Like Glass

Like Glass is Matthew Cory’s first book which is 203 pages in length, not including title pages and thanks to his wife Patti. Though he has written four short stories which he considers complete none have yet been published.

Matthew Cory currently resides in El Paso Texas with his wife, his two year old beagle, Chloe, and cat, Charlie. He is a software/web developer.

Eight years ago during college, Rob fell deeply in love with someone he barely knew. Then one night his brother Bill betrayed him terribly shattering their relationship and leaving Rob alone, cut off from everyone depressed and wishing his brother were dead.

Eight years later awaiting a phone call from his brother to his shock it is Janet, Bill’s wife who phones informing him of his brother’s death, but with so much history between Rob, Bill and Janet, how is Rob to feel...sad he has lost a brother? Happy his wish had come true? Or perhaps upset he didn’t get to kill him himself? Unable to play the piano any longer Rob’s personal dreams are destroyed and he’s forced to seek employment.

In the wake of Bills death can Rob become the person he once was or has he changed so much. Can he forgive and forget and allow himself to move on beyond all the hurt he’s causing himself and those around him.

This wasn’t my usual type of book to read, though this isn’t your typical romance either, if anything I think it’s a bit of a psychological thriller as well. What Matthew Cory has here is a wonderful little story of romance and how one can be betrayed and so easily, not only that but also how family and friends are the most important of things along with trust. This is a story entirely based on love and trust, and how easily these can be reversed. But it’s also a story about how you cannot hide your feelings or emotions from those closest to you and that it doesn’t matter who you are whether old or young we are all fragile, Like Glass.

There are many twists and turns throughout the story as it travels between the present and the events eight years previous. There are one or two sentences which require mild restructuring and a few common spelling mistakes which can easily be corrected, though eyes trained or untrained will be able to see what is being said.

There is a lot of emotion portrayed in this story that at times you cannot decide who is playing the part of the good guy and bad guy. The psychology of Like Glass is really what holds this story together magnificently by creating and manipulating the emotions of both the believable and wonderful characters and that of the reader.

I would recommend Like Glass by Matthew Cory to anyone aged 16 years plus and give this book, 4 out of 5 stars.

By R.N. Hadley