The Glass Harmonica

by Louise Marley

The life of Eilish Eam, an orphaned street musician surviving on pennies in eighteenth-century London, changes forever thanks to intercession of Benjamin Franklin and Erin Rushton, a classical musician from Seattle in the year 2018, who becomes haunted by visions of a young girl from the past who desperately needs her help. Reprint.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical, Book Club, Time Travel

371 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Louise Marley, a former concert and opera singer, has published nineteen novels. As Louise Marley, she writes fantasy and science fiction, including THE TERRORISTS OF IRUSTAN and THE CHILD GODDESS. Writing as Cate Campbell, she published the historical trilogy BENEDICT HALL.

Reviews

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first time I ever heard any version of the old folksong Barbara Allen was in the Daffy Duck cartoon "Robin Hood Daffy", when it was sung by Porky Pig. Who was, I might add, possessed of a surprisingly true voice for a stammering pig--and therefore, it is in no way, shape, or form a statement on the quality of Ms. Marley's writing that her book totally songvirused me with Porky's voice. ;) It is simply a reflection of how the first verse of this ditty, the one that Porky sings, is quoted more than once throughout this book. I kept trying to envision the characters drawn in Warner Brothers style, too.

All that aside, I did quite enjoy this novel. The central plot is about a glass harmonica player in 2018 having visions of a young girl in 1762--the very child Benjamin Franklin has brought into his home to test-play his newly invented armonica--and how the unfolding of young Eilish Eam's life in turn affects Erin Rushton's. It's a gentle, subtle story, neither big nor flashy, and read for me like a well-written musical piece plays. There are two separate but intertwined storylines, balanced against and reflecting each other, and ultimately coming together in the end with a chord of resolution. Moreover, since Marley is a local author, it was quite satisfying as well as thought-inducing to see certain details that exist in the Seattle of today employed in her plot.

I have a vague memory of hearing a glass harmonica performance at a Worldcon; it had to have been either the 1998 Baltimore one or 2002 in Philly, I can't remember which. But because of this book, I'm very much wanting to find a decent recording of appropriate music. And any book that makes me want to go find music is a win! Four stars.

[Belinda Kroll · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is well-written: all the characters have backstories and motivations, and the setting is fully realized. Despite this, I felt no connection with the characters. I read the entire book, but I never felt drawn to the story, wondering what would happen next. And I should have, because this was an interesting idea. As a musician, I loved the history of the glass harmonica; as a historian, I thought Marley’s depiction of Benjamin Franklin was great; as a scientist, I loved the idea of applying music to neuro-therapy. As a writer, I thought something was lacking, which may be because the back cover copy made the story seem more action-oriented, a time-travel similar to The Lake House (which defies so many laws of physics and time-travel, even).

A pleasant read, the one thing that really annoyed me was Marley’s use of “’twas” and “’tis,” beyond the 1761 dialogue. For example: Eilish pushed the basket again, trying to make her two seed coins clink together. Talk brought no food. ‘Twas money she needed. In my opinion, Marley should have stuck with a first-person narrative for the 1761 story, and third-person for the 2018, if she wanted to write like that. But then, another reader will find it charming, and think I’m crazy for not liking it. Such a subjective profession this is…

Originally posted at http://worderella.com/2007/07/book-th...

[Nancy O'Toole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eilish Eam is an orphan living in poverty in London in 1761. She earns her living by playing the water glasses on a street corner. When her music attracts the attention of Benjamin Franklin, he offers her a new life. All she has to do in return is help him with his latest musical invention, the glass harmonica. In 2018, Erin Rushton is a talented musician who plays the glass harmonica. At twenty-three, she's tried of being treated like a child by others who are mislead by her youthful appearance. Then she begins to see strange visions of a young girl who also plays the glass harmonica. As these two musicians are connected across time, their lives develop in ways that are both different, yet similar.

The Glass Harmonica is a book that has been sitting on my shelf for years, but has never been touched for one reason or another. After recently reading Felix J Palma's The Map of Time, I've found myself in the mood for more books that mix science fiction with historical fiction. The Glass Harmonica is a book that ends up accomplishing this feat with a greater degree of success than The Map of Time. One of the reasons The Glass Harmonica succeeds so well is the historical fiction and science fiction elements are very well balanced with each other. Both the past and future storylines are well developed and feature likable protagonists. Despite the connection between the two musicians, The Glass Harmonica is not a time travel story, as the actual interaction between the two musicians don't go much further than ghostly images. Instead, what ends up connecting them, and makes the book so interesting, is the many ways which their two lives parallel each other.

