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The Girl in the Glass

by Susan Meissner (Goodreads Author)

3.92 of 5 stars 3.92 · rating details · 362 ratings · 129 reviews

Renaissance is a word with hope infused in every letter.

Since she was a child, Meg has dreamed of taking a promised trip to Florence, Italy, and being able to finally step into the place captured in a picture at her grandmother’s house. But after her grandmother passes away and it falls to her less-than-reliable father to take her instead, Meg’s long-anticipated travel pla...more

Paperback, 352 pages

Published September 18th 2012 by WaterBrook Press

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Apr 17, 2013 loretta rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Girl in the Glass was my introduction to author Susan Meissner and it attracted me for several reasons. I love all things Italian, I was an art history major and I've been to Florence.

It is a story told by 3 different women: Nora Orsini the 16th century descendent of the last Grand-duke of the Medici, Sophia Borelli who claims to be the last of the Medici's and Meg Pomeroy, an American woman whose dream is to visit Florence with her father to see the statue that is depicted in a painting own...more

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Mar 17, 2013 Iola rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, kindle, netgalley

Marguerite (Meg) Pomeroy was promised a trip to Florence, her Nonna’s birthplace, as a high school graduation gift, but she’s now almost thirty and her father still hasn’t taken her. Now she might finally be going, and hopes to connect with Lorenzo and Renata DiSantis, the brother-and-sister pair who write and photograph travel books published by her San Diego employer. And she might also get to meet Sophia, their neighbour, a tour guide and would-be author who claims to be descended from the fa...more Marguerite (Meg) Pomeroy was promised a trip to Florence, her Nonna’s birthplace, as a high school graduation gift, but she’s now almost thirty and her father still hasn’t taken her. Now she might finally be going, and hopes to connect with Lorenzo and Renata DiSantis, the brother-and-sister pair who write and photograph travel books published by her San Diego employer. And she might also get to meet Sophia, their neighbour, a tour guide and would-be author who claims to be descended from the famous Medici family.

Girl in the Glass is written from three perspectives: Meg’s first-person story, the first-person musings of a betrothed girl named Nora, and Sophia’s memoir. But it took quite a while to work out who Nora was (a long-dead Medici) and what relationship she had with the rest of the story (Sophia claims to hear Nora speak through art works).

This made the story quite hard going at first – in fact, I stopped reading at the 25% mark, because the points of view were confusing, nothing had happened, and I was getting annoyed with Meg moaning about wanting to go to Florence but not doing anything about it (goodness, this is the twenty-first century. Women can travel on their own, even such distances as San Diego to Florence). But I eventually picked it up again—and had to start again from the beginning, to remind myself what I was reading.

At this point I was thinking that Sophia's memoir was fascinating, a book I'd like to read even though I'm not a fan of art or memoir. Nora's short reflections of her childhood were interesting, even though it wasn't clear how these fitted into the larger story. Meg’s story? Uninspiring. Boring, even. The writing was lovely. But there wasn’t enough story for my liking (or perhaps it was just that Meg had yet to prove herself likeable). Anyway, I persevered.

Finally, at the 28% point, something happened, and by the 40% mark, Meg was on her way to Florence, and the story picked up pace. Finally. But now I can’t tell you what happens, because that would be a spoiler. Suffice to say, the second half of the book was much better than the first and the ending was both perfect and unexpected. I’ve visited Florence, and these scenes both brought back memories and made me want to see the city again, this time through Meg’s eyes and with Sophia as a guide.

This book is published by WaterBrook, a Christian publisher, but the book hardly mentioned God or religion at all. If you’re looking for a novel with a strong Christian message, this isn’t it. If you’re looking for inspirational women’s fiction, this may well suit, as long as you can get past the first hundred pages.

