Rating: 
Summary: Doesn't quite gel...
Review: Louise Marley's novel tells two parallel stories. One begins in 1761 and concerns a young orphan named Eilish Eam, who earns her keep by playing music on water-filled glasses for passersby on the streets of one of London's poorer districts, until she is discovered by Dr. Benjamin Franklin. Impressed with her talent, he offers her a proper place to stay in exchange for her services in developing and playing his own similar invention, which he calls his glass armonica. The other, which occurs in 2018, follows Erin Rushton, a professional musician whose specialty is an instrument that evolved from Franklin's original device. Erin's brother, the composer of much of her repertoire, is undergoing experimental sound therapy to correct a neurological disorder, and her glass harmonica may provide the key. The tales run concurrently in roughly alternating chapters, converging when each character glimpses or feels the ghostly presence of the other. Erin wonders if she is losing her mind, since the harmonica is rumored to induce madness in sensitive individuals. She also finds herself becoming romantically involved with her brother's doctor. THE GLASS HARMONICA is an uncommon mix of historical fantasy and science fiction drama. I found the chapters set in the past more interesting, and it seems that the author may have as well; Eilish's world is described in rich detail while Erin's feels slightly underdeveloped. I'm not sure that setting the latter in the future was necessary at all. Most of the technological advances are superficial, and the relevant ones could have easily been worked into the present day. While the story is not quite complex enough to warrant the book's page count, and the ending is somewhat contrived, I was thoroughly absorbed in the tale. I recommend it especially if music and musicians are one of your literary fetishes.
Rating: 
Summary: Days of future past
Review: Louise Marley's novel tells two parallel stories. One begins in 1761 and concerns a young orphan named Eilish Eam, who earns her keep by playing music on water-filled glasses for passersby on the streets of one of London's poorer districts, until she is discovered by Dr. Benjamin Franklin. Impressed with her talent, he offers her a proper place to stay in exchange for her services in developing and playing his own similar invention, which he calls his glass armonica. The other, which occurs in 2018, follows Erin Rushton, a professional musician whose specialty is an instrument that evolved from Franklin's original device. Erin's brother, the composer of much of her repertoire, is undergoing experimental sound therapy to correct a neurological disorder, and her glass harmonica may provide the key. The tales run concurrently in roughly alternating chapters, converging when each character glimpses or feels the ghostly presence of the other. Erin wonders if she is losing her mind, since the harmonica is rumored to induce madness in sensitive individuals. She also finds herself becoming romantically involved with her brother's doctor. THE GLASS HARMONICA is an uncommon mix of historical fantasy and science fiction drama. I found the chapters set in the past more interesting, and it seems that the author may have as well; Eilish's world is described in rich detail while Erin's feels slightly underdeveloped. I'm not sure that setting the latter in the future was necessary at all. Most of the technological advances are superficial, and the relevant ones could have easily been worked into the present day. While the story is not quite complex enough to warrant the book's page count, and the ending is somewhat contrived, I was thoroughly absorbed in the tale. I recommend it especially if music and musicians are one of your literary fetishes.
Rating: 
Summary: Splendid Mix of Historical Fantasy and Cyberpunk SF
Review: Opera singer Louise Marley is surely one of the most unique new voices I have encountered in the realm of science fiction and fantasy. Her novel "The Glass Harmonica", is a dazzling mix of historical fantasy with borderline cyberpunk science fiction. Her tale is a fascinating look at music from the viewpoints of two women - born centuries apart - consumed by their love of music and whose apparitions demonstrate to each other the important healing power of music. In 1761 London, Eilish Eam is an Irish orphan and street musician whose chance encounter with Benjamin Franklin earns her unexpected patronage and interest in her lyrical playing of the glass armonica. In 2018 Seattle, Erin Rushton is a famous classical musician and the world's foremost soloist of the glass harmonica. Her brother Charlie, crippled since childhood, is a distinguished classical composer. Tormented by her brother's health, she soon meets the ghostly wraith-like figure of a young girl who shares her passion for the glass harmonica. Marley is a spellbinding storyteller with a fine gift for creating interesting characters such as Eilish, Sarah, Charlie, and Gene Berrick, the young doctor who tries an unorthodox treatment for Charlie's injuries. Anyone who loves music, historical fiction and fantasy will find much to enjoy in Murray's novel.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent new work by the unsung hero of sci-fi/fantasy
Review: This book is an excellent, dreamy science fantasy work by a great author. She weaves two parallel story lines across two and a half centuries and creates each world wonderfully. She also integrates historical figures, such as Ben Franklin and Mozart, into the storyline deftly. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys science fiction or fantasy, and anyone who enjoys this book should enjoy all of her previous works.
