This review also appears on my blog, Reading Rachael.I think my expectations were just too high for this follow up to a book that I consider one of my all-time favorites, The Glassblower. A lot of the things that I really enjoyed about the first book in this series were noticeably missing from this installment. In the first book, I really enjoyed reading about the glassblowing process, and the town of Lauscha in Germany, and the relationships between the three Steinmann sisters. All of those elements were either given in sparing amounts, or were missing altogether in this sequel. In fact, the most engaging parts of this novel didn't even begin until about a third of the way into the story.This volume focuses very heavily on Marie, the youngest of the Steinmann sisters, and on her niece, Wanda, the daughter of Ruth Steinmann. About 17 years have past since the events of the first book, and Marie wakes up on her 36th-ish birthday feeling restless. For years, her art has been her whole life, but lately she has been feeling uninspired. On the advice of an old friend, she travels to America to see her sister, Ruth, for the first time in almost two decades, and becomes swept up in the New York art scene, and takes in the culture and beauty of the big city. She ends up taking an Italian lover, who I did not at all care for. I was pretty surprised that she so quickly forgot about the man who had been her partner for nearly two decades, while following her new beau to Italy on a whim to start a new life.Where in the first book Ruth was a sweet, hopeless romantic, she and her husband Steven are now fixtures of New York's high society. This Ruth is a far cry from the strong woman we were introduced to in book one, who risked everything to leave her abusive husband and protect her infant daughter. This Ruth is more concerned with planning elaborate parties, and spending countless hours shopping on 5th Avenue. She has never told her daughter, Wanda, the truth about who her father really is, and completely mishandles the situation when Marie does accidentally let the truth slip.Johanna was probably my favorite character in the last book, and she was noticeably absent for most of this volume. Luckily, I really began to like Wanda's character and enjoyed watching her transformation in this story. In the beginning, Wanda is a little aloof and spoiled, and seems to be struggling to find her own way in the world. She quickly forms an intense bond with her aunt when Marie comes to visit. Marie is also really instrumental in helping Wanda cope with discovering the truth about her father, especially since that was a topic that Ruth refused to discuss. But when Marie essentially abandons Wanda to follow her new boyfriend, Wanda courageously makes the decision to travel to Germany on her own to learn more about her roots, and begins to find herself.I can only really recommend this novel to true fans of the first installment; if your feelings about The Glassblower were lukewarm, then you should definitely pass on this one. Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book through Netgalley.
I did not know that this was part of a tribology and that I had chosen the second book in the three. It did not however deter in any way to the story which was a separate one.We have a setting of New York, Lauscha Germany and Italy at the end. Wanda in New York is young and beautiful but she does not want to be just another pretty face much to the dismay of her mother who wants her to conform to the normal pattern of a young debutante - attending tea parties, doing a bit of high profile charity work and being a lady of leisure. It has suited Ruth for all these years and she is perplexed as to why it will not satisfy Wanda till she marries specially since she has a perfectly suited young man in tow. Wanda wants to do something with her life but all her attempts to take a job and be like any other young woman fails.It is at this point that her aunt Marie arrives from Lauscha. Marie has been a glass blower all her life. She loves her craft and is world famous for it but she seems to have lost her zest and imagination and a trip to New York the whole family feels would renew her energy and inspiration.Marie realizes very soon that there are two sides to the city. The one with the ghettos and its ethnic minorities and the freedom of the artistes to which she allies herself and then the stiff world of her sister with its rigid dinners, lunches and elite small group of people. She is happy for her sister who has adapted well after the rigors of Germany but it is not for her. She embarks on a voyage of discovery of New York, unknown to her family and this is where she meets Franco who becomes the love of her life and one who will change her life and lifestyle forever.The story of Wanda and Marie was a good one. Starting from complete opposites they find a mutual meeting place and it shows the strength of family ties which bind. It also shows that impetuousness can occur not just in the young but even in much older people! The mixture of adventure with romance and the history of glass blowing made for an interesting story.
What do You think about The American Lady (2015)?
Second book of trilogy is dull.The first book of this trilogy had a fascinating historical premise with fully fleshed out characters. Marie becomes a flat character in this second novel of the series even though she is supposedly growing and being exposed to completely different worlds. The worlds of individual expression and hedonism that Marie explores are just lain old boring. They do not ring with any zest or sense of exploration. The ending is totally apparent early on and getting to that ending is a trudge of tedious prose.
—Chris Ann Davis
I was a little disappointed with this second book in the series. It felt like the author had drifted along with no real purpose, or indeed, determination with the development of the characters.It was humdrum, just telling, not showing, ordinary lives that had nothing remarkable in them. Whereas the plot did have things going on, and would have lent itself to the coming together of the two. There were also a strand from the first book (the wholesaler), which could have been expanded upon and brought a lot to the party.As always there is a little bit more in 'The Good ... the Bad ... and the Ugly' Section on my blog.
—Kay Bolton
I really enjoyed the first book but this did very little for me. The characteristics of the sisters in the first book were part of the charm, and for me most of that is lost here. It's not really about taking charge, more like just floundering around (and whining). This book predominantly revolves around Marie which started off well, and ended rather interestingly, but I felt most of the book was just irritating. It seems any love interest in this book happens to be the most handsome perfect super duper lover and the insistent descriptions of that began to grate soon enough. I really didn't enjoy Wanda's presence at all. You know those people who just seem to make a fuss over doing anything and can't just get on with something? That's her. Sheridain, Pandora, and all the artsy types? Meh. The lack of engagement made the book feel very long. I honestly don't care enough to read the third book, which is a shame.
—Michelle
