Reviews

The Salt Roads by Nalo Hopkinson

lilcoppertop's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious 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

3.75

breadandmushrooms's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional 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? No

3.75

gretchen3's review against another edition

I just couldn't get into it, at least not right now. The premise interested me, but my brain didn't want to latch onto the stories or characters. Maybe sometime later,

suspiciousbriefcase's review against another edition

challenging dark inspiring sad tense

3.75

readmeup's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

carolynf's review against another edition

4.0

The women in this book are a slave in 18th century Haiti, a courtesan in 19th century France, and a prostitute in 4th century Egypt. All of them are black and of African descent - the prostitute is half-Nubian, the courtesan had a beloved African grandmother, and the slave still worships the old gods. They are tied together by the salt roads, which is part metaphor and part actual supernatural links created by the spirit of a stillborn baby. There is a lot of this book that is poetic and weird. There is also a lot of very explicit descriptions of a wide variety of sex acts. Sex is an exercise in power for these women - something they do to survive in male dominated societies and sometimes something that they do for themselves as well. It is an interesting look at race through different times and nations.

pharmdad2007's review against another edition

3.0

First time reading Nalo Hopkinson. Vividly brought to life the plantation setting, with all of its brutal inequalities. Fascinating read.

jenna_cross's review against another edition

4.0

4.5 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed this fantastic cultural experience. A very human experience, with all the sounds, smells, tastes, feelings, and visuals that come along with being alive. If someone was sick or having a sexual interaction, you were way down in it with them. The only reason I couldn’t give it 5 stars was because I found myself lost in the timeline more often than I would have liked, scrambling to anchor myself. I will definitely seek out this authors work again.

lumimemoir's review against another edition

adventurous challenging informative reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

sunshine_ghost's review against another edition

4.0

I cannot stop thinking about this story. Such a vivid tale.