Scan barcode
carolynhm's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug use, and Violence
Minor: Child death, Rape, and Trafficking
evilo_reads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
There were many great parts of the book with many dynamic characters, vivid settings, and detailed prose. Unfortunately, the character we focused on the most, Jeanette, was extremely unlikeable. Her redeeming qualities were almost nonexistent, and while the traumas she endured certainly explained her character they didn’t help her story arc in a fulfilling way. All this to say, I definitely wasn’t prepared for how trauma-heavy this book was and it came as an overwhelmingly depressing surprise that definitely hindered my enjoyment and appreciation of this novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Death, Pedophilia, Racism, and Blood
Minor: Child abuse
madelonpaige's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, and Forced institutionalization
deedireads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
5.0
All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/reads/.
TL;DR REVIEW:
Of Women and Salt was a gorgeous, unforgettable book, with a feeling somewhere between a novel and short stories. I’m so glad I read it.
For you if: You like character-driven novels by poets.
FULL REVIEW:
TL;DR REVIEW:
Of Women and Salt was a gorgeous, unforgettable book, with a feeling somewhere between a novel and short stories. I’m so glad I read it.
For you if: You like character-driven novels by poets.
FULL REVIEW:
“María Isabel thought it had always been women who wove the future out of the scraps, always the characters, never the authors. She knew a woman could learn to resent this post, but she would instead find a hundred books to read.”
I read Of Women and Salt as part of Roxane Gay’s Audacious book club via Literati, and it was so good, y’all. Seriously. From the very first chapter, I knew I was going to love it. Searing stories, sweeping history, sharp women who reach for you right out of the page. And prose that cuts like a knife. What else could you ask for?
The book is a novel, but it’s written in chapters that bounce around in time and between narrators, so it almost has a connected short story collection type of feeling to it. I don’t want to give too much away, but the characters are stretch back generations, from the family matriarch in Cuba in the 1800s to a young woman (Jeanette) struggling with addiction today.
It’s rich with history and multigenerational legacy, an homage to Latinx women throughout the past few centuries. I particularly loved the first chapter, about Maria Isabel in a cigar factory in the 1800s, and one close to the middle from the POV of Jeanette’s mother (IYKYK). Gabriela Garcia is also a poet, and it absolutely shows. Literary and moving and beautiful and painful all at once.
Plenty of content warnings on this one, but if you are OK with them, it’s so worth it. I may reread this one in the future. I definitely, definitely recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Sexual assault
thepassivebookworm's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Forced institutionalization
Minor: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, and Sexual assault
keatynbergsten's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, and Violence
gabymarie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, and Murder
chloehamburn's review against another edition
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Breezed through this short, complex novel and really enjoyed it, despite that it is sad. It felt a little lurchy towards the end as certain threads needed a little more fleshing out for me, although I appreciated that the author didn't waste a single word here. The temptation among many debut writers is to overwrite and produce 400 page novels, so I admire Gabriela García's courage to leave out as much as she did. There is so much room for her to grow into an even better storyteller and I am very interested to see what her next direction is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Incest
Minor: Animal cruelty
writemare31's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
To me, this book felt like a collection of deep, descriptive, beautiful short stories. There was a large cast of characters tied together through familial connections, though those connections became taut and stressed as they crossed continents and generations. Each chapter tended to focus on a different character and explored their perspective. There were some stunning lines in this book, immensely creative and satisfying scenes. There was a deep darkness to it as well; it does not resolve your conflicts or aim to make you comfortable. It won't coddle you.
There is a lot to appreciate in this book. The depictions of women are diverse, each character with their distinct personality and troubles, all of them portrayed with depth and care.
This book did not hit five stars for me because the plot was sprawling. If you asked me to outline the events, I could only name two that actually bring cohesion to the book, and the last one is in the final chapter. The ending felt slightly rushed or forced. I was often fighting confusion as I read through this, despite the clear artistry in the writing. Sometimes a little structure is needed to help bring that artistry to its full potential.
If I had read almost any of these chapters as stand alone stories, they likely would've earned five stars.
There is a lot to appreciate in this book. The depictions of women are diverse, each character with their distinct personality and troubles, all of them portrayed with depth and care.
This book did not hit five stars for me because the plot was sprawling. If you asked me to outline the events, I could only name two that actually bring cohesion to the book, and the last one is in the final chapter. The ending felt slightly rushed or forced. I was often fighting confusion as I read through this, despite the clear artistry in the writing. Sometimes a little structure is needed to help bring that artistry to its full potential.
If I had read almost any of these chapters as stand alone stories, they likely would've earned five stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent
brennar16's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse