I discovered Sea Glass Secrets through your tiktok a few days ago. I stumbled upon a poem about grief that I connected with deeply, more than I ever have to a poem before. I then found more of your work, thanks to the tiktok algorithm, before going through every one you posted on your account. When I spoke, you held a mirror in front of my face. When I cried, you bought yourself tissues for your tears. My voice was muffled. Your voice was clear. My sobs were hushed. Your sobs were deafening. I will hear your voice until I take my last breath. It was the only voice I heard in the depths of the night. In the wake of my sorrows. Your voice. Your hurt. Always yours, never mine.” The lively harbour town of Seaham is found on the Durham Heritage Coast and is world-famous for its abundance of unique sea glass, which people travel from far and wide for a chance to collect. This book is the reason that whenever I walk on the beach, I am walking stooped along the shore, searching for little bits of beach glass in the sand. So far I have collected two bowlfuls. I don't have a big white platter like Honora does in this book, but a bowl full of beach glass is very satisfying to run your hands through (don't worry, it is so dulled by the sand and the waves that it's smooth and curved, not sharp anymore) . . . And although so far I've mostly found green, white, and brown, little Gabrielle (maybe because of how short she is and consequently how much closer to the ground) just this week found a lavender one with starbursts on it . . . SCORE! The bottleworks produced up to 20,000 hand-blown bottles every day, in different colours and designs including hand crafted bottles, perfume bottles and household glass, all of which were distributed across the globe.

Set in New Hampshire during the troubled years of 1929/30, Sea Glass is about the coming together of a motley collection of people in troubled times. It was a strange time for them all as although the strikes and Wall Street crash were affecting them all they were happy that summer of 1930, in their innocence not knowing how disastrously it would all end. As the reader I certainly had no inkling of how things were going to turn out, for me the sign of a well told story. A heartbreaking and vividly descriptive insight into the far reaching consequences of The Wall Street crash and the mill strikes. The story follows the arc of their relationship from good times to bad and explores the discoveries they make about each other as a result of their travails. Part of the subtext of the story is revealed through homey letters from Honora's mother. Sexton becomes involved with a group of men fomenting a strike at the local textile mills. Their home becomes the headquarters of the organizers, bringing them into the center of a dangerous and controversial movement.Vivian, a friend that Honora met on the beach was smart, sassy and wise. Vivian can see a way to the future and she valued friendship as it should be.

I always love the way Anita Shreve writes about character interaction. Using her words, I can always picture exactly the way a person is moving, smiling, speaking, and how they are feeling. Maybe that's why I'm so addicted to her despite the fact that half of her books are disappointing. This is the 2nd Shreve book I finished in the last couple of weeks. I really enjoyed reading it, though not quite as much as Light on Snow. The structure of the book -- alternating between the viewpoints of the different characters -- made it take a little while to really get into it and feel invested in the characters, but once they started intersecting, I couldn't put it down. And the structure provided some great symbolism -- little threads weaving in and out of others' lives, sometimes only briefly, and sometimes with monumental consequences. No matter what day of the year you choose to stroll along the beautiful beaches of Seaham, you’re certain to spot at least one or two people doing the ‘sea glass stoop’ along the beautiful beaches of Seaham.Collecting sea glass is just one of many events and activities to enjoy along the Durham Coast.With so much to explore,extend your visitand book a seaside stay in one of the county's many award-winning hotels, bed and breakfasts or carvan parks.