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A review by micksland
The Salt Roads by Nalo Hopkinson
3.0
3 stars
Nominee: 2004 Nebula Award for Best Novel
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I have mixed feelings about this novel. On one hand, it is well-written and has a lot of literary value. On the other hand, its experimental format and lack of a cohesive, traditional plot were too strange for me to truly enjoy. Additionally, one major character really got on my nerves.
The story follows a Haitian goddess who becomes unstuck in time, traveling between the perspectives of various Black women throughout history.
Thais was my favorite character, but unfortunately she had the smallest number of chapters. I loved the setting in Alexandria and Jerusalem, with the alternate explanations for the myths that became the legend of Mary of Egypt. I also loved the story of Mer, an enslaved woman living in Haiti on a sugar plantation. The conflict between the ideas of revolution and survival was mesmerizing.
I really disliked the story of Jeanne Duval, an actress and the mistress of poet Charles Baudelaire. Jeanne’s story was boring and also had the largest number of chapters. Additionally, the sex scenes in this section of the novel were overwhelming. I don’t think they added much to the story and they went on far too long- give me a paragraph or two and move on to the next thing, please. Overall, it was unique, but I am not sure I will be reading much magical realism in the future.
Nominee: 2004 Nebula Award for Best Novel
___
I have mixed feelings about this novel. On one hand, it is well-written and has a lot of literary value. On the other hand, its experimental format and lack of a cohesive, traditional plot were too strange for me to truly enjoy. Additionally, one major character really got on my nerves.
The story follows a Haitian goddess who becomes unstuck in time, traveling between the perspectives of various Black women throughout history.
Thais was my favorite character, but unfortunately she had the smallest number of chapters. I loved the setting in Alexandria and Jerusalem, with the alternate explanations for the myths that became the legend of Mary of Egypt. I also loved the story of Mer, an enslaved woman living in Haiti on a sugar plantation. The conflict between the ideas of revolution and survival was mesmerizing.
I really disliked the story of Jeanne Duval, an actress and the mistress of poet Charles Baudelaire. Jeanne’s story was boring and also had the largest number of chapters. Additionally, the sex scenes in this section of the novel were overwhelming. I don’t think they added much to the story and they went on far too long- give me a paragraph or two and move on to the next thing, please. Overall, it was unique, but I am not sure I will be reading much magical realism in the future.