Of Women & Salt by Gabriela García 

A political novel spanning four generations and two family trees. All POV’s are women so the reader gains insight into the struggles of women throughout generations.

The plot is driven by themes of domestic violence, political turmoil, immigration issues, substance addiction, and sexual abuse. All the women have experienced either one or multiple of the above and Garcia takes reader through their internal thought struggle. 

I enjoyed that this book wasn’t finished with a neat bow tie. It’s not a happily ever after. Anyone who has experienced firsthand or through family the cruelty that immigration laws impose will feel for these characters. The injustice done and the psychological trauma children are left to deal with on their own is heart-wrenching. 

On a lighter note - my favorite part isn’t a big spoiler. Simply a historical fact that the author wove into the story. In 1800s Camagüey the cigar factories hired lectors to read news and literature to entertain the assembly workers. Giving us some of the famous cigar names: 

▫️Montecristo. 

◾️Fuente Hemingway

▫️Romeo

▪️Sancho Panza

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