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dramaqueentears's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Of Women and Salt tells the origin stories of six Cuban & Cuban-American women and a mother and daughter from El Salvador living undocumented in Miami. It begins with Maria Isabel, a cigar roller who lived through the fight for Cuban independence from Spain. Then, we learn about Dolores, the granddaughter of Maria Isabel, who survived an abusive relationship during the Cuban Revolution. It takes us to 2014, where we meet the daughter of Dolores, Carmen, and Carmen’s daughter, Jeanette, who now live in Miami. Jeanette has a rough relationship with Carmen because of previous trauma and her drug addiction. Carmen won’t tell Jeanette anything about why she left Cuba and her family behind, adding more aggravation to their dynamic.
The story really becomes connected in 2014 when Jeanette takes in a little girl named Ana when the girl’s mother is detained by ICE.
What I liked:
- The fact that the main plot point surrounding immigrant detention happens in 2014. We need more literature that holds President Obama accountable for his role in that.
- All of the Cuban/Cuban-American characters were so unlikable but their chapters were so good.
What I disliked:
- The book was so short that I didn’t feel very connected or even knowledgeable about the characters.
- Other than making a statement about ICE, there was really no reason to include a plot with two characters from El Salvador. They didn’t really add much to the story until the end and Gloria and Ana had no real personalities.
- The chapters jumped around so frequently. Not a big deal for the chapters written in the 1950’s or the 1890’s, but I had to do a lot of mental math to determine what was going on with the more present-day characters because one chapter would be written in 2019 and the next in 2015.
Overall, I think it could have been better but it was alright! The idea was great.
The story really becomes connected in 2014 when Jeanette takes in a little girl named Ana when the girl’s mother is detained by ICE.
What I liked:
- The fact that the main plot point surrounding immigrant detention happens in 2014. We need more literature that holds President Obama accountable for his role in that.
- All of the Cuban/Cuban-American characters were so unlikable but their chapters were so good.
What I disliked:
- The book was so short that I didn’t feel very connected or even knowledgeable about the characters.
- Other than making a statement about ICE, there was really no reason to include a plot with two characters from El Salvador. They didn’t really add much to the story until the end and Gloria and Ana had no real personalities.
- The chapters jumped around so frequently. Not a big deal for the chapters written in the 1950’s or the 1890’s, but I had to do a lot of mental math to determine what was going on with the more present-day characters because one chapter would be written in 2019 and the next in 2015.
Overall, I think it could have been better but it was alright! The idea was great.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Adult/minor relationship, and Addiction
Moderate: Racism, Death of parent, Cancer, and Blood
Minor: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Medical content, and Medical trauma
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: Drug use, Domestic abuse, and Violence
Minor: Rape, Trafficking, and Child death
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, Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Death, Pedophilia, and Racism
Minor: Child abuse
bleadenreads's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Plot: 5 generations of Cuban women face civil wars, violence, revolutions, racism, family secrets, motherhood, sacrifices and addiction.
Review: I really wanted to love this book and was fully invested in the book that was sold to me by the blurb...
The novel really needed to be longer and fleshed out as the main premises of the book were not fully developed. I think Jeanette and Gloria were the only fully developed characters, I wanted more from Cecilia, Dolores, Carmen, Elena and Maydelis. However the end of Jeanette's storyline, I thought, was a shock and I almost thought I had missed a passage. The overall ending and link with Ana was good, but I wanted more closure from the others. Also, the book that is passed down through generations is merely that and had less significance/impact on the characters than I expected. I think the inscription, "We are force", ironically, could have lent more force to the characters and their decisions. The women had a lot of strength and secrets, facing continuous adversity and experiencing little joy and happiness.
I thought the passages following Gloria and her daughter Ana, and their experiences of being an immigrant and victim of ICE policies were heartbreaking and written with great sensitivity and power. However, I think this could have had more impact if they had been related somehow to the main women, rather than slightly interlinked.
I did think this was in parts well written and a fascinating insight into the US-Cuban immigrant culture and history.
Maybe the blurb shouldn't have placed so much emphasis on the 5 generations/family tree (especially as some are just briefly mentioned) and inherited book part, as the book was so much more than that 🤷♀️ The incessant violence faced by these women and their resilience, was not empowering, but an almost depressing reminder of the inherent patriarchal violence that women in Cuba (and their descendants in US) have faced for generations.
There are a LOT of trigger warnings in this book - domestic abuse, graphic violence, sexual assault and chronic drug addiction.
Review: I really wanted to love this book and was fully invested in the book that was sold to me by the blurb...
