Reviews

Salt Houses by Hala Alyan

violet_primroses's review against another edition

dark informative reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

jreadsalot's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0

dianlisa's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Quite disappointing. Too many characters and it seems the author lost her focus because she wanted to tell everything about everyone. This should have been a short stories book which characters are connected one to another, instead of a novel.

lilmamacita's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

carly_rael's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring medium-paced

4.5

kdelarosa's review against another edition

emotional informative slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

kissarisssa's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective tense medium-paced

4.0

coffee_mait's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.5

lush and longing, this generational saga of one family's resilience in the face of periodic displacement, each generation forced to uproot and scatter, pushed further and further away from palestine, filastin, home, is a gorgeous exploration of belonging: what it means to feel it, to claim it, and to what or whom. because the narrative flips through perspectives, time periods, and locations like pages of a family photo album, we never stay long in one person's head or life. and though each character is vibrantly rendered and distinct in their hopes, fears, and beliefs -- often clashing with fellow family members because of them (antagonistic mother-daughter relationships are definitely hereditary) -- we miss out on character development and sustained exploration of any one person, relying on time's relentless march to carry the plot and character growth forward, oftentimes off-page. but isn't that just like family though? weeks, months, years pass by before finally seeing each other again. all the "how have you been?'s" "i told you you should've been a doctor,'s" "my how you've grown!'s" "dating anyone yet?'s" "you and the kids don't visit enough,'s" and "so when are you moving back?'s" in the blink of an eye or the turn of a decade, everyone you've known intimately all your life has changed, become someone you don't know but will always recognize. because they're your blood, your love, and you'll forever be tied: to each other and home, for the soil remembers even if you don't, and the next generation will carry the memory forward, too.

coffeeandcatnaps's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

kaeli's review against another edition

5.0

Incredibly beautiful and layered family saga novel. It was poignant and heartfelt all the way through without ever once being corny or emotionally manipulative. I was moved to tears multiple times while reading this. Gorgeous, fantastic book that I want to buy for everyone.