Fiction

The Glass Hotel

The Glass Hotel

  • Downloads：5518
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-04-26 10:51:54
  • Update Date：2025-09-07
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Emily St. John Mandel
  • ISBN：052556294X
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
  • Download

Summary

Vincent is a bartender at the Hotel Caiette， a five-star hotel on the northernmost tip of Vancouver Island。 On the night she meets Jonathan Alkaitis， a hooded figure scrawls a message on the lobby's glass wall: "Why don't you swallow broken glass。" Leon Prevant， a shipping executive for Neptune-Avradimis， reads the words and orders a drink to calm down。 Alkaitis， the owner of the hotel and a wealthy investment manager， arrives too late to read the threat， never knowing it was intended for him。 He leaves Vincent a hundred dollar tip along with his business card， and a year later they are living together as husband and wife。

High above Manhattan， a greater crime is committed: Alkaitis is running an international Ponzi scheme， moving imaginary sums of money through clients' accounts。 He holds the life savings of an artist named Olivia Collins， the fortunes of a Saudi prince and his extended family， and countless retirement funds， including Leon Prevant's。 The collapse of the financial empire is as swift as it is devastating， obliterating fortunes and lives， while Vincent walks away into the night。 Until， years later， she steps aboard a Neptune-Avramidis vessel， the Neptune Cumberland， and disappears from the ship between ports of call。

In this captivating story of crisis and survival， Emily St。 John Mandel takes readers through often hidden landscapes: campgrounds for the near-homeless， underground electronica clubs， the business of international shipping， service in luxury hotels， and life in a federal prison。 Rife with unexpected beauty， The Glass Hotel is a captivating portrait of greed and guilt， love and delusion， ghosts and unintended consequences， and the infinite ways we search for meaning in our lives。

Download

Reviews

Linda ，

Some interesting writing。 She's is really good！！ Some interesting writing。 She's is really good！！ 。。。more

Dave Fillingame ，

Loved her writing style and individual parts and characters but too many wild different directions where， unlike many of her other books， the novel as a whole was not as great as the sum of its parts。 Was probably closer to 3。5 stars for me but rounded it up cuz I enjoy the author and people who live in glass hotels shouldn't。。。 you know。。。 Loved her writing style and individual parts and characters but too many wild different directions where， unlike many of her other books， the novel as a whole was not as great as the sum of its parts。 Was probably closer to 3。5 stars for me but rounded it up cuz I enjoy the author and people who live in glass hotels shouldn't。。。 you know。。。 。。。more

Michelle ，

*3。5 stars*rtc

Dana ，

Its unique and beautifully written。。。a book about the emptiness of modern life， reflected in the empty bank accounts of those scammed; the hotel， sitting disconnected， in nature but not of it。 But is it rich， affecting and near-astonishing like Station Eleven？ No。 The latter adds to joy of reading and living， the former is what writers would study in school to learn the craft。

Barbara Zeta ，

I loved it。 Her writing is so inspiring。

Kristin O'Keefe ，

Emily St。 John Mandel writes one of a kind novels， and she does so beautifully。 A unique take on characters orbiting the world of a larger than life Bernie Madoff type。 Bonus: In the Glass Hotel， place is also a character; loved descriptions of the hotel and the homes of the lead characters。 Highly recommend。

Hugh Carter ，

Mandel is a fantastic writer but somehow this book feels both overstuffed and sparse to me。 Like a series of really great scenes with elaborate setup but absolutely no payoff。 So much happens， but almost none of it happens on the page。The characters were almost all weirdly ultra sophisticated and incredibly two dimensional， the most interesting of them got the least attention。I couldn't put it down though。 Mandel could write a shopping list that would be infinitely readable。 Mandel is a fantastic writer but somehow this book feels both overstuffed and sparse to me。 Like a series of really great scenes with elaborate setup but absolutely no payoff。 So much happens， but almost none of it happens on the page。The characters were almost all weirdly ultra sophisticated and incredibly two dimensional， the most interesting of them got the least attention。I couldn't put it down though。 Mandel could write a shopping list that would be infinitely readable。 。。。more

