The Glass Hotel: A novel Paperback – February 16, 2021

"Glass Hotel" by Emily St. John Mandel is an extraordinary novel that skillfully weaves together themes of illusion, deception, and the fragility of human connections. From the very first page, Mandel captivates the reader with her exquisite prose and masterful storytelling.One of the standout features of this novel is the seamless way in which Mandel navigates through different timelines and locations. Her narrative effortlessly transitions between the remote wilderness of Vancouver Island, the bustling streets of Manhattan, and the eerie, surreal setting of a luxury hotel. This fluid movement not only enhances the story's richness but also adds depth to the characters' experiences and emotions, making the reader feel intimately connected to their journeys.The character development in "Glass Hotel" is truly remarkable. Mandel has a rare talent for creating complex, multifaceted characters who are both deeply flawed and profoundly human. Vincent, the enigmatic bartender turned trophy wife, is a particularly compelling protagonist. Her evolution throughout the novel is handled with great sensitivity and insight, making her both relatable and unforgettable. Likewise, Jonathan Alkaitis, the financier whose Ponzi scheme sets the plot in motion, is portrayed with a nuanced blend of charisma and moral ambiguity.Each character's arc is intricately linked with the central themes of the novel, and Mandel's exploration of their inner lives is both poignant and thought-provoking. The secondary characters, too, are vividly drawn and contribute significantly to the novel's immersive quality."Glass Hotel" is a testament to Emily St. John Mandel's extraordinary ability to craft a narrative that is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant. Her deft handling of time and place, combined with her deep empathy for her characters, makes this novel a compelling and unforgettable read. Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates literary fiction at its finest.

You won’t be able to understand the first chapter until you finish the book - and then it’s worthwhile to go back and read it again. This is an unusual novel about people. Although there is May-December relationship as part - it isn’t a romance. Although there is a hotel ‘way out in the hinterlands of Canada and we hear a lot from folks who are deceased, it is not a ghost story, and although there is a very successful Ponzi Scheme which succeeds as they all do until they crash, taking many lives with them, it is not a crime story. Finally, as there is a disappearance, it is not a murder mystery with the usual sleuthing for bodies or truth or even blame. It is the story of a unique assortment of folks who are brought together in a set of circumstances that changes their lives forever.The writing is some of the best I’ve read. It takes a bit to get used to the author’s technique of introducing us to a character and the life he is living today, and then in the next paragraph, taking us back to give us a peek at his background, and the event that explains what we just read about him. Does this make sense? It does as you grow accustomed to it.You get to know the characters well and it becomes necessary to find out how their lives are going, considering what they have been through. For me, this kept the pages turning like a thriller. Just when you got wrapped up in one character, he/she would disappear for a while, and you would be compelled to read faster to be there for their return!This novel is a different reading experience and if you crave a creative approach to storytelling, as I did - this will more than satisfy that need! I enjoyed The Glass Hotel, and will now search for Station Eleven. I have a new favorite author!

I really wanted to love this book. There were a lot of ideas floating in it that could have made really interesting stories. The story kept changing direction and it wasn't until almost 150 pages in that it actually starts to take any shape and it isnt as exciting as some of the routes it could have taken. It is also tough to piece all the different stories together. And the constant jumping and going back and forth in time made it very confusing. Unfortunately I would not recommend.

Tenía expectativas altas después de ver la serie de tv Station Eleven, que me pareció excelente. Antes de eso no conocía a la autora. Esta novela, aunque la historia me pareció menos interesante que Station Eleven, no me decepcionó en absoluto.

I liked everything about The Glass Hotel. Very easy to read and you just don’t want to put it down. Complex and multidimensional characters. Fascinating reading about Ponzi schemes and their impact on people and the ease with which people can be corrupted. And a great ending. Loved this book and highly recommend it for a really good read.

Loved the book! Emily has become one f my fav writers after Station 11

Li o best seller Station eleven, que adorei, mas não gostei deste. Esperava algo diferente. Ou vc vai adorar ou vai detestar.

Station eleven is one of my favourite books of all time. But this one just never quite grabbed me.No one writes like Emily St. John Mandel. That's why I pre-order this book as soon as I could. But I'm immensely unsatisfied with this book.Perhaps my expectations were too high. The characters were confused and lonely, and the story was a series of vignettes and memories of struggles and ghosts. But, the characters didn't seem real to me…This is a simple story made too complex in an effort to have everyone's lives overlap. Mandel has shown that each character's actions are the result of the actions of someone else. Everyone's story intersects through a Ponzi scheme and the story jumps back and forth in time to explore lives prior to and after the collapse of the scheme.I feel like I missed the point… Every time we got close to something interesting on the plot, the narrative would move away to something mundane and the time jumps seamed to brush over important moments…The writing on the glass window; why was everyone so upset about it? I don't get it…