character. I know, I know, this author has heaps of all these fancy awards, but that means nothing to me if I can't engage with the characters, and sometimes his clever insights into people's psyches were so deep that I was unable to even understand what he was going on about. And, truly, I am no dummy. So don't waste your time, folks, unless by reading about someone else's extremely depressing take on life and other people may possibly make you realise your life ain't so bad after all.

[Marguerite DesPalmiers · Rating 5 out of 5]

IN A GLASS HOUSE, the second novel of the Vittorio Innocente trilogy by Nino Ricci, is even more beautifully written than the first. It is sad, yes, but so deep, insightful and real. The main character’s feelings and emotions are perfectly described and his incapacity to communicate or reveal them, his constant awareness of actions not taken, things not said, meanings not coming across as intended, his loneliness and alienation. These two quotes are telling:

"In Italy the roads had snaked and curved to the rhythm of the land like a part of it, but here it seemed the battle against nature had been fiercer, the stakes higher, the need to dominate more complete."

"What seemed to sustain me in the end was my work, the sense of knowledge taking shape in me, assuming patterns as if building toward some final truth about things. I majored in English literature, becoming the expert now in this strangers’ language; though what drew me to literature was that it seemed to leave nothing out, to hold the whole world, and invariably I gravitated toward courses that crossed into other disciplines, psychology, religion, philosophy, more interested in the haze of meaning texts threw off than in their subtleties of structure and style. The world, its slow progress of ideas, took on a history and a logic; within them I looked always for ruptures, the hard sudden reversals when truth was turned on its head, nothing taken for granted but the brute random fact of existence."

[Rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, "In a Glass House" had its strengths, but I found it only a partially successful novel. The author is exceptionally talented at relating the subtleties of family relationships, particularly in regard to the many things that remain unsaid. The book is also strong as far as relating some of the immigrant experience in Canada in the Post-war era. However, I felt the book lacked the clear story line needed to pull the reader forward. I am hoping the final book in the trilogy will be better in that regard.

[Lucie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book of a trilogy. I really don't know why I love this book and the 1st one as well, but there is something in there that I connect with. Perhaps it's the Italy-Canada connection? Maybe it's Ricci's writing style? Maybe it's the characters - I've known people just like them - It's like I know them. Maybe it's because the plot is simple and it is written from one perspective only (something that is not common anymore in modern day literature). I look forward to reading the 3rd book in this trilogy.

[Kristina Greco · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the proud daughter of first generation italian immigrants, I found Ricci's depiction and obsessive focus on the dysfunctional aspects of the Italian culture too morose and in direct opposition to the pride I feel for my Italian heritage. It's as if the whole narrative and all the characters have a black cloud over them. I enjoyed the fact that the novel is set in the 60's rural Ontario and Toronto as it helped me imagine what life was like for my own family during that time.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not the daughter of an immigrant, but my father did try to become a small-time cattle rancher, so I found I connected to to Vittorio's life on the farm, even though very different. I hadn't read the first book in the series, so I had no expectations. The time and situations resonated with me. Good characterization and expression of the nuances in relationships--the stuff I love!

[Teresa Mills-Clark · Rating 1 out of 5]

Possibly during the 90's when this was written it could've been considered cutting edge. However, by today's standards it was a plodding, unwieldy, pretentiously written piece with little more than a theme of dysfunctional anxiety at its core.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whoops- probably should have read the first book first.

[Wendy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Vittorio is a self-absorbed whiner.

[Kathy Pedersen]

Meh. Too depressing for me.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful. What else can I say?