Anna Varshavsky ，

Slow burn comes full corcleIt’s a tale of not seeing truths even when they’re clearly there。 It’s about occupying different ecosystems of society that have clearly drawn lines。 It’s about seeing ghosts more than truth。 It’s an etherial book that closes the loop on it’s narrative with strong characters and a story you don’t “get” until much later。

Emily Pool ，

Maybe even more like 2。5 ⭐️She’s a wonderful writer so there’s at least that。 But what a weird book and not very likeable characters。 I came to this book after really enjoying Station Eleven。 But this was strange。

Amy B ，

Very unusual book - goes between people's lives that are present and passed。 Eccentric characters trying to find themselves in the world。 Ponzi scheme is creepy but so realistic。 Very unusual book - goes between people's lives that are present and passed。 Eccentric characters trying to find themselves in the world。 Ponzi scheme is creepy but so realistic。 。。。more

Prince Faisal II ，

Read about 70%。 DNF

Samantha ，

I don’t know what to think about this book。 It’s well written but the story is chaos。 The characters are unexplainable。 Bizarre but somehow kept me involved。

Caroline ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 I liked the way this book took people doing terrible things and got inside their heads。 Paul giving he bad drugs to the woman he was crushing on， Alkaitis with his fantasies about the counterlife， the people from his firm who just wanted to keep their jobs， and Vincent just kind of going along with Alkaitis and not questioning too hard。For a lot of the book I felt like Vincent was moping about how she didn’t know what to do with her life and she wanted to be more independent。 Her situation just I liked the way this book took people doing terrible things and got inside their heads。 Paul giving he bad drugs to the woman he was crushing on， Alkaitis with his fantasies about the counterlife， the people from his firm who just wanted to keep their jobs， and Vincent just kind of going along with Alkaitis and not questioning too hard。For a lot of the book I felt like Vincent was moping about how she didn’t know what to do with her life and she wanted to be more independent。 Her situation just didn’t seem that bad to me。 By the end， though， I felt like the implication was that she was unhappy because on some level she knew what Alkaitis was doing。 None of the people involved in Alkaitis’s scheme ended up happy about it， even Enrico who got away。 That did make the book feel like it had a bit of a moral， like “crime doesn’t pay，” which isn’t always my favorite。 This time it didn’t feel cheesy to me because the characters’ inner lives all felt so vivid。My favorite part of the book was early on when Paul passed on the bad ecstasy。 I liked the way it interspersed his later conversations at rehab saying he didn’t understand why he’d done it。 。。。more

Josh Pearl ，

Great novel with a lot of metaphors about life， death， and how our past follows us in our actions。 Loved this book and will be reading more by her。

Lisa ，

Reading this book was kind a like a chore。 I’m not quite sure what to make of it。 I just didn’t understand the whole story。

Sarah Albee ，

Ugh - I wanted to like this book。 I did enjoy parts of it。 But there were too many stories and not enough depth to any of them。 Vincent deserved her own book - why muddy it？ One whole storyline was from a perspective I could never quite figure out。 And I always struggle with books that have characters addicted to heroine。。。。 but that is because of my brother and not the fault of the book or the story。

Lisa Kennedy ，

This book was well written， and there were portions of the story that caught my attention， but I didn’t care for it as a whole。 I didn’t like any of the characters very much and the plot and timeline jumped around， which made it hard to follow at times。 I really enjoyed Station Eleven， so this was a disappointment。

