The Salt God's Daughter

by Ilie Ruby

“Beautifully evokes scenes of two girls adrift in the . . . bohemian beach culture . . . a breathtaking, fiercely feminine take on American magical realism.” —Interview Magazine

Set in Long Beach, California, beginning in the 1970s, The Salt God’s Daughter follows Ruthie and her older sister Dolly as they struggle for survival in a place governed by an enchanted ocean and exotic folklore. Guided by a mother ruled by magical, elaborately-told stories of the full moons, which she draws from The Old Farmer’s Almanac, the two girls are often homeless, often on their own, fiercely protective of each other, and unaware of how far they have drifted from traditional society as they carve a real life from their imagined stories.

Imbued with a traditional Scottish folktale and hints of Jewish mysticism, The Salt God’s Daughter examines the tremulous bonds between sisters and the enduring power of maternal love—a magical tale that presents three generations of extraordinary women who fight to transcend a world that is often hostile to those who are different.

“Indeed, Ruby has written a complicated, multi-layered work that shifts shapes to bridge the relationship between tragedy and redemption.” --The Huffington Post

“Three generations of indelibly original women wrestle with the confines of their lives against a shimmering backdrop of magic, folklore, and deep-buried secrets . . . To say I loved this book is an understatement.” --Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author

“The selkie myth lies at the heart of Ruby’s second novel . . . This is a bewitching tale of lives entangled in lushly layered fables of the moon and sea.” --Kirkus Reviews

• ISBN10: 1619020025
• ISBN13: 9781619020023
• Publish Date: 4 September 2012 (first published 1 January 2012)
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Out of Print: 9 August 2023
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Counterpoint
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 352
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9781619020023

Reviews

[Leah]

When I received an email asking if I was interested in reviewing Ilie Ruby’s new novel, The Salt God’s Daughter, I was immediately drawn in to the beautiful cover which shows a girl with bright red hair, presumably under water. I took a look at the synopsis and although it didn’t sound anything like I normally read, I thought it sounded interesting enough for me to give it a go. While I found the book fascinating, and did indeed finish it, I will admit that it certainly isn’t my kind of novel, sadly. There were bits I enjoyed and there wasn’t anything wrong with it at all, it just wasn’t to my particular taste, although I am very glad I read it as it was a very intriguing story.

Whenever I read a story that’s perhaps a bit different to the norm – whether it features magic, witches, or as The Salt God’s Daughter, mysticisim, I am perhaps a bit sceptical. I’m not generally a black or white kind of person, except for when it comes to things like mysticism, fantasy stuff, magic, things that people do believe in but that aren’t possibly true in any way, shape or form. I just do not believe in that stuff, and perhaps that should have been a warning sign that this novel was not for me, but because I am always interested in being proven wrong, and for all I knew, been the best book ever. So I wasn’t really sold on the stranger, more fantastical parts of The Salt God’s Daughter. Instead, I much preferred the more sedate story of Ruth and Dolly trying to find their place in the world. Trying to grow up in a world that was a little bit harder for them than most kids’ lives, as their mother struggled with her own demons and beliefs.

The Salt God’s Daughter just wasn’t for me, sadly. I gave it a try, and there was nothing remotely wrong with it. It was well-written, and Ruby is clearly a talented author, and I very much enjoyed all of the scenes that took place at Twin Palms, that place was very much a character in itself. I also enjoyed the elderly residents of twin palms, particularly Mr Takihashi and Mrs Green. Sometimes, though, a book just doesn’t click with you and this one didn’t with me. Many will love it, and I didn’t dislike it, it just plain and simple wasn’t my type of book, which is fine.