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Von Frauen und Salz: Roman | Fünf Frauen, fünf Generationen, fünf Schicksale zwischen Kuba und den USA || Ein mitreißender Selbstermächtigungsroman by Gabriela Garcia
39 reviews
alina_gets_lit's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Trigger warning! Sexual assault, domestic abuse, death, and drugs/alcohol. Not super explicit but explicit enough that it could be triggering .
Gabriela Garcia is a great writer and I’ve highlighted so many quotes from this novel. Definitely an emotional one
Gabriela Garcia is a great writer and I’ve highlighted so many quotes from this novel. Definitely an emotional one
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Drug abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
iamivypark's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I really liked this book!! The first two chapters bore similarities to Infinite Country by Patricia Engel with distressing scenes of deportation and family separation. However this story becomes more of a multi-generational family saga as the novel wears on.
Following 9 women from Cuba and El Salvador, Garcia’s writing depicts survival in the wake of abusive forces. All suffering from violence in one way or another and having troubled relationships with their mothers or daughters as a result of their survival mechanisms.
I loved the way the women were all intertwined in some way. One storyline follows Gloria and her daughter Ana who are El Salvadorian immigrants illegally in the U.S. Another following Carmen who migrated to America legally, escaping Communist rule, and her daughter Jeanette in modern day Miami. The novel uncovers 5 generations of Jeanette & Carmen’s family and it was powerful to see where the women came from and the intergenerational trauma carried down the lineage. I found the family tree at the beginning of the book super helpful in following this. I love when books have these!
The prose is stunning! I was taken aback by the very beginning of the book which starts ominously with a mother pleading that her daughter still wants to live on the first 2 pages.
“I want to know who I am, so I need to know who you’ve been”
The survival strategies of silence and estrangement were particularly stark in the relationship between Carmen and Jeanette. I was struck by the chapter portraying Jeanette’s coming of age in Miami; her naivety & desire to fit in, her innocence and the way she is haunted by stories untold. Garcia’s writing is compelling and raw.
The book draws many parallels, between the Cuban capitalist elite allowed to enter legally while El Salvadoran’s are not granted the same privilege. As well as the trajectories of Jeanette’s life and those of her cousin & Ana in regards to safety and opportunity.
Best read if you are in the mood for a family saga and have time to finish in just a few sittings.
Following 9 women from Cuba and El Salvador, Garcia’s writing depicts survival in the wake of abusive forces. All suffering from violence in one way or another and having troubled relationships with their mothers or daughters as a result of their survival mechanisms.
I loved the way the women were all intertwined in some way. One storyline follows Gloria and her daughter Ana who are El Salvadorian immigrants illegally in the U.S. Another following Carmen who migrated to America legally, escaping Communist rule, and her daughter Jeanette in modern day Miami. The novel uncovers 5 generations of Jeanette & Carmen’s family and it was powerful to see where the women came from and the intergenerational trauma carried down the lineage. I found the family tree at the beginning of the book super helpful in following this. I love when books have these!
The prose is stunning! I was taken aback by the very beginning of the book which starts ominously with a mother pleading that her daughter still wants to live on the first 2 pages.
“I want to know who I am, so I need to know who you’ve been”
The survival strategies of silence and estrangement were particularly stark in the relationship between Carmen and Jeanette. I was struck by the chapter portraying Jeanette’s coming of age in Miami; her naivety & desire to fit in, her innocence and the way she is haunted by stories untold. Garcia’s writing is compelling and raw.
The book draws many parallels, between the Cuban capitalist elite allowed to enter legally while El Salvadoran’s are not granted the same privilege. As well as the trajectories of Jeanette’s life and those of her cousin & Ana in regards to safety and opportunity.
Best read if you are in the mood for a family saga and have time to finish in just a few sittings.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Violence, War, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Murder, and Incest
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
hilarylouise's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Alcoholism, Rape, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
Minor: Racial slurs and Racism
Immigration, forced deportation, ICEwritemare31'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
spalmon's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
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
tonstantweader's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.0
Of Women and Salttells the story of several women spanning several generations. With one important exception, the men in the story are more a source of pain, an impetus to drastic action, anger, or addiction. We don’t know their stories and that’s okay because this is Of Women and Salt. I am not sure where the salt comes from other than the Caribbean that separates Cuba from the United States or from the tears the women shed because their lives were hard and filled with pain.
Jeannette is struggling against addiction to heroin and to the man who introduced her. She calls him with her number blocked because she loves him but needs to stay away from his abuse and the drugs. She takes in a young girl whose mother has been picked up by ICE. Her mother advises her to call the police, but she doesn’t want to. Meanwhile, her mother has her own demons and won’t talk to her mother, a rift the family thinks is just politics, but there is far more to the story.
We also learn the story of Ana, the young girl, and her mother, in detention and in exile. And then there is the story of a book, a book passed down through generations and the love that it represents.
Women and Saltis an excellent book. We come to care about all the women, even the more inscrutable ones like Carmen who keeps her secrets to herself. It’s one of my frustrations with this book and these women, they do not really talk to each other. They keep their secrets, secrets that are destructive to them and their families. Of course, if they did talk to each other, if Carmen told her mother what she saw or her mother told her why she did what she did, if Jeannette told her mother what happened to her, so much pain would have been avoided and then there would not be this excellent book that warns us to be more honest with each other.
- Of Women and Salt at Flatiron Books
- Gabriela Garcia author site
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpress.com/2021/03/17/of-women-and-salt-by-gabriela-garcia/
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Cancer
marywahlmeierbracciano's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Of Women and Salt is made up of interwoven snapshots. It starts with Jeanette, a young woman struggling with substance abuse in modern-day Miami who takes in her neighbor, a Salvadoran child whose mother has been taken by ICE. Through a non-linear timeline, we meet Carmen, Dolores, Maria Isabel—the Cuban women who came before her. And we hear the stories of the Salvadoran women as well. All of them women who make choices that their daughters may never understand. Gabriela Garcia’s characters are complex—flawed yet vibrant. This slim volume is like a toe dipped into a vast ocean of intergenerational trauma and the stories it conjures. The heartbeat of these stories is survival
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Drug abuse
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, and Addiction
Minor: Cancer, Death, Blood, and Alcoholism
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