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The House of Velvet and Glass Audiobook
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(3.00) - 3,011 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Katherine Howe, author of the phenomenal New York Times bestseller The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, returns with an entrancing historical novel set in Boston in 1915, where a young woman stands on the cusp of a new century, torn between loss and love, driven to seek answers in the depths of a crystal ball.
Still reeling from the deaths of her mother and sister on the Titanic, Sibyl Allston is living a life of quiet desperation with her taciturn father and scandal-plagued brother in an elegant town house in Boston's Back Bay. Trapped in a world over which she has no control, Sybil flees for solace to the parlor of a table-turning medium.
But when her brother is suddenly kicked out of Harvard under mysterious circumstances and falls under the sway of a strange young woman, Sibyl turns for help to psychology professor Benton Jones, despite the unspoken tensions of their shared past. As Benton and Sibyl work together to solve a harrowing mystery, their long-simmering spark flares to life, and they realize that there may be something even more magical between them than a medium's scrying glass.
From the opium dens of Boston's Chinatown to the opulent salons of high society, from the back alleys of colonial Shanghai to the decks of the Titanic, The House of Velvet and Glass weaves together meticulous period detail, intoxicating romance, and a final shocking twist in a breathtaking novel that will thrill readers.
Bonus features in the eBook: Katherine Howe's essay on scrying; Boston Daily Globe article on the Titanic from April 15, 1912; and a Reading Group Guide and Q&A with the author, Katherine Howe.
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"I didnt like that two of the main characters were hooked on opium and would have liked to have seen the characters face some consequences of addiction but I enjoyed the overall story and learned something about that time in history."
— Spinster (4 out of 5 stars)
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“Richly atmospheric, The House of Velvet and Glass transported me to the turn of the twentieth century and a world changing as rapidly and irrevocably as our own. Sibyl Allston is a compelling and memorable protagonist who stands, precariously balanced, with a foot in each era. A gifted historian and storyteller, Katherine Howe has created a vividly imagined world that made me want to suspend time, lingering just a bit longer with the characters who live there, before the whole thing vanished in the clouded glass.”
— Brunonia Barry, New York Times bestselling author -
“An impressive historical tale. Howe’s story of the growing attraction between Sibyl and Benton in the shadow of grief and loss merges gracefully into a compelling exploration of spiritualism and free will. An engaging story of love, destiny, and sacrifice in the shadow of World War I, with the unexpected touch of fantasy.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Heather Corrigan’s voice is delicate as a spider’s web…Her rendition of flashbacks and memories is affecting, and her early-twentieth-century diction is charming.”
— Audiofile -
“A page-turner that vividly evokes Great War militaristic fervor and obsession with psychic phenomena, Howe’s novel is at once a cultural commentary and an outstanding historical gothic, as compelling and creepy as John Harwood’s The Seance (2009) and Paul Elwork’s The Girl Who Would Speak for the Dead (2011).”
— Booklist
The House of Velvet and Glass Listener Reviews
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" Ehh...I liked the idea of a book that focused on a family that lost loved ones on the Titanic, rather than another portrayal of the disaster itself, but the ship was of such small relevance to the rest of the story that it felt more like a ploy to draw in readers. The characters were flat and lifeless and the book felt pointless. Honestly, it sunk -- er, stunk. "
— Erin, 2/20/2014 -
" This book just wasn't for me. I don't know why, but it was a challenge to pick it up and read it. "
— Cindy, 2/1/2014 -
" Found it hard to stay focused while reading Howe's latest book. Interesting topics but she seems to drag us through the story, in my opinion. "
— Julieb, 1/29/2014 -
" I found It to be only 'okay' until just past the 60% mark ... thereafter I enjoyed it. "
— Denise, 1/28/2014 -
" I loved Howe's first book and looked forward to reading this one. Unfortunately "The House of Velvet and Glass" is missing a lot of the magic from the first book. I never really got into this book and had to make myself keep reading. Was this a bad book? Not at all. Would I read it again? Probably not. "
— Jennifer, 1/23/2014 -
" wwoo woo bok of magic and smoke and mirrors "
— Liz, 1/14/2014 -
" Painfully slow and utterly disappointing. "
— Chastity, 1/14/2014 -
" not a Titanic fan as a rule, loved the Shanghai connection. Read in one sitting (reclining, actually). How free are we really? "
— Susie, 1/12/2014 -
" This started out as a four star book, but ended up a three. Very interesting but ended abruptly. "
— Judy, 1/2/2014 -
" It took me some time to get through this book. I'm not quite sure why. It seemed slow going up until the last 40 pages maybe? Then it came alive for me and the words written there meant something to me and were very though provoking. It would give this 3 1/2 stars if I could. "
— Jean, 1/1/2014 -
" Just plain boring....finished it but it was a chore. "
— Jana, 12/18/2013 -
" Very much enjoyed this book. brought together a variety of historical events and made them relevant to one family in Boston in the 1915. "
— Alexandra, 12/15/2013 -
" It took a commitment of 100 pages to get into this book. While the topic was interesting, the writing dipped an additional time or two. The ending was satisfying - although a bit quick for all the threads opened during the first 90% of the book. "
— Cherylann, 12/10/2013 -
" I have to say his book started slowly for me.....but it really picked up and I ended up enjoying the story. I was not a fan of her first book. Bu, I m so glad I gave this one a chance "
— Maureen, 9/30/2013 -
" Engaging read,takes place in Boston and spans the sinking of the Titanic to the sinking of the Lusitania 1912 to 1915. "
— Monica, 9/9/2013 -
" This one started a little slow, but ended splendidly. Katherine Howe wowed me again! "
— Dasha, 4/9/2013 -
" Entertaining enough- leaves you with a little something to be desired. "
— Ali, 3/30/2013 -
" So slow to start. Transitions from past to present awkward. To much tell over show. "
— Sandy, 3/30/2013 -
" First half was a little slow, but when it picked up I couldn't put it down. Loved the ending! "
— Paige, 2/15/2013 -
" Story revolved around a family dealing with the aftermath of the Titantic sinking. Had everything for me. Paranormal. History. Romance. Regret. "
— Melissa, 1/24/2013 -
" I loved this novel...Katherine Howe interwove the story of the Titanic with that of a family history. I was sorry to see the last chapter. When will Katherine Howe come out with her next novel? I can't wait! "
— Catherine, 1/3/2013 -
" Very good...Katherin Howe has done it again. "
— gertt, 10/16/2012 -
" 3.5 stars. Interesting and entertaining. "
— Ilene, 9/13/2012
About Katherine Howe
Katherine Howe is the New York Times bestselling author of The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, The House of Velvet and Glass, and Conversion. She hosted Salem: Unmasking the Devil for the National Geographic Channel, and her fiction has been translated into over twenty-five languages. A native Texan, she lives in New England and upstate New York, where she teaches at Cornell and is at work on her next novel.
About Heather Corrigan
Heather Corrigan is an actress and narrator. Her audiobook readings include the Pony Scouts series by Catherine Hapka and Mia and the Too Big Tutu by Robin Farley, among others.