Scan barcode
cecilialau_'s review against another edition
3.5
This was not the type of novel I expected so I needed a minute to get into it to be honest.
It is split into four parts and we follow Lucy as she switches narratives between living her life in the present and to growing up, and her relationship with her mother is at the fore and core.
- And it has grown on me since the initial reaction/surprise (and I’m glad I read it btw).
My favourite part - of these diary-esque vignettes if that’s even a thing - was the “current setup” in Ireland. Overall I found the book honest, meaningful, sweet and layered.
Also, credit where credit’s due, and maybe I’ll reread this one day to get a better feel of it, the fracturing, moving and changing mother-daughter relationship and dynamic is a strong trope in this book. The ambivalence and heartbreak of it is pretty tangible and very much relevant and relatable and carries the story forward in how this new crossroads is still heavy with the mix of a want and need and a letting go. If that makes sense…
It is split into four parts and we follow Lucy as she switches narratives between living her life in the present and to growing up, and her relationship with her mother is at the fore and core.
- And it has grown on me since the initial reaction/surprise (and I’m glad I read it btw).
My favourite part - of these diary-esque vignettes if that’s even a thing - was the “current setup” in Ireland. Overall I found the book honest, meaningful, sweet and layered.
Also, credit where credit’s due, and maybe I’ll reread this one day to get a better feel of it, the fracturing, moving and changing mother-daughter relationship and dynamic is a strong trope in this book. The ambivalence and heartbreak of it is pretty tangible and very much relevant and relatable and carries the story forward in how this new crossroads is still heavy with the mix of a want and need and a letting go. If that makes sense…
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Death, Abandonment, Grief, Sexual assault, Eating disorder, Violence, Addiction, Self harm, and Rape
serendipitysbooks's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Saltwater also features a protagonist trying to find herself, although Lucy is much younger, with the story centred on her transition from a school girl in working class Sunderland to university student in London, a transition which isn’t as straightforward or positive as she’d expected. Some of the key themes are the mother-daughter relationship, the legacy of alcoholism, disability and the impact it can have on the family as well as the individual, and class and regionality. What really stands out in this book is it’s form. It unfolds in a series of episodic vignettes which move back and forward in time with no real narrative arc. The vignettes are perfectly captured moments, demonstrating the author’s talent for showing, not telling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Sexual assault
stjernetjern's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Addiction, and Alcoholism
Minor: Sexual assault and Domestic abuse
emilyburton30's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This was recommended to me by one of my lovely besties. This book is beautifully written. The prose is stunning and several things she says in the book resonate with me as a person.However, whilst reading this book I got into a reading slump - whether that was due to the book or myself I’m unsure. There were parts of the book that really did hook me though others did fall a bit flat. To its credit, I do think the book got better as it went on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Alcoholism, and Addiction
Moderate: Sexual assault and Eating disorder
leahfigiel's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism
Moderate: Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Death
0liviacallister's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism and Sexual assault
More...