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A review by erinmjustice
The Taste of Salt by Martha Southgate
5.0
My Review (tread lightly, spoilers abound):
I received TToS from Jen, Devourer of Books, as the November Book Club read. I am happy I received it; I don’t think I would have picked this book on my own accord, and I think I would have been missing out. Southgate is a brilliant author, and I would like to read more of her work.
TToS tells the history of a family, told in several voices: Josie, our black female marine biologist; Tick, her recovering alcoholic brother; Ray, her recovering/recovered alcoholic father; and Sarah, her stalwart mother. Even Josie’s husband Daniel and lover Ben get some time with the reader, offering their own insights into Josie’s life. The multitude of narrators was not distracting; each had their own voice, their own perspective, their own struggles to fit into Josie’s family life. I was reminded of Middlesex, but TToS hadn’t been spoiled by hype and word-of-mouth promises of “you’ll love it!”
I thought to give TToS a try, and found myself unable to stop reading. I am an avid reader, but I rarely find something where the characters compel me to keep going. Usually it’s the plot that leaves me turning pages, but I just wanted to see where these characters were going. To be honest, I was surprised by their arcs. I had anticipated a fairly simple, loose-ends-tied-in-happy-bows novel. What I got was a messy nest of emotions and deep treads of addiction. In fact, the one “happy” ending was the only one I didn’t predict. Honestly, I almost prefer it that way. It was a strong, honest novel with unique characters. I haven’t read a book like this in a long time, and it made me remember why I love the feeling of curling up with a paperback, a cup of tea, and plenty of time.
The Bottom Line:
Lightly plotted fiction at its best, Southgate weaves a tapestry of tragic, realistic characters.
I received TToS from Jen, Devourer of Books, as the November Book Club read. I am happy I received it; I don’t think I would have picked this book on my own accord, and I think I would have been missing out. Southgate is a brilliant author, and I would like to read more of her work.
TToS tells the history of a family, told in several voices: Josie, our black female marine biologist; Tick, her recovering alcoholic brother; Ray, her recovering/recovered alcoholic father; and Sarah, her stalwart mother. Even Josie’s husband Daniel and lover Ben get some time with the reader, offering their own insights into Josie’s life. The multitude of narrators was not distracting; each had their own voice, their own perspective, their own struggles to fit into Josie’s family life. I was reminded of Middlesex, but TToS hadn’t been spoiled by hype and word-of-mouth promises of “you’ll love it!”
I thought to give TToS a try, and found myself unable to stop reading. I am an avid reader, but I rarely find something where the characters compel me to keep going. Usually it’s the plot that leaves me turning pages, but I just wanted to see where these characters were going. To be honest, I was surprised by their arcs. I had anticipated a fairly simple, loose-ends-tied-in-happy-bows novel. What I got was a messy nest of emotions and deep treads of addiction. In fact, the one “happy” ending was the only one I didn’t predict. Honestly, I almost prefer it that way. It was a strong, honest novel with unique characters. I haven’t read a book like this in a long time, and it made me remember why I love the feeling of curling up with a paperback, a cup of tea, and plenty of time.
The Bottom Line:
Lightly plotted fiction at its best, Southgate weaves a tapestry of tragic, realistic characters.