Thanks to WaterBrook Multnomah and BloggingforBooks® for providing a free ebook for review. (less)

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Jan 28, 2013 Amy rated it 3 of 5 stars

The focus of the book is on the word Renaissance. It means re-birth with hope infused in every letter. Meg had always dreamed of going to Florence. Her father had promised to take her ever since she was a little girl. But our plans do not always work out as we would like, circumstances change, and as the book opens she has yet never been. But Meg has also not given up hope. Through a strange twist of events, Meg gets to Florence, only to find out she has been stood up and is alone. But Meg takes...more

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Jan 13, 2013 Julia rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Girl in the Glass by Susan Meissner is possible one of the best books I have ever read. Definitely, in my top ten!

Meg as always dreamed of going to Italy with her father and her grandma. After her grandma passes away, life, finances, and her unreliable dad keep getting in the way of the trip of a lifetime. After her father gets into a bit of trouble (no spoilers here!), Meg receives a ticket in the mail for a trip to Italy. She gets off the plane and that's when the fun begins!

Enter a woman...more

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Jan 01, 2013 Kathleen E. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Monday, December 31, 2012
The Girl in the Glass by Susan Meissner, ©2012

The story is about Florence and three women from three different spans of time, marked by distinctive characters and events, going back to the Medicis and the Italian Renaissance. Author Susan Meissner describes the plot and characters of her newest modern-day novel with a historical twist set in Florence, Italy - THE GIRL IN THE GLASS

The Girl in the Glass (Sneak Peek--Chapter One)

Are you surprised I am starting my review pos...more

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Jan 01, 2013 Gayle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: can-t-put-down, christian-lit

BLURB: "Renaissance is a word with hope infused in every letter." Meg has dreamed, since she was a child of a trip to Florence, Italy. She wanted to step on the ground captured in a photo at her grandmothr's place. But her father is going to take her after her grandmother died. Meg's plans seem to be on hold.

She's hoping the trip, which her father told her to book, will heal the pain left by her parents' divorce.

Meg's father was nowhere to be found when she arrived in Florence. He left an aspiri...more

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Jan 01, 2013 Allizabeth Collins rated it 4 of 5 stars

Review:

With imagery vivid enough to transport me to Florence, Italy, Susan Meissner wove a novel draped in history, with a touch of romance, family drama and lifelong uncertainty. I have to applaud the cover-art, I loved the bold colors and the scene that they captured; a great start to the book! I also enjoyed the rich use of detail and the timely dialogue, as well as the top-notch character development evidenced in Nora, Sophia and Meg. I was intrigued by the layers I found within the plot-li...more

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Dec 14, 2012 Renn Shearin rated it 5 of 5 stars

“The Girl in the Glass is possibly the most beautiful book I’ve ever read. Susan Meissner lifted her book to the level of poetry at the same time she drew me in so deeply to the story that I was lost in the world she created. The story comes in three threads that twist together into a stunning, compelling, enchanting whole. I absolutely loved it.”
—Mary Connealy, author of The Kincaid Brides series

Renaissance is a word with hope infused in every letter.
Since she was a child, Meg has dreamed of t...more

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Dec 11, 2012 Liz Terek rated it 3 of 5 stars

THE GIRL IN THE GLASS BOOK REVIEW

‘The Girl in The Glass’ is essentially a work of realistic fiction. Centering on Meg Pomeroy, a travel books editor, it does have a hint of romance to it also. Meg’s biggest goal is to visit Florence, Italy.
After her grandmother’s death when she was twelve, Meg’s father promised to take her. Life got in the way & she’s still waiting to go. Along the way her divorced parents present her with new issues. Her dad is loose with his money. Mom is dating again &...more

