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A review by mid_reads_books
Salt Houses by Hala Alyan
emotional
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.5
After having been displaced in 1948, Salma and Hussam try to begin a new life in Nablus. Now, it's 1963 and things are about to change again. Salma foresees a troubled future for her daughter and as the years pass, we see this prophecy unfold.
We follow four generations of the Yacoub family as they tread through life, surrounded by wars and political turmoil. The trauma of not having a country, a land to attach yourself to is passed from parents to children, each mile away from Palestine distancing them more and more from that aspect of their identity until it becomes vital to figure out where and what Home is.
Salt Houses, with its beautiful writing, feels like a painting. It strikes a perfect balance between the act of rooting the story in a historical context through atmospheric details and exploring the characters' thoughts in that context.
The author really took the time to build each character and make them unique while also highlighting the ways in which they all shape each other's story. The book explores a lot of important topics, especially around grief; how it affects family, marriage, friendship but also parenthood and faith.
While I felt like most of the characters in this story were very well written, I wish we'd had more time with Alia. She is one, if not THE most complex character here but I felt like she was portrayed in a somewhat stereotyped and negative way. I really wish there'd been more of her seen through her own lens.
This was such an amazing read and it's also a book that could be helpful when learning about the history of Palestine. If you're not familiar with it, this book can be a starting point to prompt your researches.
I'm looking forward to reading more of Hala Alyan's work, especially her poetry. If you have suggestions for what I should try next, let me know!
We follow four generations of the Yacoub family as they tread through life, surrounded by wars and political turmoil. The trauma of not having a country, a land to attach yourself to is passed from parents to children, each mile away from Palestine distancing them more and more from that aspect of their identity until it becomes vital to figure out where and what Home is.
Salt Houses, with its beautiful writing, feels like a painting. It strikes a perfect balance between the act of rooting the story in a historical context through atmospheric details and exploring the characters' thoughts in that context.
The author really took the time to build each character and make them unique while also highlighting the ways in which they all shape each other's story. The book explores a lot of important topics, especially around grief; how it affects family, marriage, friendship but also parenthood and faith.
While I felt like most of the characters in this story were very well written, I wish we'd had more time with Alia. She is one, if not THE most complex character here but I felt like she was portrayed in a somewhat stereotyped and negative way. I really wish there'd been more of her seen through her own lens.
This was such an amazing read and it's also a book that could be helpful when learning about the history of Palestine. If you're not familiar with it, this book can be a starting point to prompt your researches.
I'm looking forward to reading more of Hala Alyan's work, especially her poetry. If you have suggestions for what I should try next, let me know!