The House of Velvet and Glass (edition 2012)

In her second novel, Katherine Howe brings us back to Boston with a story that has a similar structure to that of her debut. Our main characters are in the Bostonian upper class just after the turn of the century, and on the cusp of the United States entering WWI, with segments of the story taking place a couple of decades earlier in Shanghai, as well as the last day aboard the Titanic. The story starts with Helen and Eulah enjoying a day on the ill-fated ship, oblivious to what awaits them, and then cuts to the present day of the novel: Sibyl at a séance on the anniversary of the sinking of the ship that took her mother and sister with it.

While the story does have a bit of a fantastical element to it, it’s mostly a look at grief, addiction, and the trappings of life during this time period. In searching for more answers about what has happened to her mother and sister, Sibyl quite accidentally discovers that she can see visions in a mystical ball of glass given to her by a medium, known as a scrying glass. One catch: she has to be high on opium to see these visions.

To read the rest of my review, please visit my blog. ( )

It took awhile to get into this book, but it's well worth the wait. One is transposed in time to being on the titanic or in the Boston area during the late 19th and early 20th century. It encompasses spirituality, (paganism), classism, sexism, and other isms. Enthralling, fun, gripping read. ( )

I only gave this book 3 stars because the first 200 pages were a big yawn for me and I almost quit reading the book. But, after the Luisitania sank, the story really seemed to pick up and I really enjoyed the book. ( )

In 1915 Boston, Sybil Allston still struggles to cope with the loss of her mother and sister on the Titanic three years earlier and reaches out to a spiritualist in hopes of reconnecting with her deceased relatives. When an acquaintance from her past appears, Sybil is driven to embark on a mysterious journey to investigate the depths of her family's secrets. Summary BPL

I haven't read Katherine Howe before. Enjoyable story. Intriguing use of the Titanic disaster--like using the word "God" in the title, it will always draw readers--to explore spirutualism, early 20th century shipping, opium, World War I and the evolving of emancipation. The author's research lends credibility to the setting, plot and characters but covering so many topics put too much weight on the novel's trajectory.

7 out of 10 Recommended to fans of American history. ( )

There's something about a tale that waves between times which captures my attention. I like the multilayered approach and enjoy how the stories usually intertwine. In this book, Howe takes the reader from a baseline of 1915, back in time to events that shaped the lives of the Allston family of Boston, both in the opium dens of Shanghi and Titanic's ill-fated voyage. It managed to cover many topics of the time: spiritualism, women's rights, social taboos and expectations, courtship, opium and morphine addiction. She brought more clearly into focus some of the elements of a woman's life in that time period of which I'd never really thought about, and I appreciated the details.

The stories kept me intrigued, but the afterword from the author really interested me, especially how she drew on some of her own family history. I felt the book was well researched, and taught me a great deal without being pedantic. She directed interested parties to her website for more information on some of the aspects touched upon in the book: www.katherinehowe.com

The day after I checked this out from the library on audio, I received a copy from a friend to BookCross. ( )