Group Read, June 2016: The House with the Blind Glass Windows

Our June Group Read is The House with the Blind Glass Windows by Herbjorg Wassmo. Please join us and record your thoughts and reactions on this thread.

I have just started and immediately recognize Wassmo's style from other books by her that I read, like Dina's book. I didn't really enjoyed those.
Not sure what to think yet of this one. My hopes are high: this is her only book on the list after all.

I finished it. I think the story is not as depressing as the text on the jacket says.
I think above all it is a story about strenght and hope, love and dreams, female solidarity. I do have hopes for Tora.

To me, Wassmo succeeded in writing an impressive book in this typical Nordic way of not adding one word too much.

I'd like to read this, but it's harder to locate than I thought. My library system doesn't have it and it isn't available new anywhere that I've found in the US. I ordered a used copy from ebay but it may not be here and get read before the end of the month.

I'm glad to hear that it isn't as depressing as it sounds!

I ordered a used copy from Amazon for cheap. They had a few available last week but I haven't checked recently. Hopefully it arrives soon so I can start.

I read and reviewed this in October of 2015. I found it to be a beautifully written book about a disturbing topic but done in a very tasteful/tactful fashion.

I am about half way through. I'm enjoying the atmosphere that she creates of this isolated and impoverished fishing community. The female characters form the centre of the story with the males barely developed at all, even the abusive step-father.

Finished this today. Not as traumatic as it could have been, but I still found it rather discouraging/depressing. The closing lines suggested something hopeful to come but not enough to lift my mood.

Here's my review - 4 stars

The House With The Blind Glass Windows was an excellent peek into a fishing village in northern Norway and also the life of 11 year old Tora. Her plight for safety from her sexually abusive stepfather and the need to connect with her mother is a heartbreaking story. Throughout the whole novel, Tora has remarkable strength and fights her battle alone. I look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy but unfortunately, the rest has not yet been translated.