The House with the Blind Glass Veranda

Brief Overview

In the remote northern wilderness of Norway, where the harsh wind cuts to the bone, lives young Tora—a girl with an inquisitive gaze and a vulnerable heart. Her home, like a glass veranda, is filled with fragility and secrets, while darkness and pain lurk beyond its walls. Tora grows up in an atmosphere of fear and loneliness, under the yoke of a domineering mother and a cruel stepfather whose actions leave indelible scars on her soul. Amid the daily grayness and despair, Tora searches for light—in books, in dreams, and in rare glimpses of kindness. Her inner world, full of anxieties and hopes, becomes a quiet protest against violence and silence. Herbjørg Wassmo’s novel is a profound and piercing tale of coming of age, vulnerability, and the strength of spirit that can endure even in the most merciless world.