The New York Times bestselling author of the Tradd Street novels explores a Southern family’s buried history, which will change the life of the woman who unearths it, secret by shattering secret. Two years after the death of her husband, Merritt Heyward receives unexpected news—Cal’s family home in Beaufort, South Carolina, bequeathed by his reclusive grandmother, now belongs to Merritt. In … belongs to Merritt.
In Beaufort, the secrets of Cal’s unspoken-of past reside among the pluff mud and jasmine of the ancestral Heyward home on the Bluff. This unknown legacy, now Merritt’s, will change and define her as she navigates her new life—a life complicated by the arrival of her too young stepmother and ten-year-old half brother.
Soon, in this house of strangers, Merritt is forced into unraveling the Heyward family past as she faces her own fears and finds the healing she needs in the salt air of the Lowcountry.
more
I’ve enjoyed every Karen White novel I’ve read.
This book is not normally my cup of tea. But I have found it surprisingly interesting, and very well constructed. I haven’t quite finished, but I anticipate something surprising. It’s all a very good read.
The first Karen White that I read yrs. ago. I loved it!! Read many more since these and all were good
I really had to force myself to finish this book. I had asked people in an on-line book club about this book and many people liked it and said there were twists and the story would get better. For me, the book just plodded along — too slow for me.
It’s the story of Merritt, who inherits her late husband’s boyhood home in Beaufort SC. Showing up at the house at the same time is her stepmother (who is only a few years old than she is) and her 10-year old half brother. There are secondary characters — her late husband’s brother. Also, the story is told by three different women — Merritt, Loralee (her stepmother) and Edith (Merritt’s late husband’s grandmother). I basically figured out the twists and felt this book could have been a lot shorter. I’m giving it just a “disappointing” rating. If I’ve learned one thing from reading this book it’s that if I really find that I’m forcing myself to finish a book to stop, clear my head and start a book that “grabs” me right away. You can read a review of the book on Amazon and decide if it’s a book you would enjoy.
I liked this book very much. The characters were well written and very interesting. The story was heartbreaking, interesting and inspirational.
Great setting. Characters connected you emotionally with the story.
Ms. White intertwines her characters so well. I couldn’t put this book down, and her endings are always surprises. So glad that I discovered her at my local library, and I’m now reading all of her beautiful stories.
I loved this book. The lessons, the changing, the living that many of us must due. The characters were flawed and wonderful. Keep a box of Kleenex beside you when you read this book. This is the first book I have read by this author but it won’t be the last.
The best book I .have ever read. A must for anyone dealing with abuse. I have purchased several copies to give to friends
One of my favorite books of all time!
Did not like this book
Love the writings of Karen White! This is a great read!
This is one book that I actually cried when someone died. I usually only cry over animals. But it just got to me.
I really enjoyed this book. The characters are so real. Loved all the twists and turns with each chapter!
This book broke my heart and made me smile. The Sound of Glass by Karen White is a delightful family drama filled with southern charm. The story features three women, Merritt, LoraLee and Edith, whose secrets and fears are shocking and sorrowful.
Merritt’s new life gets turned upside down when her deceased father’s wife shows up with her ten-year-old son Owen. Merritt resents Loralee because she represents her father moving on from the loss of Merritt’s mother and because she perceives that her father’s marriage meant he no longer wanted and needed her. Merritt tries her hardest to be inhospitable, but Loralee marshals all of her positive attitude and her mother’s charming advice to slowly chip away at Merritt’s icy heart. As events unfold, the two women form an unlikely but necessary friendship.
I adored Loralee. She is the epitome of a Southern lady who would never be caught dead without make-up, and who responds to rudeness with syrupy kindness (well, bless your heart). She never hesitates to share her momma’s sage advice, whether it is wanted or not. Her Journal of Truths is filled with her delightful sentiments and life-lessons that she is collecting for her son, Owen. I loved them all!
The secondary story line involving Edith was darker and very mysterious. Her abusive husband and disturbed son Cal Jr. create the tension and conflict within the story. Ms. White deftly and respectfully weaves in the secondary tale of domestic violence and the quiet way southerners handle it. Furthermore, the author masterfully pulls together the various storylines into one chillingly entangled family drama of abuse, vengeance, and fear. When all the skeletons have been revealed, it is time for forgiveness and healing.
The Sound of Glass is a character driven story that is paced to tantalize readers with the character development and backstory reveal. The story tension mounts steadily as the women’s secrets –and how they are intertwined—are revealed. Ms. White’s writing style is lovely; she draws in her readers with a detailed sense of life in a small town in the low country of South Carolina. While the central premise (secret) was a little far fetched, I loved the characters and the quality story telling.
The audiobook was engagingly narrated by Therese Plummer and Susan Bennett.
As usual Karen White never disappoints me!! Love her books!!
read most of her books find them heart warming
This is a good book. The prologue was important, but almost made me put the book down. Once I got through it, however, the book was really quite good. It is an interesting story of family and the things we hide from others.
3 generations of secrets and hurt and how people survive life tragedies
I love Karen White I don’t think this was as good as some ofher other books.