The novel really needed to be longer and fleshed out as the main premises of the book were not fully developed. I think Jeanette and Gloria were the only fully developed characters, I wanted more from Cecilia, Dolores, Carmen, Elena and Maydelis. However the end of Jeanette's storyline, I thought, was a shock and I almost thought I had missed a passage. The overall ending and link with Ana was good, but I wanted more closure from the others. Also, the book that is passed down through generations is merely that and had less significance/impact on the characters than I expected. I think the inscription, "We are force", ironically, could have lent more force to the characters and their decisions. The women had a lot of strength and secrets, facing continuous adversity and experiencing little joy and happiness.
I thought the passages following Gloria and her daughter Ana, and their experiences of being an immigrant and victim of ICE policies were heartbreaking and written with great sensitivity and power. However, I think this could have had more impact if they had been related somehow to the main women, rather than slightly interlinked.
I did think this was in parts well written and a fascinating insight into the US-Cuban immigrant culture and history.
Maybe the blurb shouldn't have placed so much emphasis on the 5 generations/family tree (especially as some are just briefly mentioned) and inherited book part, as the book was so much more than that 🤷♀️ The incessant violence faced by these women and their resilience, was not empowering, but an almost depressing reminder of the inherent patriarchal violence that women in Cuba (and their descendants in US) have faced for generations.
There are a LOT of trigger warnings in this book - domestic abuse, graphic violence, sexual assault and chronic drug addiction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, Mental illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Death of parent
lcg527's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Murder, Racism, Infidelity, Incest, Death of parent, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Adult/minor relationship
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
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, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Racism
jmeslener's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, and Violence
happiestwhenreading's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-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
3.0
“And I am sorry I had nothing else to offer, Ana. That there are no real rules to govern why some are born in turmoil and others never know a single day in which the next seems an ill-considered bet. It’s all lottery, Ana, all chance. It’s the flick of a coin, and we are born.“
As one of my most highly anticipated reads of Spring 2021, I preordered this one and screamed when I saw its gorgeous cover in person!
There’s a lot happening in this story – a story of five generations of Cuban women which spans from 1866 in Camagüey to present-day Miami, a Salvadorian immigrant and her daughter, Ana, who are deported to Mexico, and lots of characters and timeline jumps. Honestly, it sounds more confusing than it truly is (and the physical book provides a family tree which really helped me keep things straight), but for all that’s happening it shocked me that this book was only around 200 pages!
I loved Garcia’s writing and there were particular parts of the book that I liked more than others. Each chapter almost felt like a short story, and while the stories are all connected, it also made the overall impression feel disjointed and clunky. I was hoping for more, but this was an impressive debut and I’ll be curious how Garcia’s craft develops.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
Minor: Misogyny
bookforthought's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
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
4.0
Of Women and Salt was the perfect read around International Women's Day. Following five generations of Cuban women and a Salvadorean mother and daughter, this book takes us on a journey across space and time to witness the strength and tenacity of women who choose to keep fighting against all odds.
These women are the only protagonists here, their voices (often silenced in their daily life) rising prominently to shine a light on their truths, their struggles, their pain, and their hopes for a better future. The men in their lives lurk in the background, their viewpoint unimportant and their main contribution being bringing pain and tears - or being conspicuously absent. The women finally take centre stage and reclaim what is theirs, even if only for short stretches. The book's nonlinear narration, in fact, means that it often reads more like a series of short stories or vignettes linked by a common thread.
Don't let this book's size fool you: despite being quite short, it is packed with content and material for reflections. It also takes some dark turns, and I found I often had to stop to give myself time to absorb what I'd just read and digest some of the harder themes. Covering everything from domestic violence to drug abuse, sexual violence and the harsh reality of a modern-day US immigration detention centre, Of Women and Salt is as far as from a light read as possible. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed it, in its own way.
The writing was beautiful and lyrical, and it quickly drew me in. The characters were complex and portrayed excellently, even if we only spent a limited time with each of them. The thing I struggled with most was the non-linear narration, but that's something I know I often find hard to follow. Each time/location change was clearly marked at the beginning of the new section, but I still found I often had to go back to remind myself how far in the future or in the past we had moved compared to what had come before.
Overall, this is a powerful book and a really strong debut from the author, and I look forward to reading more of her works in the future. Of Women and Salt takes an honest look at the harsh reality of life for many women, restoring their voices and their dignity, and certainly made me wish for the day when for women everywhere stories like this will be just that - stories.
I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Murder, and Suicide