[Paula Dembeck · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Nino Ricci trilogy which began with “Lives of the Saints”.
After travelling from Italy, Vitto and his baby sister arrive in Canada to begin life in Mersea, a farming community of transplanted Italians in Southwestern Ontario. Vitto hardly knows his father Mario, a man he has not seen for five years. His father hardly speaks to him and completely ignores the baby, a constant reminder of his wife’s infidelity. Gelsomina arrives to take charge of the children while Mario works at the canning factory as well as the farm. He is always tired, angry, and moody and despite the passage of time remains distant from both the children. When the baby proves difficult to care for, Aunt Teresa arrives from Italy to manage the household while a growing assortment of aunts, uncles and cousins try to help out with the farm. Vitto has ambivalent feelings about his sister. He feels detached but responsible for her as does everyone else so the baby receives little affection or attention. No one is quite sure what do with her.
The story continues to describe their difficult life farming with bad weather, freak accidents, lost jobs, financial difficulties, harsh words and hard work all part of the sad and depressing narrative. During this time Vitto moves between home and school, not happy or comfortable in either setting, a lonely vulnerable little boy who just seems to be waiting for his life to begin and is unsure where he fits. Confused and uncertain he barely tries, drifting from one day to the next. He has evolved from the charming little boy we knew from the Valle del Sol in Italy to a less sympathetic character who avoids trying to establish a meaningful relationship with either his brooding father or his quiet sister. He does the same at school, remaining on the periphery, making few attempts to establish friendships or understand those around him. He seems to be a solitary soul, locked inside himself and buried by ruminating self analysis.
His adolescence is marked by the monotony of wasted hours playing pinball, driving around endlessly going nowhere, and smoking and drinking with his few friends. His sister has become the constant companion of Elena a friend from school and eventually she leaves the farm to live with their family. Vitto visits his sister regularly, but their conversations are cursory and they seem unable to connect in any meaningful way. Vitto continues to live his life alone on the edges and always outside of things.
In this first half of the book, the narrative seems to stall in neutral. It is basically the hard life of farming, battling the elements, worrying about finances and trying to do the continuous, monotonous, back breaking work. The people living in the house or working in the fields include a number of aunts, uncles and cousins, but they have no affinity or affection for one another and have difficulty seeing themselves as a family. The lagging narrative creates a morose mood and it is difficult to get past these chapters as little happens and the story seems weighed down under this dragging discontent.
Rita moves away permanently to her adopted home and Vitto, who now calls himself Victor, heads to University. From that point on the narrative picks up, a refreshingly change. But Victor remains lonely, shy and depressed while studying in Toronto. His few visits home are difficult, although he gradually finds life more bearable as his despair dissolves into the routines of everyday life. The farm has expanded and is prosperous, and although finances are not easy they are not as tenuous. But Victor’s relationship with his father continues to be difficult with their few conversations infected with misunderstanding and anger.
When Victor completes his schooling he decides to teach in Nigeria. His father is disappointed that he has worked so hard to build something that his son is so anxious to leave. Even in their parting they cannot manage any feelings for one another. Rita as well remains distant, like some lost part of himself that Victor does not know what to do with.
His life in Nigeria proves very different, but it is a life he seems to accept, so after completing his two year stay, he signs on for another year, only to be summoned back to Canada when his father dies.
Ricci’s prose shines through in this volume as it does in his other works. The first section though was difficult to get through, the pace lagging too long with its morose and meandering storyline which was ultimately rescued in the second half. Overall I must say this second book is somewhat disappointing after the wonderful beginning in "Lives of the Saints". However, I am still interested to hear the end of the story and will continue on with the final book in the trilogy.

[Andria CM · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in the trilogy and I wanted to continue with the series (Lives of the Saints).

This book continues with the life of Vittorio when he arrives in Ontario, Canada and spans two decades, through his early years at the farm, university, a journey to Africa, back to the farm, and as he prepares to leave for Toronto.

As with the first book some of the phrases and passages are a little over-the-top. Mr. Ricci is very descriptive in the writing - its beautifully written but sometimes it seems to just drag on and on, almost too much. He continually used the phrase "from bottom" which I felt to be distracting and hard to digest...it didn't seem to flow. He was basically trying to say "in the end" or "deep down".

As with the first book, I felt that it didn't really pick up until about the last 50-70 pages or so.

I will continue with the series since I'm curious how it ends for Vittorio.

[Rosie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 2 of 3:
Vittorio is now a teenager, his sister is adopted by a family with another daughter whom she played with in school. The culture is still ingrained in the family (families), but he is changing. His grandfather in Italy died and left him the farm in Italy.

After school, he goes to college in Toronto and then accepts an English teaching position in Africa - Nigeria. While there (3 years) his father dies and he returns. He has inherited his father's farm so now has money. His half-sister, Rita, is starting college and he is returning to college.

Good story about immigrants and cultures.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll have to reserve final judgement until I finish Lives of the Saints, of which In a Glass House is the sequel (Where She Has Gone is the third of the Trilogy and I'll read that next). But I'll relate that Toronto City Councillor Shelley Carroll told me she thought the whole trilogy should be required reading in the Toronto Public Schools because of its account of the immigrant and second-generation experience in Canada.

[Bobbi-Jo Dow Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a number of reviews about books in this trilogy - Lives of Saints was the first and tends to get better acclaim; however, I read this one (the 2nd) first and I like it equally as much as I do Lives of Saints. I was drawn in by the immigrant story and the complicated family relationships. While I agree that a few parts drag a bit, this author's talent in weaving the story web earns more than three stars.

[Malcolm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. Ricci is a terrific writer with great descriptive ability. He has a level of insight into people the human condition that is is seldom seen. I recommend both this book, and the previous book, Lives of the Saints. I have not read the third book in the triology but will certainly do so.

[Lynda Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the dynamics of the Italian immigrant family in Canada, with all of the trials and tribulations of fitting into a new culture. In this mix also were family secrets and skeletons making it very intriguing. How does a father relate to a daughter that he knows deep down is not his; and how does the son relate to the turmoil he sees around him.

[Margaret Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second in a trilogy, this narrative by a Canadian writer has the same intense lyricality and strong characterization as its predecessor, Lives of the Saints, although, perhaps, a little less magic. Still, the story and its people resonate strongly after the last page has been read and the book put down. What a writer! And what a penetrating look at the Italian immigrant experience!

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part two in a trilogy. This book continues the life of Vittorio Innocente, who winds up in Ontario, and living with his father in a small community. It is a story of a young man's struggles, including getting to know both his father and his half-sister.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible book.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ricci captures emotions so well. Those moments of loneliness and feeling that we are outsiders. Excellent read for all those with a connection to the Sun Parlour area.

[Nadia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just okay. Annoying main character - never making decisions, never committing, etc.

[John Stockie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I loved Lives of the Saints and was excited about reading this one. But I found it boooring. Couldn't finish it.

[Marc · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sure, the narrative is incomprehensible but that's not the point; the value here is its exploration of immigrant kids navigating the nuances of two cultures