Scan barcode
A review by nadiamasood
A Mouth Full of Salt by Reem Gaafar
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A Mouth Full of Salt is such a perfect title for this book. It’s based on a Sudanese proverb that refers to the taste left in your mouth after a big loss (probably like when you’ve cried so much you can literally taste the salt). And honestly, that’s exactly what this book feels like. It’s packed with one tragedy after another, but the way it’s written is so vivid and raw that you just can’t look away.
The story begins in this remote village downstream from Karima, where an eight-year-old boy has drowned, and everyone’s out searching for him. It starts slow, giving you a feel for the characters and the rhythm of village life, but once it picked up, I was totally hooked!
The book is split into three parts and follows the lives of three women. It jumps between the late 1980s, the early 1940s when Sudan was under British/Egyptian rule, and the time after independence, mixing in political references to give some background to the village life.
The story begins in this remote village downstream from Karima, where an eight-year-old boy has drowned, and everyone’s out searching for him. It starts slow, giving you a feel for the characters and the rhythm of village life, but once it picked up, I was totally hooked!
The book is split into three parts and follows the lives of three women. It jumps between the late 1980s, the early 1940s when Sudan was under British/Egyptian rule, and the time after independence, mixing in political references to give some background to the village life.
“Arab Sudanese think they’re better than other Africans. They don’t acknowledge their African side; it’s a major problem and a root cause for all the problems. Trying to wade through all that and have people get to know us and our different cultures is important to me.” - Gaafar
Reem Gaafar really brings the story to life with her vivid writing, setting such a powerful and intense scene on every page. She dives deep into tough themes like racism, gender-based violence, and oppressive traditions, which hit hard, not just because of how horrific they are, but because these issues are also prevalent in places like India today. It's one of those stories where you can’t really expect a happy ending, and that makes it even more impactful, though undeniably heartbreaking.
If you're curious about Sudanese life, traditions, or how cultural and societal norms shape personal experiences, this book is a must-read. It's also perfect for anyone who loves introspective, emotionally charged literature that digs deep into themes like loss, identity, and resilience.