Salt Houses

I still can't believe I got this book for only 199 rupees .. Although I ordered a used book but the condition of the book is good. I'm glad seller thank you ..

The story follows Salma and her family as they face displacement and upheaval over generations. On the eve of Alia’s wedding, Salma foresees her daughter’s uncertain future. After the 1967 Six-Day War, the family is uprooted: Salma leaves Nablus, Alia’s brother is drawn into political conflict, and Alia and her husband rebuild their life in Kuwait with their children. In 1990, they lost their home again, scattering to Beirut, Paris, Boston, and beyond, while Alia’s children grew up navigating the challenges and complexities of life in foreign cities. This book is historical fiction. The author has woven together powerful themes of displacement, grief, loss, war, and racism. The story is narrated through multiple characters’ POVs throughout the generation, with each character offering their own perspective on the unfolding journey. The author vividly captures the pain of displacement and losing one’s home and the longing for a homeland amid years of conflict. A few things took my interest away from the book, there were too many characters, and the frequent jumps in timeline and perspective made the story quite confusing. Despite everything, the book is more than just a story—it highlights the ongoing genocide and its lasting impact across generations, leaving the dreams of returning to their hometowns astray.

This book took forever to end. Although the writing is good, but I couldn't seem to finish it. It was a good but stretchy read.

I received an uncorrected, proof copy of the book. Part of the spine had been damaged and then coloured in with a black marker. The text on the cover of the book was slightly misaligned as well.

I finished this book a month ago and I keep thinking about it! A very powerful tale. <3

Fantastico libro da leggere nel tempo libero

Salt Houses will speak to anyone who can imagine having to flee their family home. Written in a beautiful poetic prose this family’s love story is definitely my favourite read of the year. Hala Alyan’s book has given me invaluable insight into a culture and a war that I have little knowledge of, all the while being thoroughly entertained by her enchanting characters.

Salt Houses is the story of a Palestinian family as they are repeatedly displaced by war, religion, opportunity, and politics. The story is engaging, and it is told in an unusual way with multiple points of view, multiple times, and multiple settings. Even with chapter headings that identify the point of view, the location, and the time, it usually took a paragraph or even a page until I felt oriented. I frequently had to flip back to the previous chapter so that I could figure out how much time had passed. I did not view it as a flaw, but it was different. The story spans more than 50 years. While the narrative begins in 1963, the story goes back even farther. Ms. Alyan does a skillful job of telling story that is both global and intensely personal. Leaving your country voluntarily is not the same as leaving under threat. So many areas of our world are being torn apart, and people are fleeing their homelands as we watch on television. This book gives insight into the impact that falls upon generations. She also makes a point of showing how different the experience is for people of means as opposed to people of limited resources. National identity, cultural identity, family ties, language and politics are all in play. Through the characters and the plot, we learn a lot about the experience for Palestinian refugees in Arab countries such as Iraq, Kuwait, and Lebanon and in Western cities like Paris, Boston, and New York. It is enlightening and interesting. The multiple points of view and jumps in narrative made it difficult to become fully vested in a character. I cared about them and could sympathize, but it did not invade my heart. This would be an excellent book group book for us. It is well written, told in a creative style and format and telling a story that will broaden our horizons. Knowing my book group, we would also find a great deal to talk about. I will not soon forget this book.

Das Leid der Palästinenser wird diesem Werk nicht entsprechend deutlich, weil die Familie, die hier dargestellt wird, finanziell abgesichert ist und sich immer wieder der Gefahr, zu Tode zu kommen, entziehen kann. Außerdem erschwert der sehr hohe Anteil an Dialog das Begreifen der Handlung. Wo sind sie jetzt? Wer ist wer? Das ist natürlich nur mein persönlicher Eindruck, aber ich habe schon sehr viel in meinem Leben gelesen und hatte noch nie Probleme, dem Handlungsverlauf mühelos zu folgen. Was der Titel bedeutet, muss ich noch ergründen.