The greatest connection between the two storylines can be found in how the settings are developed. Until she encounters Benjamin Franklin, Eilish lives a life of stark poverty, an existence that at first clashes with the sci fi setting. In Erin's 2018 storyline, Marley has created a vision of future that is obsessed with the past, where people carefully cultivate neighborhoods to perfectly mimic how they once stood decades or more ago. The downside of these beautifully crafted neighborhoods is those who cannot afford them are forced into homelessness, living out their entire existences in tent cities. The stark separation between the upper and lower classes can be felt just as strongly though both time lines. Other ways which Eilish and Erin's life parallel each other end up digging into the issues of the emotional power of music, medical ethics, and family. Despite the fact that the novel can have it's shocking and sad moments, it's not an overly dark tale, and can also posses real warmth.

The Glass Harmonica is a fantastic mix of historical and science fiction. Although I found myself somewhat skeptical of some of the futuristic elements (mainly in relation to Dr. Berrick's medical experiments), I found the book on a whole to be rather enjoyable and look forward to reading more books by Louise Marley.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book somehow landed on my TBR pile, and I'm embarrassed to say I know not how. I think it was probably left on a book exchange bookshelf and I grabbed it thinking it sounded interesting. It was surprisingly engaging for an unexpected find. There are two intertwined stories: Eilish Eam an orphan living in London, who comes to the notice of Ben Franklin because of her skill at playing melodies on water-filled glasses and Erin Rushton, a child prodigy on the glass harmonica, living in 2018. I found both stories of interest, though the link between the two a bit ambiguous. I kept trying to make the characters from one match the characters from the other -- stretching a reincarnation theme, but think that there just might be more of harmonioius (ha!) parallels instead of exact rebirth of souls.

This book was published in 2000, and it was interesting to see how the author envisioned the world in 2018. Here in 2012, we're a bit closer to the setting of the book. I must admit that I'm a little glad some of the future "changes" are not that likely to happen in the next few years.

Another thing that was of interest to me was that the original glass in Franklin's glassy armonica (gained the h when Germans began using the word) was that there was a high content of lead in the glasses. Here in Charleston, the old houses are loaded with high lead content paint, making lead poisoning something still seen in my pediatric nursing practice. Interesting how that played into the story.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay. Yep, it's a vaguely-historical soft sci-fantasy ghost story, split between Ben Franklin's Irish "apprentice" and a pair of future-Seattle child prodigy musicians, which, weirdly, turns into a... romance? Kind of.

This is the sort of fiction people write when they find out about a cool thing (in this case glass harmonicas) and want to put it in a story... I'm not going to say it's good, but it's different.

[Thea Estelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was full of ableism and poverty porn that added absolutely nothing to the story. Individuals with disabilities were treated as plot devices and nothing more. I found Erin insufferable, she tried to control her brother’s life and couldn’t love him as a whole, complete person because of how much she hated his disability, and then she ended up as a hero who helps heal him? Horrifying. Plus, the sci-fi and fantasy elements all felt really weak. In addition, it was painfully dated- meant to be set in the “future” world of 2018 but the futuristic elements all felt pretty ridiculous considering that 2018 is now in the past, and the world looks nothing like the author pictured it would when this book was published in 2000. Overall, I disliked it immensely and found it deeply problematic.

[Susan Meade · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story. A bit of history. I've always been intrigued by the glass harmonica. But I don't think the writing was stellar. The story flips between the 1700s and Franklin's time in England, and some point in the not too distant future. I was consistently confused by some of the futuristic elements included in "current" time. No details on what some of the inventions (?) were, and even why they needed to be included in the story. You could easily have included some advanced medical techniques that are not actually 'real' without inventing things like view windows (don't ask). All in all, I sort of enjoyed the story, but really couldn't recommend to anyone.

[Robyn Helsel]

When I was in grade school, they had someone come almost every year to entertain up by playing singing glasses, also called the glass harp (which I learned from reading this book). It amazed me. I had never heard of a glass armonica and definitely didn’t know Ben Franklin invented the instrument. The Glass Harmonica is historical fiction and a pleasant read. I like the switching back and forth between time periods and appreciate that the two stories are parallel, yet intertwined and finally converge; a bit of paranormal. I have since looked up more about the glass harmonica and watch some videos of musicians playing the instrument. Music is the key that ties everything together.

[Vicky Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always held this book in a special place in my heart. I first read it when I was in high school 16 years ago. Eilish is my absolute favorite character and how she approaches everything in her life as this is the way its going to be. I have told several people about this book who like stories with a touch of history.
I have seen that some readers mention time travel between Erin and Eilish, but here is a thought to ponder over what if Erin is Eilish but reincarnated?

