Thin Sheets of Ice follows the loveless and traumatic life of its heroine Jane, as she grows up between the two world wars of the Twentieth Century. Her mother, Gina, loses her husband in traumatic circumstances while she is pregnant with her. Gina is a dutiful mother, but it is clear that she was never able to get over her loss and love her daughter. The writer does a good job of echoing the coldness and lack of kindness in those mother's actions and mien towards her.
Jane has a tumultuous love life, unable to make the right choices, something that brings further, catastrophic social disapproval.
Jane is a spirited, brave and idealistic individual who seeks to make a difference. This all-too often means putting herself in the front line of danger, where brutality and atrocity may be witnessed. Her adventures can also involve espionage.
And a more unsuitable job than spying for a vulnerable young adult cannot be imagined. Not so many years later, Jane breaks down and collapses into schizophrenia.
The novel does flash back and forth in the telling that might disorientate a Mrs Dalloway. The reactions of friends, lovers and family are explored, ongoing with how they react to Jane and her illness.
This novel has a happy ending, in that the main character finds redemption, after much suffering, through a healing relationship. The writer makes it clear, however, that for the genuine character this novel is based on, there were no happy endings. There were only the cutting-edge new treatments of the time, such as lobotomies alongside and lifelong institutionalisation, to be forgotten to the world outside.
Schizophrenia is as mysterious in its root causes as it was in Jane's day. There were certainly no cures that gave its victims their lives and dignity back. The book hints at a combination of possible reasons for why Jane became schizophrenic, but it does not preach or try to persuade the reader in any particular direction. A Thin Sheet of Ice can be read on its own merits, as a study of a life lived in difficult times, or as a psychological study - either way, it is certainly haunting read.

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I was immediately attracted by the summary and the cover. We see Jane as if she were trapped in glass, making a sign to shut up. The sentence at the very top of the cover summarizes the book well: "Only a thin sheet of glass separates peace from madness"

This book tells real facts that occurred around the time of the Second World War. At that time schizophrenia, a devastating illness with such a painful treatment that in 1939 it could result in the person being imprisoned for life.

We find there Jane Deering who with the rise of fascism will engage in the German resistance. From Berlin to Madrid she will witness a lot of horrors. She is going to isolate herself more and more. In addition she will feel watched.

The author brings us here to the world of schizophrenia with brio. We see the work being done to research. A heartbreaking, moving, captivating story with the pen of Pippa Beecheno addictive. Jane's character is endearing. Look forward to reading another book by this author with potential.

I loved the book blurb of a Thin Sheet of Glass by Pippa Beecheno. It sounded so interesting, and I am always fascinated by mental illness.

I just couldn't get into this book no matter how hard I tried. I want to say I read about 40 percent of A Thin Sheet of Glass before giving up. I was just so confused by what was going on, that it made it hard for me to enjoy this book. The characters were interesting though from what I read especially Jane's mother. I just couldn't get into it.

I would encourage others to give A Thin Sheet of Glass by Pippa Beecheno a read though. I am just easily confused!

A Thin Sheet of Glass showcases how mental disorders in the thirties and through WWII were handled and the atrocities of being confined in a mental hospital. The author explores the notions that environment and genetics shape how schizophrenia affects Jane. The author brilliantly uses the wars to show chaos in the physical world to match the chaos going on in Jane's mind as she slips further into schizophrenia. We get a raw glimpse into how mental disorders were viewed and treated during these times and how little control Jane had over her own body. This book demonstrates how far we have come in dealing with mental illness and shows the rawness of what a patient and their family went through when dealing with hospitalization.. An excellent read. 5/5 stars.

Thanks to the author and the publisher for a review cop.y.. All opinions are mine.

A Thin Sheet of Glass is a story of war, mental health, love, and family. The story of Jane follows two timelines – Jane as a young woman and her gradually failing mental health, and Jane in an asylum receiving treatment. Along the way, we meet her family, friends and lovers – characters who we come to love and hate, and some of whom our opinions may change on as the story progresses.

This book is a wonderful depiction of the lead up to WWII and the events in both Britain and Germany that shaped people’s lives. It also does justice to how mental health problems, such as schizophrenia, can gradually have an impact on people’s lives and may not be instantly recognisable.

I would have liked to have had more of an insight into Jane’s thought processes as a child, I think this may have helped to set the scene for her adulthood. Swapping between timelines got a little confusing at times as the time moves on every time you swap, but there is guidance on how old Jane is during that time to help along the way.

I found this book to be a bit slow in pace at times; I was impatient to find out what happened to Jane, but on reflection, I now realise this is not the point of the story. The story is the journey, not the destination, and acts as a reminder of the fragility of our minds.

I enjoyed this book and I really cannot think of anything else I’ve read like it.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.