Casey Ryan ，

What was the point of this book？ Station Eleven was fantastic and something I've recommended to many。 This book uses some of the same techniques and themes （orbits between different people， how seemingly inconsequential actions have large impacts） but in a dull and kind of silly story。 The characters are paper thin， their motivations make no sense， and there was nothing compelling about the story。Disappointing What was the point of this book？ Station Eleven was fantastic and something I've recommended to many。 This book uses some of the same techniques and themes （orbits between different people， how seemingly inconsequential actions have large impacts） but in a dull and kind of silly story。 The characters are paper thin， their motivations make no sense， and there was nothing compelling about the story。Disappointing 。。。more

Addie ，

What a beautiful book。 It had been a long time since I'd read such a beautiful book。 The story itself wasn't especially gripping- although I found it to be interesting- but the writing， the characters， the setting， the ghostly moving between memories- all of it was so beautiful。 The writing is incredible。 The author's empathy for the characters is immense。 The very last paragraph of the book is perfect， and the last sentence gave me chills。 What a beautiful book。 It had been a long time since I'd read such a beautiful book。 The story itself wasn't especially gripping- although I found it to be interesting- but the writing， the characters， the setting， the ghostly moving between memories- all of it was so beautiful。 The writing is incredible。 The author's empathy for the characters is immense。 The very last paragraph of the book is perfect， and the last sentence gave me chills。 。。。more

Natalie ，

I was blown away by not only this book but by this ending。 I have read so many novels that seem like they are heading towards an ending that ties up neatly with a bow， but then end up messy and disappointing。 As I was approaching the end I felt anger and dread rising in me about a potentially disappointing finish。 Not only did she tie it up neatly， she tied it up beautifully。 Incredible story line and characters， with so many messages。 Highly recommend！

Sarah F ，

Really well written and captivating。

Michelle ，

Mandel's writing is exceptional。 I love her "we are all connected in this small world" theme， one she also explored in Station Eleven。 Mandel's writing is exceptional。 I love her "we are all connected in this small world" theme， one she also explored in Station Eleven。 。。。more

DJ Dycus ，

I like the way that Mandel has structured her story -- it keeps the story fresh and engaging。The characters and the world that she depicts， however， are grim and bleak; it's difficult to develop any emotional attachment。A few of the themes that the story addresses: theft， memory， hallucination， mass delusion， self-delusion， longing for resolution， instability/disruption， community vs isolation I like the way that Mandel has structured her story -- it keeps the story fresh and engaging。The characters and the world that she depicts， however， are grim and bleak; it's difficult to develop any emotional attachment。A few of the themes that the story addresses: theft， memory， hallucination， mass delusion， self-delusion， longing for resolution， instability/disruption， community vs isolation 。。。more

Donovan ，

overhyped。

Vinidhra ，

I enjoyed reading it but it was a bit。。。 confusing。 Too ambitious maybe？ It felt like several different stories that didn't really fit together and I couldn't figure out what the author was trying to achieve。 I enjoyed reading it but it was a bit。。。 confusing。 Too ambitious maybe？ It felt like several different stories that didn't really fit together and I couldn't figure out what the author was trying to achieve。 。。。more

Jessica Looman ，

Come at me， I don’t care。 It is like one of those artistic movies you know is going to win all the best awards because it’s odd and romanticizes tragedy。 I’m gonna see this on all the best of award lists and question everything aren’t I？ I didn’t like any of the characters。 Not even the main character， Vincent。 The plot was laid out like puzzle pieces that in the end I didn’t care anything about。 I’m giving it two stars because of the care the author took to describe all the cool places this boo Come at me， I don’t care。 It is like one of those artistic movies you know is going to win all the best awards because it’s odd and romanticizes tragedy。 I’m gonna see this on all the best of award lists and question everything aren’t I？ I didn’t like any of the characters。 Not even the main character， Vincent。 The plot was laid out like puzzle pieces that in the end I didn’t care anything about。 I’m giving it two stars because of the care the author took to describe all the cool places this book takes you。 Meh。 。。。more