[Wiborada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chronique complète

Un roman certes imparfait, mais à découvrir tout de même. Il navigue entre les genres (sf, fantastique, historique) comme il navigue entre les époques et offre une expérience de lecture souvent captivante.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book over 20 years ago before I started using Goodreads and I loved it so much, and even after so long, I would still remember parts of the book. I recently thought about rereading the book and even after 20+ years, the 5 star rating stands.

[Jay Fusco · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5, I really enjoyed the story.

[Marsha Valance · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 21st century musician finds herself linked with an 18th century street busker through their rare instrument.

[lyra · Rating 5 out of 5]

wOW
Cannot believe this was a random thrift store pickup
I am obsessed with the glass harmonica lore and low key want one

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The back summary made it sound like a mystery but it wasn’t it was a beautiful story that read like music.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The end was a bit too neatly wrapped up/predictible, but I enjoyed the story none-the-less.

[Becky Benishek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm giving this 5 stars because I really enjoyed the pacing, evocative scenes, and language. I found myself wanting to explore both worlds more, which is a great sign!

The author shows great subtlety in world-building, as well; while half the book is set in Seattle of 2018, the slightly sci-fi futuristic twists in this 2018 were introduced matter-of-factly, and so were all the more delightful versus any laborious exposition.

And I loved the glimpses we had of Ben Franklin and the late 18th-century world. I found myself wishing I could help!

I don't know if I would actually label this book "Science Fiction" as it is in my local library...it's perhaps more of a spooky fantasy. But it's a fun read no matter what you call it.

[Lis Carey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is two stories told in alternating chapters, with the connections between them gradually becoming clearer. Eilish Eam is an Irish orphan living in the Seven Dials section of London in 1761, barely keeping herself alive playing tunes on glasses for pennies. Erin Rushton is a professional musician in 2018, playing the glass harmonica to audiences newly interested in the old instrument, in a society going through a serious nostalgia fit. Eilish is found by Benjamin Franklin, who, charmed by her playing on the glasses, takes her in to help with the tuning of the glass harmonica, which he is trying to perfect. Erin finds her self increasingly caught up in two things: her twin brother Charles, who composes much of the music she plays, is determined to walk again, and has found a doctor with an unproven new technique, augmented binaural stimulation, to restore Charles' ability to walk, and at the same time Erin herself is troubled by a wraith that sometimes appears when she's playing the glass harmonica.

Eilish finds that, despite the fact that Franklin and most of the residents of the Stevenson household (where Franklin was living at the time) are kind, her good fortune hasn't solved all her problems. She isn't earning enough money to make a big difference in the life of Mackie, the little crippled boy she had been helping to care for before meeting Franklin. Franklin's other project at the time, experimenting with electrical shocks for the treatment of epilepsy, distresses her greatly. Like Erin, she's seeing wraiths--although, believing in second sight and that she has second sight, she's not as distressed by them as Erin is.

Erin struggles to trust Dr. Berrick, struggles with seeing her brother struggle to walk, struggles with fear of going mad, struggles with their mother Sarah's efforts to control their lives for their own good. Eilish faces everything bravely; Erin has to force herself not to run from trouble and confrontation, and does it only for her brother's sake. What Erin and Eilish have in common is the love of the music of the glass harmonica.

Marley's not a cheerful writer, but she does present here characters that feel rounded and real, and if the world of 2018 feels a little thin in places, it's quite convincing in others, and she avoids either romanticizing London of 1761, or dwelling on its awfulness. Worth reading.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story combines one of my heroes (Ben Franklin) and one of my favorite of his inventions. The story is well-written and interesting-- perhaps a little predictable in its outcome, but there are quite enough twists and turns to make it a good destination. My only complaint is (I would venture) not the author's fault, but the result of what I would guess is a mandatory love interest rule for all first-time authors. Here's a hint to publishers-- not every story needs a standard love interest to "round it out".

In this case the love interest is quite adequately fulfilled by the main protagonist's love for her brother as she tries to help him in any way she can with a debilitating condition, as well as Franklin's love of his art and his paternal love for the young girl who helps him develop his revolutionary instrument. In the context of this story, the boy-meets-girl sub-plot seems like a bolted-on bit of gaudy bling. This has "management decision" written all over it.

Still, it only barely detracts from the story and is placed in a most unobtrusive way so as not to detract from the story. One could almost redact it and lose nothing from an otherwise wonderful book.

[Kris Irvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Semi-reread. I read this book for the first time when I was 12, because I was super into harmonicas. Note - the mouth harp is not the harmonica featured in this book. It is some sort of odd glass instrument.

