I have three words for you - fresh, unique and absolutely relatable.
SHORT SYNOPSIS:
When Lucy wins a place at university, she thinks London will unlock her future. It is a city alive with pop up bars, cool girls and neon lights illuminating the Thames at night. At least this is what Lucy expects, having grown up seemingly a world away in working-class Sunderland, amid legendary family stories of Irish immigrants and boarding houses, now-defunct ice rinks and an engagement ring at a fish market.
Yet Lucy's transition to a new life is more overwhelming than she ever expected. As she works long shifts to make ends meet and navigates chaotic parties from East London warehouses to South Kensington mansions, she still feels like an outsider among her fellow students. When things come to a head at her graduation, Lucy takes off for Ireland, seeking solace in her late grandfather's cottage and the wild landscape that surrounds it, wondering if she can piece together who she really is.
Lyrical and boundary-breaking, Saltwater explores the complexities of mother-daughter relationships, the challenges of shifting class identity and the way that the strongest feelings of love can be the hardest to define.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jessica writes fiction.
She has been published by The Guardian, Stylist, Radio 4, The Independent, ELLE, Wellcome Collection, Comma Press, Lit Hub, AnOther, Somesuch Stories, Caught by the River and Papaya Press among others.
She co-runs and organises events with literary and arts magazine, The Grapevine and co-presents literary podcast, Tender Buttons.
She teaches Literature and Creative Writing to adults, young people and children.
She is currently working on her second novel.
MY REVIEW:
Although I found it quite difficult to get into it at first due to the way the book is written, once I caught up with different narrating times the book started to make sense. It was so relatable to read about Lucy's experience of life in London and going to university. As someone who moved countries, just like Lucy does in the book, to go to university I could very much relate to her anxieties which she expressed in the book.
Read it or avoid it?
Although I did quite like the book, I am not sure I would read it again.Saltwater is most definitely a book for people who love poetry due to the way it was written.
*Disclaimer - I do not own any of these photos. please note that all images and copyrights belong to their original owners.*
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