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Nov 30, 2012 Lisa Johnson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Title: The Girl in the Glass
Author: Susan Meissner
Pages: 334
Year: 2012
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
Meg Pomeroy is finally going to Florence, Italy! Well, maybe. Ever since she was a little girl, she has wanted to go to Florence. Her grandmother on her father’s side was born and raised in Florence. She has loved this city for as long as she can remember. She longs to see the art of the city, which she feels is the heart of the city. Her father promised he would take her after her grandmother died...more Title: The Girl in the Glass
Author: Susan Meissner
Pages: 334
Year: 2012
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
Meg Pomeroy is finally going to Florence, Italy! Well, maybe. Ever since she was a little girl, she has wanted to go to Florence. Her grandmother on her father’s side was born and raised in Florence. She has loved this city for as long as she can remember. She longs to see the art of the city, which she feels is the heart of the city. Her father promised he would take her after her grandmother died when Meg was 12. Meg is now 30 and still hasn’t set foot on Italian soil. Broken promise after broken promise mars her relationship with her father, but she still loves him. She hasn’t gone on her own to Florence because her dad promised her he would take her and she wants him to ask her to go. She doesn’t want to see the city without him.
Meg works as an editor for a company that produces travel books. The owners and some of the staff know about her dream of Florence and her troubles getting her dad to fulfill his promise. As they see time after time of disappointment for Meg, they don’t get their hopes up as once again he has promised to take her. Does he really mean it this time?
A FedEx envelope arrives at her door with a ticket to Florence taking off in five hours. Should Meg go? Her father has enclosed a note for her to go as he wants her to see the city of her dreams. Where did he get the money to pay for the ticket? Her dad has always been great on dreams, but poor on follow through. He has never been good managing money. After his divorce from Meg’s mother, she saw him less and less. She hopes to meet up with him now in Florence so they can experience the city and its’ sites together. Will he be at the airport to meet her if she goes? Where will she stay?
She contacts a brother and sister writing team, Lorenzo and Renata, born and raised in Florence that she has done lots of business with and lets them know she is thinking of making the trip finally. They, too, know the story of her many let-downs in not getting to make the trip. They introduce her to their neighbor, who is writing a book. Meg is sent the first two chapters of the book and likes them. She asks to see more and takes a liking to the author’s style immediately, except for the part where she says a relative from the distant past speaks to her through the artwork. Is this woman crazy? As she gets to know the author, she begins to like her more and more. She even likes the fact that someone speaks to her through art. She also interacts more and more with Lorenzo and begins to develop feelings for him, but won’t admit it. Lorenzo doesn’t have those kinds of feelings for her, right?
This book is so very unique and spellbinding. I enjoyed it very much. It touches the heart and makes the reader feel. The art and its’ history provided were very interesting, and I learned a lot. I would recommend this book and am looking forward to reading Susan’s other books.
My rating is 4 stars.
Note: I received a complimentary copy for an honest review of this book. The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility. Other reviews can be read at http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspo... . Also follow me on Twitter @lcjohnson1988, FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/lisa.johnson...
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Nov 09, 2012 Patricia rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Girl In The Glass by Susan Meissner

When Meg was a little girl she heard stories about Florence, Italy from her grandmother. Her grandmother promised Meg they would go to Florence when she graduated from high school. But Nonnah died before graduation and Meg’s father promised his mother he would take Meg on the trip to Florence. He was never all that reliable and when he and Meg’s mother divorced he became less reliable and less available. Still Meg believed his promises and waited for the da...more The Girl In The Glass by Susan Meissner

When Meg was a little girl she heard stories about Florence, Italy from her grandmother. Her grandmother promised Meg they would go to Florence when she graduated from high school. But Nonnah died before graduation and Meg’s father promised his mother he would take Meg on the trip to Florence. He was never all that reliable and when he and Meg’s mother divorced he became less reliable and less available. Still Meg believed his promises and waited for the day when her dream would come true.

At twenty-nine Meg is working as an editor for a travel book publisher. In the last year she has broken her engagement to a man she realized that though she liked him she was not in love with him. She is living in a borrowed house with a borrowed cat. Her life is routine and unexciting until her father surprises her with the long-awaited trip to Italy.

