A review by blessing_aj
Salt Houses by Hala Alyan

dark emotional informative reflective 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 imagine that there are many ways to tell stories of a war that has left its ugly marks on many generations. Moreso when the said war is at the root of everything you treasure and when there seems to be no end in sight.

With Salt Houses, Hala Alyan tells the multigenerational stories of a Palestinian family, whose economic status grants a number of privileges that guarantee their survival and a good level of comfort in their cities of refuge. Yet, neither the survivors nor the younger generation are not unscathed by the war. 

I liked that the story had a lot of depth while maintaining a good pace. I also liked that the writing was incredibly evocative, beautiful, especially when one considers the amount of pain and trauma that the families had to endure. Still on the subject matter of metaphors, I thought it was bitter-sweet to see how memory served as both a curse and a blessing at different times.