Reviews

Salt Houses by Hala Alyan

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missbrendareads's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

shizbizz's review against another edition

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5.0

I've been trying to read more books that talk about the middle east. Growing up there i've formed a sort of soft spot and love for the arab culture, so rich and fading so so fast. This book was incredibly heartwarming, a story of generations.

gracie_wirzba's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

justjacq's review against another edition

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challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

I went into reading this book knowing nothing about it or the storyline, and I think because of that, it spoke to me even more. It's a multi-generational, multi-perspective story that follows a family displaced from Palestine during the 6 day war in 1967. Instead of focusing on the disaster of war, it centers more around displacement and the effects of war on people and families. The story follows the Yacoub family through decades and draws a dizzying picture of displacement - they never seem to belong anywhere and have no home to return to. There are a lot of sad moments and reflections, but it's also a story of perseverance and has moments of joy. The writing is beautiful and absorbing, and I felt like I really grew to know the family as they changed and moved. The epilogue had me tearing up, and the ending was really powerful.

amgepine's review against another edition

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emotional sad

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

dredawg23's review against another edition

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emotional funny informative reflective sad slow-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

jinmichae's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I'd suggest writing down relationships and names, because this book covers many generations.

Slice of life, but all characters are connected through family. Place is another character, as the family is split and comes together across countries, often moved by war.

A line that especially struck me was the younger generation visiting Jaffa, and thinking of the privilege of families back in Boston who have hundreds of years of generations all buried in the same cemetery, while her ancestor's graves are--by was and against their will--spread across an entire region.

I found it a very compelling read, only held back by my having to remember who was who and related how.

Content Warnings