A review by kassielovestoread
Of Women and Salt by Gabriela Garcia

emotional reflective sad slow-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

Oh man, this was a really tough read. Short it is in number of pages, don't let that fool you though. Of Women and Salt was equally heart wrenching and thought provoking. A great book that read like a poem but it wasn't in verse at all. I don't know how to describe it beyond that. 

This novel introduces you to several women (and includes a handy family chart to reference) who are mostly related to each other. Each chapter focuses on a different woman in a different time period and country. It felt a little confusing at first when the chapter would end and the perspective changed- the reader does have to do a bit of heavy lifting to figure out how everything is connected. Each chapter reflects a poignant part of the characters development with the exception of Jeanette who has more of a central storyline. 

These stories...were not easy to read. They were tragic and full of sadness and generational pain. And what's particularly interesting, is that even though these women were born in different times and circumstances, their pain and sadness was universal. But what differed between them was how they handled their problems. Specifically, Dolores, Carmen and Jeanette. I would never judge a woman in a position such as theirs, I've never experienced such violent abuse and therefore will not judge- I just thought it worth mentioning how each woman handled what happened to them in comparison. 

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