Book Review Tuesday No. 6

A book of lush imagery and beautiful descriptions.  I have never been to Florence, actually I have never really had the urge to go, but after reading “The Girl in the Glass” by Susan Meissner I wouldn’t mind taking a trip to Italy.

This book is well crafted, and the main character Meg is very likable. Meg is a young book editor, who works for a company specializing in travel books and destination weddings. After years of promises from her father to take her to Florence, the birthplace of her beloved grandmother, Meg gets an unexpected plane ticket in the mail and a letter from her father saying that he’d there waiting for her in Italy. The plane leaves in 5 hours! After waiting for years, she is finally getting her wish to visit the city.

Arriving at the airport, things suddenly take a turn for the worse. Her father never shows, and Meg is now alone in Florence. With the help of Lorenzo, a native of Florence and one of the photographers she’s helped publish, the dismal start to her trip takes an unexpected turn, leading Meg into a trip of a lifetime.

Meissner’s beautiful imagery gives the impression that you are actually walking the streets of Florence, smelling the wafting aromas of cappuccinos and pastas, seeing the great master’s works of art. Meissner severs as a tour guide, showing a dappled city filled with stunning architecture, amiable people, and a gilded history.

This book has three separate voices, and each a distinct person. The stories of three women, intertwine, and tell of the beauty and heart-ache found in Florence. I think this is the most compelling part of the book, three different women and their love for the city, each with very different backgrounds.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read about travel, the complications of romance, and just plain good storytelling.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.