Helpful Score: 4
Overall I would give this book about 3.5. The last 20 percent of it was very good. First 80% dragged. It took quite a whle to get to the real point of the book. Ms. Howe did a good job of jumping between time periods and telling her story of opium dens, titantic and fate. Definately worth reading could have developed plot line quicker though.
Helpful Score: 2
Let me first say that I LOVED The Physick Book of Deliverance Dance. It was way out of my normal realm of reading. At the time, I hadn't dabbled into much historical fiction, especially with a paranormal aspect intertwined. I waited for quite awhile to get The House of Velvet and Glass and I was chomping at the bit to just go out and buy it before it came to me through PBS. I dove right in as soon as it arrived. Sadly, I couldn't even finish it. I got through 112 pages before giving up. It just kept dragging and dragging for me. I kept waiting, telling myself, "maybe the next chapter" but I had to give up. I was finding myself putting it aside, or putting off even reading it. Maybe its one that I can try to pick up again another time, to try again. I sure hope so
Helpful Score: 1
This was the October 2013 pick in my online book club, The Reading Cove.
I've officially renamed it THE HOUSE OF SNORES AND YAWNS, it's much more fitting. If you enjoy slow, meandering, overly descriptive and near-plotless historical fiction, you may be among those who enjoy this book.
Enough said. D+
I've officially renamed it THE HOUSE OF SNORES AND YAWNS, it's much more fitting. If you enjoy slow, meandering, overly descriptive and near-plotless historical fiction, you may be among those who enjoy this book.
Enough said. D+
Helpful Score: 1
Did not care for the book. No real sense of cohesion. Much preferred her first book.
Helpful Score: 1
This book dragged so much, I just gave up on it. So much painstaking, unimportant detail that I just could not get into it.
