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There are currently 28 member reviews
for Above the Salt
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Molly O. (Aurora CO, CO)
A Must Read
What an astonishing novel this is. To describe its parts almost seems to diminish the whole that is so much more than the sum of its qualities. Beginning in the mid-19th century and continuing to the end, it is a chronicle of the vast changes taking place America and the turmoil of the Civil War. Ostensibly a love story between John and Mary that survives many obstacles, it is truly a love story of the power forgiveness. Mary's husband, Edward, is the archetype for that, continually displaying a capacity for infinite forgiveness and being rewarded with a lasting love. This saga is wrapped in such beautiful prose that I had to stop and reread so many passages. I can't recall such writing with so many original metaphors. What a treat it was to receive and read this book.
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Dianne Y. (Stuart, FL)
The story is good and the writing is spellbinding.
Above the Salt, a novel by Katherine Vaz, is a story of enduring love between two people. It is a complex story with related and tangential subplots focusing on religious strife, immigrants, inventions, war, horticulture, betrayal, loyalty, and family.
I found the title intriguing. "Salt" is referred to a number of times throughout the novel, and without giving anything away, the explanation of the phrase "Above the Salt" was fascinating.
Ms. Vaz is an excellent writer. She has a poetic and lyrical style. Her writing is descriptive, and she uses various short and interesting vignettes to keep the story moving.
The civil war is an important part of this novel, and I credit the author for providing authentic descriptions of the horrors of war, without being overly graphic or gratuitous.
I would compare this book to a movie where viewers say it is a good story and the cinematography is breathtaking. I would say this novel is a good story and the poetic and lyrical writing is spellbinding. There were times I simply savored the writing by reading it slowly or even twice in order to enjoy it as much as possible.
I would definitely recommend this book. I also believe it could be a good book club choice, as long as the members are willing to take the time to read a book over 400 pages and accept that they may want to read slowly or even go back and reread some of the passages. That being said, I do believe book club members would find the book lends itself to a great discussion.
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Marie W. (Prescott, AZ)
Many Stories in One
This novel holds many stories. Stories of nature, love and loss, of old and new lands. Stories of slavery and war, poverty and wealth, loyalty and betrayal. The book is timely. Immigrants sail to America, fleeing religious war on the Portuguese island of Madeira. It has a magical quality, at times verging on the supernatural, as some events happen almost- but not quite- out of the realm of the possible.
The book is lyrical. The senses play a major role without detracting from the story. It is rich and many-layered, but not difficult to follow the characters or storyline. The characters feel real. At times I wanted to warn or admonish them for their decisions, just as I would in real life.
The book is set in the 1800's. The writing is gorgeous, the times and places vividly portrayed. The story could be described as a saga of lives coming together and apart, striving to reconcile their heart's desire with sober, sometimes cruel, reality.
If I have one criticism it would be that at times the author waxes lyrical when I would have preferred prose to poetry. But I truly enjoyed this novel, and I think book clubs with serious readers would find a lot to like and discuss.
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Joyce M. (Arlington, VA)
Exceptional novel highly recommended!
Above the Salt is a wonderful novel about Portuguese immigrants who migrated to America in the mid-19th century for a better life. It is an incredible love story that is full of commitment, romance, and respect for community. It is historical fiction based on a real person, John Alves, and incorporates many actual events such as Lincoln's presidency, the Civil War, racial prejudice, inventions, the earthquake in San Francisco, the plague in early the early 20th Century, and the beginning of World War I.
The manner in which the book is written, told mostly through the eyes of Mary and John, enables the reader to be in their shoes. All of the historical references serve as background information, giving the reader a sense of what ordinary people were going through on a daily basis during challenging times. The intense descriptive prose makes it easy to visualize and feel what the various characters were experiencing. Considering all the "ups and downs" in the story, I'm glad the author ended the book way she did.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It reminded me of Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese which I also really liked and look forward to reading his current novel. However, this book is even better! I give it 6 stars!!
