Christian Fiction Devourers discussion
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Specters in the Glass House
Book of the Month Reading
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November's Book of the Month - Specters in the Glass House by Jaime Jo Wright
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Kari, I'm so happy to hear that.
This is my first time participating in a book read so not sure if folks generally comment before, during, or after the read. but I have started this book and am about four chapters in. All I can say is where has Jaime Jo Wright been all my life. I've never read one of her books but her writing style reminds me a lot of my favorite books when I was a teenager. I loved gothic novels then, before becoming a Christian. Nice to find this style from a Christian author. Can't wait to see where the story goes.
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I completely forgot to mention in the intro comment (sorry! I've added a comment up there now), we permit spoilery comments after the 15th of the month, which is the date on which the discussion questions will be posted. Prior to that date, you're welcome to say whether or not you enjoyed the book as well as general comments that don't spoil plot points or twists in the story.
Most importantly, I hope you have fun chatting with fellow readers about the story throughout the month.
Another gothic historical fiction author you might want to try out is Joanna Davidson Politano. She's my favorite in the gothic genre right now.
Thanks, Andrea. I would never wish to spoil anyone in a mystery story so I'll be sure to be very careful to follow the rules. Will for sure be checking out more books by this author and will look up Joanna Davidson Politano.
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I'm in. Started reading it last night. So far the first couple of chapters are pulling me in.
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I’m a little over half way through. Different than most books I read. I’m intrigued to see where it goes!
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I read this book earlier this based on a recommendation from a book & homeschool YouTuber (Mandy Maltz) and it is fantastic!
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Just starting the book today!
Finished the book Friday night and really enjoyed it.
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I'm listening to the audio as I'm typing this. Pretty creepy and good so far. I'm curious to see how it ends.
Missy, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
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These questions came from the back of the book. You may answer any or all of the questions. You may also ask your own questions. Spoilers are now allowed. If you haven't yet read the book and don't want the story spoiled, feel free to ignore this thread until you finish, then come back and chime in.
Happy discussing!
1. The story opens with Marian’s life being affected by the current laws forbidding the sale of alcohol. Prohibition, while often glamorized in fiction as the era of gangsters and rum-running, had a significant impact on the economy. In what ways might Prohibition have affected your own family’s history, or how do you think this time period would have been different (good or bad) had Prohibition never occurred?
2. Conservatories were popular forms of architecture in the days of grand estates and manors. If you were to design your own conservatory, which plants and other elements of nature would you want to include in it?
3. Butterflies carry great significance for many cultures, religions, and belief systems. For some, butterflies represent renewal and rebirth. For others, they carry an element of spiritual influence and superstition. When you think about butterflies, how do you perceive their significance?
4. In this story, there is a thread woven through the lives of the Arnold family that is both pivotal and life-changing in the area of mental health. This thread also affects future generations in profound ways. When you consider mental illness, what are some ways you see individuals with various diagnoses impacting our communities and lives for the better?
5. In what ways do you see Remy’s and Marian’s lives parallel each other, and in what ways do they differ?
6. If you could sit down and have tea or coffee with one of the characters, which one would you choose and why?
7. If you come from the position of faith, how do you believe God can work through individuals who experience life through a lens that views the world differently than you do?
8. The novel delved into a fictional serial killer from the 1920s. However, there have been serial killers throughout history, some well-known and others far less popular. Which ones have fascinated you in your studies and why? Or if you’re not intrigued by true crime, why do you prefer historical cases in fiction but not in real life?
Do you have a question you'd like to ask about the book for the group to discuss?
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Just this last week, I had some high anxiety. God used a worldly sitcom to give me laughter and encouragement through those difficult moments, which helped calm my anxiety so I could enjoy the week of dog-sitting for some friends.
