Sweeping Up Glass
When I started this novel by Carolyn D. Wall, I thought to myself, "This is crazy, I can't read it". But I kept reading and it took only a few pages -- I was in love. I almost finished it in one sitting. Set in 1938 rural Kentucky, the narrator is Olivia Cross, a woman of strong character and a life full of hard work and incredible loss. As the story goes back in time, we learn more about Olivia and the people that inhabit this small community during the coldest winter on record. You will fall in love with the unusual cast of characters, share their loves, losses and pain, and eventually be swept into a fast paced race to a conclusion that you cannot possibly have imagined. Character development is the author's strength. They command you to read to the end, and leave you wanting more.
Rated of 5
by Heather (Orlando FL)
A Great Debut
This book had me hooked from the very first pages. The hard-scrabble daily existence of the characters was captivating and engrossing. The economies that had to be made were many, and the detail of 1930's Kentucky were so precise that it was greatly absorbing. The language was rustic and simple, yet very clear and concise. I found myself wanting to know more about these people, to know more about their lives, hurts and victories. This book has a lot to say about the times that it portrays. The small issues and the great, neither is neglected. There are wise and humble characters as well as wicked and sinister ones. Love, anger, betrayal, duty, honor, racism, death, forgiveness: they are all here. And the tapestry created is one that will stay with me for a long time.
Rated of 5
by Susan (DeRidder LA)
Captivating Read
The story is told by Olivia, the main character, as she struggles through a life that is hard for us to imagine today. I loved the writing style, and the author's character development is a strong component of this debut novel. It would seem to me that the book will appeal to a large cross-section of the reading public. It is an excellent read full of surprises, interesting characters and a range of emotions. At no time does the book lose your interest, and it seems to build toward the end so that it is really hard to put down. I would think this a very good choice for book group discussions!
Rated of 5
by Linda (Walnut Creek CA)
Unexpectedly Different!
"Sweeping Up Glass" definitely 'swept me up' from the very first page. It was a much different read than I expected. I thought it would be a traditional whodunit mystery, but instead, it turned out to be a literary saga, spanning 30 years or more of a young woman's life. Taking place in the 30's in Kentucky, we follow the life of young Olivia, who experiences a tragedy in her younger years that resurfaces when she's older, which brings about an explosive twist at the end.
Mystery lovers, as well as lovers of literary fiction, will both enjoy this well-written tale. I also think it's a great choice for book clubs, lots of 'hidden secrets' and issues for discussion.
I manage a bookstore and cannot wait to start recommending "Sweeping Up Glass" to all my readers. I would definitely read this author again.
Rated of 5
by Christi (Pewee Valley KY)
Debut
A wonderfully written book with rich, complex characters and a twisting and turning plot that made this mystery hard to put down. Carolyn D. Wall is definitely an author to watch.
Rated of 5
by Patricia (San Jose CA)
Sweeping Up Glass- Strong characters, good plot
This book grabbed at my heart on the first page. Grandmother, mother, and her children all have issues of love, hate, resentment and confusion that are all on the back burner to the daily business of surviving the depression in Kentucky. Each character is finely defined and the secrets that they keep from each other come out as slowly as the molasses comes from the jar in the winter. If you are a fan of character driven books such as Ava's Man, Cold Mountain, and Bel Canto, then you are guaranteed a good read here.
Rated of 5
by Glory (University Park FL)
Good Read
I enjoyed this book very much. The characters were well developed and believable. I highly recommend this book.
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by Beth (Chester VA)
