The Glass Room

by Simon Mawer
A finalist for the 2009 Man Booker Prize

A good read, but surprising to see it as a Booker finalist. So much was poured into the first half of the book but the second half, particularly the last few sections seemed too compressed and rushed. I have felt this with several novels recently, perhaps my desire for a never-ending story? but it's almost as if the author ran out of time or patience and simply wanted it finished with. It also failed to get my own imagination working - I like a story where there is something I can take away and dwell on, this failed to provide it.