One of her author/photographer clients lives in Florence. They have been talking via Skype for some time and have become friends. When she tells him her plans to be in the city they make plans to meet. In the meantime he has asked her to read a couple of chapters of a book his neighbor, Sophia, is writing. Meg agrees, likes what she has read and looks forward to meeting Sophia and Lorenzo.

Meg is supposed to meet her father in Florence but he never shows up. Though terribly disappointed she makes the best of it and enjoys time with Sophia and Lorenzo. Sophia, who is a tour guide, shows Meg the beautiful city of her dreams. Sophia is as delightful as her book; but Meg learns there are serious problems in Sophia’s life that could affect the publication of her book. One of the problems is that Sophia believes that her ancestor, Nora, speaks to her through the canvases and statues of Florence. She is including these stories in her book. This aspect of her writing will make it difficult to publish the book as a travel memoir.

The lives of these three women come together; Meg and Sophia, contemporary women of different generations, and Nora, a woman of another century. The city of Florence is what brings them together but it is love that binds them. All have loved and been disappointed. All have loved and lost. And they all find new love in one form or another. This novel is a story of fathers and daughters and love. It is about what life is and what we can choose to make of it if we are willing to risk letting go of what we know to grasp what we do not know.

I liked the book. An easy and entertaining read that does have a message.

This book was sent to me by WaterBrook Multnomah at no cost to me in exchange for this review.

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Oct 26, 2012 Becky rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is the story of three women: Meg Pomeroy, Sophia Borelli, and Nora Orsini–and the love they all have in common, Florence, Italy.

Meg Pomeroy lives in San Diego and works as an editor for a publishing house that specializes in travel. The biggest influence in Meg’s life was her much loved Italian grandmother, Nonna. Meg and Nonna planned to go to Florence together after Meg’s high school graduation–Meg dreamed and longed for this trip. Then Meg’s parents divorced and to a certain extent, she...more

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Oct 25, 2012 Sherrey rated it 5 of 5 stars

A young girl falls in love with a painting. A painting. Then she falls in love with a place. Florence, Italy.

In the painting a statue beckons with outstretched hand to a girl, her grandmother, her Nonna. The painting was crafted by the young girl's great-great-grandfather.

Nonna tells this child that she, Meg, is the child in the painting. Just as her Nonna was that child once upon a time.

Meg's obsession with the painting grows, especially after Nonna promises a trip to Florence upon high school...more

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Oct 20, 2012 Charlene Collado rated it 4 of 5 stars

It's the first time I was given a chance to choose among an array of books to review. I usually read books that I really thought of reading.. Something I'm going to like, something that won't keep me awake at night (I have a dislike for horror). I want to make sure that my time won't be wasted when I read it. But then, the first time I saw "The Girl in the Glass" amongst the ebooks I was qualified to read, my heart told me to just click the button and read it. One-third for the chance to create...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Leslie Starasta rated it 5 of 5 stars

I recently read Susan Meissner's newest novel The Girl in the Glass. I was previously unfamiliar with Meissner as an author, although I plan to become further acquainted with her work. The initial description of The Girl in the Glass caught my attention due to the juxtaposition of art history and a travel story. Although I haven't traveled much yet, I yearn to do so and thought this story looked interesting. However, as I began to read The Girl in the Glass, the story was not simply interesting,...more I recently read Susan Meissner's newest novel The Girl in the Glass. I was previously unfamiliar with Meissner as an author, although I plan to become further acquainted with her work. The initial description of The Girl in the Glass caught my attention due to the juxtaposition of art history and a travel story. Although I haven't traveled much yet, I yearn to do so and thought this story looked interesting. However, as I began to read The Girl in the Glass, the story was not simply interesting, but held me completely captivated unlike many other books I have read recently.