George ，

This was simply fascinating。 I couldn't put it down， not because it was so suspenseful but because the story and the author's delivery wouldn't let me go。 It was both objectively and subjectively beautiful。 Objectively for all the reasons the critics rave about， and subjectively because of the frequent references to a "counter-life"， a life in which dreadful and consequential and unprincipled choices have not been made。 Personal regrets over bad choices haunt me all the time （though I admit I've This was simply fascinating。 I couldn't put it down， not because it was so suspenseful but because the story and the author's delivery wouldn't let me go。 It was both objectively and subjectively beautiful。 Objectively for all the reasons the critics rave about， and subjectively because of the frequent references to a "counter-life"， a life in which dreadful and consequential and unprincipled choices have not been made。 Personal regrets over bad choices haunt me all the time （though I admit I've never been sentenced to 170 years in prison for masterminding a Ponzi scheme） and it's nice to see others wrestle in the same manner， but more concretely and consciously。 。。。more

Matthew Eisenberg ，

I was very eager to read The Glass Hotel， because I found Emily St。 John Mandel's previous effort， Station Eleven， completely captivating。 Perhaps this is an unfair way to begin a review， but Station Eleven proved to be too high a bar for The Glass Hotel to live up to。The Glass Hotel is a slow novel that weaves its way through different times and places， touching on characters either intimately or tangentially associated with one another。 It is interesting， and contains some brilliantly insightf I was very eager to read The Glass Hotel， because I found Emily St。 John Mandel's previous effort， Station Eleven， completely captivating。 Perhaps this is an unfair way to begin a review， but Station Eleven proved to be too high a bar for The Glass Hotel to live up to。The Glass Hotel is a slow novel that weaves its way through different times and places， touching on characters either intimately or tangentially associated with one another。 It is interesting， and contains some brilliantly insightful passages about human nature， such as the following， regarding a woman who， upon realizing that her arrest was imminent， took her kids on a shopping spree:"We'll remember this day always， don't you think？" she said in the car on their way home to Scarsdale。 "Yes" her children said， but later their memories were destabilized by Joelle's letters from prison: how much fun we had that last day， she wrote， that toy store， that giant stuffed giraffe， those cups of hot chocolate， I'm so glad we had that day together， do you remember that wonderful display in the museum， and they wondered if they were misremembering， because what they mostly remembered was the cold， their wet feet， the feeling of wrongness， the gray of Manhattan in the winter rain， the way the giraffe dragged through a puddle on the way back to the car。 But: 1。 None of the characters are likable2。 A few of the characters could （should） have been edited out---they add nothing to the novel3。 The characters' responses to events often seem unnatural/unlikely/over-the-top4。 A portion of the story is bewilderingly told in both the first and third personBottom line---I read The Glass Hotel steadily， but I was never enthralled or captivated， or， somewhat damningly， invested。 It's a good read， but not one that I'm likely to recommend in conversation。 Three stars all the way。 。。。more

Leah ，

3。5 stars rounded up。 I thought the first half was stronger than the end but I enjoyed how all the people in the book were connected in some way。

Mark ，

This is a story about greed， social status and monetary power that all comes crashing down when a false investment scheme （a Ponzi） is exposed。 It contrasts greed with consequences and introduces interesting characters whose lives are affected in different ways during the rise and fall of the scheme。My main problem with it was trying to understand the story and I felt it was a collection of exposes of people， rather than a plot and some of the "episodes" and characters within the book had tenuou This is a story about greed， social status and monetary power that all comes crashing down when a false investment scheme （a Ponzi） is exposed。 It contrasts greed with consequences and introduces interesting characters whose lives are affected in different ways during the rise and fall of the scheme。My main problem with it was trying to understand the story and I felt it was a collection of exposes of people， rather than a plot and some of the "episodes" and characters within the book had tenuous connections to what I thought was the main plot。Nicely written though and very engaging， but just a bit muddled。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Glass Hotel

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Glass Hotel&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The Glass Hotel&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0