1. The story opens with Marian’s life being affected by the current laws forbidding the sale of alcohol. Prohibition, while often glamorized in fiction as the era of gangsters and rum-running, had a significant impact on the economy. In what ways might Prohibition have affected your own family’s history, or how do you think this time period would have been different (good or bad) had Prohibition never occurred? There may have been fewer people drinking during prohibition, but the people who totally objected to prohibition were encouraged to find illegal ways to get it. It is interesting that it fostered wild underground parties, ignored by authorities.
I have this here and hope to get to it before the month is over.
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Welcome, Storm!
Finally finished the book today and really enjoyed it a lot. It kept my interest throughout, and I couldn't quite put my finger on exactly how it would end up. I do very much enjoy a book that keeps me guessing. I do come at it from a position of faith and appreciated when Ambrose was speaking to Remy near the end about the biblical concept of family legacy's being passed down to their children. Where does that fit in with a young woman with a history such as Remy's? Complicated and painful and yet she has found a way to rise above all of that, even if she can't quite grasp it right there in the mess of the moment. "God finds you in the chaos, Remy. HE finds you". Ambrose reminds her. Loved this conversation.
Finished this read late last night. I couldn't stop since I was so close to finishing. I thought it was an interesting read, not my typical, but I do love a mystery. I think I will add another of her books to my TBR listing.
I started this book this morning and I am a little more than halfway through now. I'm enjoying it so far. The whispers of the devil in her ear about death are hitting me hard right now. I don't believe in the butterfly thing, although I have family that do. It's just a silly superstition and isn't mentioned in the Bible. Once we die, we don't become angels, and we don't watch over our loved ones. As a mystery read, it's good. I wouldn't consider it a spiritual read, but I haven't read until the end either. The butterflies are getting too much attention in this book, imo. I wish the author would have toned that down.
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I just finished it. Can I just say, wow?! The last half of the book took a very unexpected turn. That was not where I thought the author was going at all. Very interesting. Felix was my favorite character. I especially loved that he had a crocheted cross. I crochet and it's nice to see it mentioned in books. Knitting and quilting always get the attention in books, it's rare to see crochet mentioned. This is a new to me author; I look forward to reading more from her.
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I just finished the book and I have to agree with Heather. Wow! This book did turn completely different from what I had expected. The closer I got to the end, the harder it was to put the book down! I understand the dread of family curses. All of my dad’s family were alcoholics. A teacher once told me that I could not escape it; I too one day would fall to its grips. The Bible does talk of generational curses and blessings. When I accepted Christ as my Savior, I received a new bloodline that is not marred by the choices of my ancestors!
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Yes to Karen and Andrea. I have generational curses in my family as well. They are so hard to break. :( God is more powerful, though!
Specters in the Glass House by Jaime Jo Wright
In 1921, Marian Arnold, the heiress to a brewing baron's empire, seeks solace in the glass butterfly house on her family's Wisconsin estate as Prohibition and the deaths of her parents cast a long shadow over her shrinking world. When Marian's sanctuary is invaded by nightmarish visions, she grapples with the line between hallucinations of things to come and malevolent forces at play in the present. With dead butterflies as the killer's ominous signature, murders unfold at a steady pace. Marian, fearful she might be next, enlists the help of her childhood friend Felix, a war veteran with his own haunted past.
In the present day, researcher Remy Shaw becomes entangled in an elderly biographer's quest to uncover the truth behind Marian Arnold's mysterious life and the unsolved murders linked to an infamous serial killer. Joined by Marian's great-great-grandson, can Remy expose the evil that lurks beneath broken wings? Or will the dark legacy surrounding the manor and its glass house destroy yet another generation?
Renowned as a "trailblazer extraordinaire" (Booklist) of inspirational dual-time suspense, award-winning author Jaime Jo Wright weaves a haunting tale of mystery, legacy, and the relentless pursuit of truth across two distinct eras.
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Who's in for this one with me?
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Discussion questions will be posted on November 15. Please keep all spoilery comments to yourself until after those questions have been posted. Thank you.