Meissner combines several great stories into one mesmerizing tale. The larger story focuses on Meg, an editor whose lifelong dream is to visit Florence, Italy where her grandmother lived as a child. As part of Meg's story, we become introduced to Sofia whose story ends up holding multiple twists and turns with a very suprising ending. Throughout the story, in between each chapter and through the story of Sofia, we are also introduced to Nora who lived in renaissance Florence. Many other characters appear and help to tie these various stories together in a most surprising way.

Part of what makes The Girl in the Glass so captivating is the mixture of various genres of writing. The Girl in the Glass definitely contains some mysterious qualities although it is not strictly speaking a mystery. There is a definite romantic overtone although it is definitely not a stereotypical romance. It is also part travelogue and part memoir as well, with just enough history thrown in so that the reader understands the Medici family and renaissance Florence.

The Girl in the Glass is published by Waterbrook Press which is a Christian publishing house. As such, I initially read the book expecting church or Christianity references and as is typical in much Christian fiction, a clear presentation of the Gospel. However, all of those elements were missing. One of the characters mentions attending church and there were a few passing references to prayer. Otherwise, I had no idea I was reading a "Christan" novel. Not having read any of Meissner's other works, I am not able to indicate if this is typical of her books or not. The only thing that kept me from thinking this was any other contemporary novel was the absence of foul language and sexual encounters, although there were several lingering kisses to give the story some sexual tension.

All in all, I give Susan Meissner's novel The Girl in the Glass an enthusiastic recommendation for anyone who is looking for something new to read. It is a great novel for a relaxing afternoon. Some reviewers indicated the story was a bit far-fetched. I did find that to be true but instead found Meissner to be an imaginative author. I look forward to locating and reading some of her previous works.

I was provided a review copy from Waterbrook in exchange for my honest opinion of this title. And I can honestly say I loved this book!(less)

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Oct 04, 2012 Sylvia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Renaissance is a word with hope infused in every letter.
The Girl in the Glass is about discovery, of places, people, of yourself and the strength that lies within. Meissner weaves a story about three women connected to the renaissance time period. These women are Meg, an editor for a travel book publishing company in California; Nora Orsini, a member of the Medici family in the Italian aristocracy; and Sophia Borelli, an aspiring memoir-writer. Their stories past and present collide with purpos...more

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Oct 04, 2012 Marta Perry rated it 5 of 5 stars

Reading The Girl in the Glass is taking a wonderful trip to Italy from the comfort of your favorite chair! Susan Meissner hits it out of the park with her latest story. Meg Pomeroy is a disenchanted travel book editor unsure of her father's love, still smarting from a broken engagement, and whose normally cautious mother is suddenly dating a much younger man. Her perspective on everything that matters is skewed. She escapes to Florence, Italy, on a long-promised trip, believing her father will m...more

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Sep 22, 2012 Donna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-in-2012

Florence, Italy - the place Meg is anxiously waiting to visit. This beautiful and historic city holds the promise of living a picture from her grandmother's home. When her grandmother dies, will that end Meg's dream?

Meg works for a travel publishing company and dreams of visiting places throughout the world, although Florence is her number one destination. Her parents are divorced, and though she really doesn't want to, Meg embarks on the journey with her father. But, landing in Florence doesn't...more

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Sep 13, 2012 Grace rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, for-fun, for-review, lifetime-tv-worthy

Summary
Meg's father promised to take her to Florence after she graduated from high school. Nearly 10 years later, he hadn't done so. Finally, her father sends her a ticket and bids her to go. Meg thinks he will be there, but he is not. So, Meg spends the time with authors to discover the meanings of beauty, shades of grey, love, and hope.

Characters
Meg Meg is the main character of the novel. She works hard at her job as an editor for a travel book company, and is quiet in life. She's a hopeful s...more Summary
Meg's father promised to take her to Florence after she graduated from high school. Nearly 10 years later, he hadn't done so. Finally, her father sends her a ticket and bids her to go. Meg thinks he will be there, but he is not. So, Meg spends the time with authors to discover the meanings of beauty, shades of grey, love, and hope.

