Scan barcode
fringedyke's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.0
Saltwater is written in fragments of memories, a retrospective read that chronicles a character’s family relationships and connection to the landscape of Donegal, Ireland. I found the unique language use and poetic style of Andrew’s hard-going at first, but very beautiful and sensual in imagery. She has a unique style of descriptive writing which some have accused of sounding like a randomised word generator - I agree it either comes across as poignant and poetic or contrived and random. Overall I do think it was a beautiful read, a grief read with a ribbon of hope and recovery running through it. I love reading books about a character holing up somewhere beautiful and wild to grieve and recover. If you liked this book, I recommend Sunbathing by Isobel Beech.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
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
c__s_dy's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Domestic abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, and Sexual harassment
More...