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Catherine O. (Altavista, VA)
Epic Novel
Above the Salt is unlike any novel I have ever read. The author creates a tale that follows the main characters across oceans and continents, through wars and disasters. The writing style was a bit difficult at first, but soon became almost like a lullaby with its vivid descriptions and lyrical rhythms. The world inside this novel is so encompassing that even after over 400 pages, I was sad to turn the last page. This is a magical tale that will stay with me. I believe that Above the Salt will appeal to anyone who likes fiction full of engaging characters, wound through with accurate historical details, and an unpredictable but believable plot.
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Francine E. (Shirley, NY)
The Pursuit of Love
On the Portuguese island of Madeira, in the year 1840, five year old John Alves starved in jail alongside his mother, Serafina. She was a Presbyterian who refused to denounce her faith. "Music would feed them, they would feast upon sounds...".
Augusto Freitas, a Catholic, led the protest to free John. Augusto was head gardener of a Botanical Garden owned by aristocrats. He lovingly cared for the plants and was devoted to his daughter, Maria.
Sparks of friendship ignited between John and Maria, however, contact was lost when unrest between Catholics and Protestants caused each family, separately, to seek refuge in America.
Maria had a gift for Madeiran needlepoint work. "Maria plies threads..." She and her father cultivated plants. "On days dedicated to the trees, he wears a bowtie, because in Portuguese it is called a butterfly and the trees appreciate that...he grows a shrub with glossy dark pointed leaves and red berries...the miracle-berry or miracle-fruit plant." The father-daughter team would try to transplant the miracle shrubs in America.
New beginnings in Springfield, Illinois. John Alves studied sign language. He worked on his Sound Machine. "If only the Sound Machine could capture the gestures and swaying of his students and let the music be felt through the floor so deafness is not a prison...they would feast upon sounds...music would feed them...the melody of birds...to my listening ears all nature sings...Men are studying about capturing sounds...".
Augusto Freitas was a "maestro" of plants with a specialty in grafting. He was employed as head gardener on Edward Moore's estate. Edward's motto was "A WISHBONE ain't as likely to get ye as far as a BACKBONE." Augusto and Maria, worked side by side, trying to coax the transplant to root in this foreign soil. Success as master botanists would not entitle them to truly mix with Edward and his inner circle. They would always be viewed as "below the salt".
"Above the Salt" by Katherine Vaz is ultimately about the ebb and flow of love. Is love enough? Perhaps not, when hindrances were religious or societal. The outbreak of the Civil War compounded the obstacles and added the dimension of the plight of soldiers on both sides of the conflict in this all encompassing work of historical fiction. Altered communications and betrayals created twists and turns that were heartwrenching, if a tad soap opera-like. Highly recommended.
Thank you Flatiron Books and BookBrowse for the print ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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Carrie
Above The Salt
An absorbing and engaging historical fiction covering multiple historic events. First, the Portuguese anti-Protestant movement on the island of Madeira that provides the back setting of the two main characters, John Alves and Mary (Maria) Freitas, who by chance meet and a make lasting connection, but both must flee the country to America. Thus, the premise of the plot is set, will they meet again? The reader follows the life adventures of all the characters, especially John as an American soldier and inventor working with Thomas Edison and Mary as the obedient wife of Edward, a wealthy businessman, and her work with her father, a famous botanist, plus her passion for fabric design, but many others as well. Not an easy read because of the multitude of storylines, subplots that one must follow, internal narratives and interactions between the characters, but it is essential for the plot development, and so that the reader can identify more readily with and feel for the characters, especially John and Mary, their supporters and enemies, and some famous people, including not only Thomas Edison but also Abraham Lincoln. These plot twists give the reader hope and wonderment of the destiny of characters during the other historic events the author interweaves so well: the American Civil War, the San Francisco earthquake, and other, more minor ones as well. What are their secrets for survival? Is it only marriage for Mary, and being a teacher for the deaf for John, and where and who will provide them support, and who must they support? Yes, John and Mary maintain contact, although not always successfully, but do they meet again and if so, is there a reason and who would orchestrate it? Overall, a highly recommended read, one which the reader receives a different understanding of historic events and some people’s contribution and view of these.
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