Characters
Meg Meg is the main character of the novel. She works hard at her job as an editor for a travel book company, and is quiet in life. She's a hopeful sort of person, but also a realist after a fashion. As a character, she's very fleshed out, and very real to me.
SofiaSofia is potentially the crazy lady in the book. She was lied to, and she believed it through her life. She let it define her, and she hid behind the lies her father told. She also believes that Nora, a ghost, talks to her through the art of Florence. It was because of this that Meg began to see that belief and hope can pull one through hard times, but can't be over done. Sofia was an excellently written character, and you couldn't tell if she was invented for this purpose of the story line, or if it just happened naturally. It made it very easy to read and get caught up in.
Lorenzo Lorenzo was the token found love. The only thing he brought to the book was that element of hope, love, and romance. However, it wasn't lust or anything like that. It was very tastefully done, and some of the conversations that were written between Lorenzo and Meg were insightful and skilfully woven to give the extra dimension of hope and feeling of being loved completely. It was a nice message.
Others The rest of the characters played secondary, supporting roles. They drove the story nicely, and provided extra structure and motivation. They also lent to the message of hope and helping to note that there are shades of grey, not just a black and white world.

Notes
There were times that I was very confused, though, about whose's story I was reading, and trying to keep Nora, Sofia, and Meg straight from one another. Towards the middle of the book it became a lot easier to keep the three ladies' lives straight, but not at the beginning.

The messages that the author may have wished to deliver were skilfully and artfully done. I noticed and absorbed them, but they did not detract from the story at all. (less)

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Sep 08, 2012 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle-edelweiss

The world is ripe with regrets.

Nora, about to be married, dreads leaving Florence. She recalls her life set around the lure, beauty and tragedy of fine art.

Coming from a family of painters, Meg Pomeroy, who is employed by a book publishing company, and whose dream and goal since teenage years have been to travel to Florence is called by her father urgently one eventful evening with plans to fulfill his promise to take her to Italy. Will she be afforded the opportunity of a lifetime or will it ju...more

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Sep 05, 2012 Krystyna (BookOwl90) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own

The Girl In The Looking Glass was a good read. I rated it 3 out of 5 stars. One of the reasons I did enjoy this book was because it was set in Florence, Italy. I am dying to go to Italy one day and I love reading books that take place there. While reading this, the reader can picture Italy. The author uses good, vivid imagery, and she also has a good writing style in this book. The character development is good as well. The main character, Meg, learns and starts to understand things about her an...more

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Sep 03, 2012 Lilibet King rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: biblical-fiction

Meg loves the Italian city of Florence. She dreams of visiting the city that her grandmother described so lovingly. Despite her father’s 18-year-old promise to take her there, the closest she’s gotten is talking with travel writers Lorenzo and Renata DiSanti via Skype.

Sofia Borelli is a neighbor of Lorenzo and Renata in Florence. She has written a powerful story that parallels her life with that of a Medici descendant of the sixteenth century, Nora Orsini. Sofia also claims to be descended from...more

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Oct 22, 2012 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is a lovely story, particularly if you like stories that go back and forth between present-day and historical settings, or if you like art history. There's a beautiful sense of Florence, Italy that really shines through the story. My issues with it are as follows. First, Meg isn't an especially admirable main character. She is oddly immature in a lot of ways. Second, two of the story lines seem underdeveloped: Meg's love story (mainly because we don't get a good sense for how she is feeling...more

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Nov 23, 2012 Honest Variety Books rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Girl in the Glass is written exceptionally well. The book makes you want to jump on the first thing that will get you to Florence, Italy. The stories of Nora, Sofia, and Meg pull on your heart strings more than most book plots I’ve read. There are many quotable lines in the book that make you think about what’s really important in life. The only downfall (like many other reviews have pointed out) it is extremely easy to get confused who’s story your reading, probably because the stories of e...more