Upon re-reading as an older, wise, more awesome version of me, here are my thoughts. I really hate the storyline with Erin and Charlie and Gene. Gene is weird and I don't like him, and Erin is a total whiny baby. I caught that even as a 12 year old, so it's pretty obvious. Their love is really forced and the ending is ridiculously rushed. There are some interesting ideas about "the future" but ... meh.

On the other hand I LOVE the storyline of Eilish. I thought it was fantastically well done and it's very compelling. I remember skipping the Erin parts as a kid and just reading Eilish's part. I love the history and the characters and the portrayal of Ben Franklin and that whole part. So yay.

A kind of obscure book about an obscure instrument. Overall, it's not one I would go out of my way to read again.

[LuAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being set 18 years in the future from when it was published lends some interesting technology and culture to the story of two gifted musician twins, a glass harmonica player seeking to understand the mysterious "visitor" who haunts her and her composer brother seeking to walk after losing the ability as a child to a genetic disease, and Ben Franklin's glass harmonica protege from 1761 England, an orphaned Irish street musician.
The settings, always important to me, are skillfully evoked and the characters are sympathetic and interesting. That the parts about Ben Franklin are based on historical fact adds interest for me. There is some minor social commentary in the portrayal of the two societies that doesn't intrude, though I wondered why it didn't really go anywhere. I would not place this time travel genre, but really more ghost story. Music is such a major part of the story that having an appreciation of music would enhance there reader's enjoyment.

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

This seems to be my month for reading fantasy novels with music as a main theme. This novel is set in the seventeenth century and ten years from now, with a young woman in each setting who plays the glass harmonica. You really care what happens to the characters and the seventeenth century setting in Benjamin Franklin's house in London comes alive in a nice way. The 2018 setting, in Boston, Seattle and London, has some cute touches and assumes some believable technological advances (but why assume there will suddenly be an epidemic of monorail building?). However, it is hard to believe that American society would develop in the next ten years in the way the author describes.

[Teri Dluznieski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book! I came across it on a YA shelf in a bookstore, and something about it caught my attention. I am ever so grateful that it did. What an amazing and unique blend of music, history and the supernatural! And with all of this depth and breadth, Louise Marley combines science fiction components with an absolutely seamless weave. Her characters are very real, and bring so many historic aspects to our awareness, and touches something deep in the heart, while sparking something in the imagination at the same time. I have since read many of her books, all of them impress with their unique background and blends- but I think this one is my favourite:)

[Catsy Turre · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not a fan of depressing books, which this is, technically. I also usually don't care for history fiction, but that's my fault because I didn't read the description (I rarely do, I like to be surprised). It was beautifully written, and the environments were definitely wonderful.

*Slight* spoiler

That said, I felt no connection to any of the characters. The main character of the future part, Erin, felt more like a second character to her brother. I didn't see how the past and future were connected, aside from the instrument and there was never a real explanation to why Erin was seeing Eilish at random parts. I also felt it cliche that Erin fall for the doctor.

[Kyria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one, though I predicted the way it would end. The story goes back and forth between centuries, between the 2 major characters. An orphaned girl is asked by Ben Franklin to help him with his newest invention, the glass harmonica, after he hears her playing the musical glasses on a street corner in London. In the 21st century, a young woman is a musical prodigy skilled at playing the glass harmonica, but is haunted by ghostly visions. I loved all the musical & historical references throughout the book.

[Eryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

the story was interesting enough and i learned a thing or two about music, it just isn't the first book that would leap to mind when asked for a rec, or probably even the 50th book for that matter. worth a lazy, mindless winter read, probably would be a better beach book. i want to be kinder to it because i didn't dislike it in any way, but it just didn't blow my skirt up.

[Kristi Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure whether this was science fiction or fantasy. Possibly both. The doctor keeps alluding to some sort of scientific explanation, though it's never spelled out. But that doesn't seem important. The armonica's magic, is all. ""Tis like that, my little instrument." I really liked poor Elish.

[eleight · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently finished re-reading this book, after not having read it for several years. It's an odd blend of historical and futuristic fiction. The first time I read it, I had never heard of the instrument, and looked it up to see if that portion was true. The characters are nicely done, though the end is predictable.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very clever story filled with parallelism about the girl who was the first to play Benjamin Franklin's "glass armonica" and the modern day girl in 2018 who plays the instrument professionally. I loved the characterization of Franklin and was able to apply some of what I read to my AP US history class! All in all, an enjoyable read.

[Debi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book and cared what happened to the characters, yet I was left with a nagging feeling that there was something lacking. Maybe I only hoped for more connection between the two girls. I guess, I hated that the probable lead poisoning could have been dealt with from the future but wasn't. Regardless, I would recommend this book to lovers of sci-fi/fantasy.