Review of The Glass Thread

[Sanju Lali]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Glass Thread" by James Stone.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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While growing up in the Great Swamp near New Jersey, what James could not imagine was a series of troubles waiting for him whenever he walked a path that was not in harmony with his life's driving force. Even though he was brought up by an engineer mom and a hardworking engineer dad, by being a Jew, his quick anger temperament and aversion to others' authority over him often put many hurdles in his path. A key focal point of this book would be how his passion for glass blowing appeared to be the life force energy to push him forward despite facing many setbacks in life. You may find the saga of his roller-coaster ride on his life journey by reading The Glass Thread by James Stone. You may find his autobiography captivating till the end because of his writing style and sharing his life events without any coating.

My copy of the book had 383 pages in it. The twelve chapters of this book cover the life history and various experiences of James. Both of his parents had migrated to America, fearing the genocide of Jews before the Second World War. After completing his education as an exchange student in India and college education, he tried to work at several places. Due to a lack of foresight and adequate prior experience, he got fired from several jobs because of some untoward mishaps that occurred in each of them. He gravitated naturally toward glass and fire after getting preliminary coaching in glass blowing and glass artwork in school. His glass art working skills did fetch him many jobs, but several untoward circumstances did not allow him to continue in any of those jobs. He had made many attempts to start his own glass-blowing workshop in partnership but often received deceits from his partners. Was he able to kick start his glass-blowing business at the end? How was his family life?

I liked the author’s statement that the crucial things in one's life happen outside of one's awareness. I also liked the idea in the book that we all are cosmically connected. I appreciate the bravery of the author in sharing two of the critical incidents in his life. Firstly, an accident caused injury to his wife, Maria, which gave him some initial setback but helped him to get rid of drugs automatically. Secondly, he could not forget Gary, who helped him pursue glass-blowing. Honestly, I could not find anything in this book that I would dislike.

This book would be uplifting for people who have faced multiple setbacks in life and are looking for inspiration. Young adults interested in glass artworks like glass blowing will find this book encouraging. Readers who are not interested in reading autobiographies may skip this book. People who easily get depressed by reading about many setbacks in life may stay away from the book. Sensitive readers may exercise discretion because there are a few incidences of rough talks and a few blood scenes in the book.

I was fascinated by the title of this book, and to know what is meant by glass thread, I picked this book to read. Later, I thanked myself for selecting this book because the story in the book was very heart-touching and amusing as well. Since the number of grammatical errors had not exceeded ten, I would have given this book a five-star rating because the other things were fine. However, I realized that a round of professional editing could have made this book perfect. The grammatical errors in this book did not affect my reading experience. Looking at this book in its entirety, I would like to rate this book with 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to others.

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The Glass Thread
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[RutvikPatel]

"The Glass Thread" by James Stone is a captivating autobiography that traces the author's life journey from his upbringing near the Great Swamp in New Jersey to his passion for glass blowing. Despite being raised by engineer parents, James faced challenges due to his quick temper and aversion to authority. The book eloquently portrays how his love for glass blowing became his driving force despite numerous setbacks. With 383 pages divided into twelve chapters, the narrative covers James's experiences, including his education, career attempts, and the trials he faced in establishing his own glass-blowing workshop. The author's candid storytelling and reflection on life's pivotal moments make this autobiography engaging and relatable. Notably, there are no apparent dislikes, making it a compelling read.

[Mtsweni Nelsy]

Your review offers a heartfelt and insightful perspective on "The Glass Thread." It illuminates the profound themes of resilience, interconnectedness, and personal triumphs, showcasing the book's potential to inspire and uplift readers. Thanks for the great review.