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Apr 16, 2013 Mimi Wolske rated it 3 of 5 stars

There are three main characters of this book: Meg, Sophia, and Nora. Each woman is from a different generation and each one experienced a brokenness in her childhood, a sort of hurt that comes from a divorce, from the endings of bad decisions, or from secrets, brokenness in her childhood. It took some time to get into the rhythm of the book because of the switches from one character to the next and the constant tracking. Once I had the flow figured out, I was able to anticipate the next chapter....more There are three main characters of this book: Meg, Sophia, and Nora. Each woman is from a different generation and each one experienced a brokenness in her childhood, a sort of hurt that comes from a divorce, from the endings of bad decisions, or from secrets, brokenness in her childhood. It took some time to get into the rhythm of the book because of the switches from one character to the next and the constant tracking. Once I had the flow figured out, I was able to anticipate the next chapter. And, once I learned how each girl was raised, I began to see how their stories wove together.

The journey starts out in the United States and ends up in Florence Italy. The author never leaves you a moment to get bored with the book.

Meg, the main character, has dreamed of taking a promised trip to Florence, Italy since she was a child and being able to finally step into the place captured in a picture at her grandmother’s house. But after her grandmother passes away and it falls to her less-than-reliable father to take her instead and Meg’s long-anticipated travel plans seem permanently on hold.

Finally, her dad tells Meg to book the trip. She does and she prays that the experience will heal the fissures left on her life by her parents’ divorce. But, when she arrives in Florence, her father is nowhere to be found, leaving an aspiring memoir-writer, Sophia Borelli, to introduce Meg to the rich beauty of the ancient city. Sofia claims to be one of the last surviving members of the Medici family and that a long-ago Medici princess, Nora Orsini, communicates with her from within the great masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance.

This is just the beginning. Nora, Sofia, and Meg all learn that life is what you make of it, not what happens during your life.

When their lives finally intersect, they each answer the questions that will be indelibly change their lives. What if renaissance isn’t just a word? What if that’s what happens when you dare to believe that what is/isn’t what has to be?

The book was like a braiding that you were becoming twisted in. You want to be part of the beautiful world. Don't turn the pages too fast, you need to take it in and think on it.

Meg does find what she's been looking for: her LIFE. I didn’t want to put this book down and excitement of the dramas will probably stay with me for a long time. I’m keeping this book because I know I’ll definitely want to read it again. It’s a wonderful story of love, loss, and all the things through time that become ours.
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Jan 03, 2013 Pam rated it 4 of 5 stars

"The Girl in the Glass" is my second book by Susan Meissner, and I would love to read whatever her next might be. It is tagged as being Christian Fiction, but I'm not really sure you would know that even after reading the book. There is nothing inappropriate in it, though.

The story is about Meg, a woman who has never really gotten over her parent's divorce, and who longs to be taken to Florence by her mainly-absentee father, who promised to take her when she was a girl.
Meg's story intertwines w...more

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Sep 30, 2012 Victor Gentile rated it 5 of 5 stars

Susan Meissner in her new book, “The Girl in the Glass” published by WaterBrook Press brings us into the lives of Meg, Sophia and Nora.

From the back cover: Renaissance is a word with hope infused in every letter.

Since she was a child, Meg has dreamed of taking a promised trip to Florence, Italy, and being able to finally step into the place captured in a picture at her grandmother’s house. But after her grandmother passes away and it falls to her less-than-reliable father to take her instead, Me...more Susan Meissner in her new book, “The Girl in the Glass” published by WaterBrook Press brings us into the lives of Meg, Sophia and Nora.

From the back cover: Renaissance is a word with hope infused in every letter.

Since she was a child, Meg has dreamed of taking a promised trip to Florence, Italy, and being able to finally step into the place captured in a picture at her grandmother’s house. But after her grandmother passes away and it falls to her less-than-reliable father to take her instead, Meg’s long-anticipated travel plans seem permanently on hold.