Rating:
Summary: Charming story
Review: This book, written in Louise Marley's impeccable style, is a lovely tale of mystery, musical history, family responsibility and romance Two young girls both of exceptional talent are connected across time by the instrument called "glass armonica". One girl lives in the 21st century and one in the l9th century. Each has the responsibility of a young brother. The story involves the strong emotional ties to their music and to their brothers which draws them to communicate across the years. Ms. Marley has researched carefully the history of the glass harmonica and Benjamin Franklin's part in developing the instrument This is a lovely book for ages l5 and up . Tuck it into your bag to take along on your next trip. You won't regret it.
Rating:
Summary: LEAD POISONING!!!
Review: This is a decent novel. There's nothing truly spectacular about it, but nothing awful either. The writing is nice and simple, and the characters cute, even if they are all overly "sensitive." (How many other readers wanted to slap Marianne?) Except for Gene, of course, who was so WOEFULLY underdeveloped I'm not even sure he qualifies as a character. You could tell Marley doesn't really have a clue about the personalities of "reserved" people. But on the whole, it was a pleasurable vacation read, entertaining but not too taxing of the intellect. So it gets 3 stars.
HOWEVER . . .!
The passivity of Eilish and the ignorance of those surrounding her concerning her "illness" drove me MAD. And reading previous reviews, no one else seems to have written a diatribe against lead poisoning, so here I go.
Marley approaches the lead issue with so much delicacy that I imagine a person unaware of the danger of lead dust might not realize that this is what killed Eilish - younger readers especially. Having worked in an environmental law clinic dealing with issues of lead poisoning, I'm pretty familiar with it. While this book makes it seem that it was merely the product of past ignorance, lead poisoning remains a very real danger today. Lead dust, as most people already know, can be a danger if your house or apartment has lead-based paint. But did you know that lots of lead dust can accumulate on window blinds? Children can also be poisoned by playing on lead-contaminated soil, common in many places. Sadly, a recently released study by Environmental Health Watch found that almost TWENTY percent of children in Cleveland, my hometown, have symptoms of lead poisoning. While the percentages in most cities are much lower (CDC in 2001 reported a national average of 2.2%), lead poisoning still leaves too many children, most of them living in poor urban areas, susceptible to recurring headaches, blurred vision, and brain damage. The sad thing is that lead poisoning is COMPLETELY preventable - but because most children suffering from it are poor, they do not receive the protection they should.
I really wanted Erin to save Eilish from such a pointless death, to tell her to get her arse out of that house, or at least have someone dust that stupid laboratory. You'd think Ben Franklin at least would know better. I was also annoyed at the weepy, complacent attitude exhibited by both the writer and Eilish herself towards her death. Fight, why don't you! Do SOMETHING! Even if Eilish didn't seem to mind that much, I at least expected more outrage from Marley - but maybe being an "artiste" makes her too delicate for such battles. Her wimpy characters surely seem to be.
Just wanted to point out an issue in the novel that seems to have been overlooked by most reviewers.
Rating:
Summary: The Story Sings
Review: This story intrigues with its portrayal of the power of music and human longing. I love a book that moves me, and Marley's, as usual, does. This story is both sweet and sharp, giving an unflinching glimpse at exploitation and privilege, including a courageously mixed view of Benjamin Franklin. Check out Terrorists of Irustan for another great Marley read.
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