When her dad finally tells Meg to book the trip, she prays that the experience will heal the fissures left on her life by her parents’ divorce. But when Meg arrives in Florence, her father is nowhere to be found, leaving aspiring memoir-writer Sophia Borelli to introduce Meg to the rich beauty of the ancient city. Sofia claims to be one of the last surviving members of the Medici family and that a long-ago Medici princess, Nora Orsini, communicates with her from within the great masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance.

When Sophia, Meg, and Nora’s stories intersect, their lives will be indelibly changed as they each answer the question: What if renaissance isn’t just a word? What if that’s what happens when you dare to believe that what is isn’t what has to be?

The Dictionary defines Renaissance as, “the activity, spirit, or time of the great revival of art, literature, and learning in Europe beginning in the 14th century and extending to the 17th century, marking the transition from the medieval to the modern world.” So if we have a renaissance we are having a similar revival in the world of art and learning. I have always felt that Ms. Meissner’s stories should be taught in school along with Hemingway, Steinbeck and Hawthorne, she is that good! I have said this about Ms. Meissner’s previous works however it is more true than ever before Susan Meissner gets better with every story she tells and “The Girl in the Glass” is her best story yet.

How can you go wrong when most of the events take place in Florence, Italy? Ms. Meissner knows how to skillfully weave history into a contemporary storyline where we root for the present characters as well as the one in the past. “The Girl in the Glass” is a story of family, disillusionment and love. Not only that Ms. Meissner gives us some excitement and adventure in this story as well. As always Ms. Meissner gets us caught up in the story and the characters to the point that we actually hate to say goodbye to them when the book ends. This book is a classic and I recommend it highly!

If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.

To listen to 24 hours non-stop, commercial free Christian music please visit our internet radio station www.kingdomairwaves.org

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Press for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”(less)

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Oct 04, 2012 Ellen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: from-publisher, fictions-contemporary, inspirational-romance, inspirational-fiction

What hopes and dreams do you see when you peer into the looking "glass?" Do you see what was or what could be? Have you put off your dreams or have unfulfilled promises in your life because of situations out of your control? Well, I know I do.
Step into the pages of The Girl in the Glass. Through Meg's life of work and dysfunctional family relations, we see a glimpse of ourselves... or maybe a friend. She is not the strongest person, and the unexpected solo trip to Florence helps her realize she...more

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Sep 27, 2012 Dana rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Those who enjoy Women's Fiction, Literary Fiction, Travel, History, Romance

Recommended to Dana by: I've read her other books

Susan Meissner's, The Girl in the Glass: A Novel, is like taking a trip to Florence, Italy without having to change your dollars into lira. As I read through the gentle and lovely novel, with its evocative images, I longed to sign up for a course in speaking Italian.

As with at least some of her other books (I've read the wonderful SHAPE OF MERCY, and A SOUND IN THE TREES) Susan writes two intersecting stories: a voice from the past, Nora, a Medici princess; and Meg, a contemporary young woman wh...more

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Sep 07, 2012 Caitlyn Santi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I loved getting to learn about Florence, Italy! The premise and message of the story were really neat and I loved Sofia's writing! Also, as a lover of historical anything I really loved the parts of the story that were told from Nora's perspective in the 1500s. I felt like the story did lag a bit in places and the ending felt a bit rushed and left me with a few unresolved questions, but I think my very favorite part of this book was the last couple of pages of wha...more

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About Susan Meissner

Susan Meissner was born in San Diego, California, the second of three. She spent her childhood in just two houses.
Her first writings are a laughable collection of oddly worded poems and predictable stories she wrote when she was eight.

She attended Point Loma College in San Diego, and married her husband, Bob, who is now an associate pastor and a chaplain in the Air Force Reserves, in 1980. When sh...more

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