Our Cut of Salt

Author: Deena Helm
Description:
THE HOUSE IS WAITING FOR YOU. Our Cut of Salt is an unflinching, sinister, and moving take on the haunted house novel, from a bold new Palestinian voice. Perfect for fans of The Only Good Indians and The Haunting of Hill House.
'Lyrical and haunting, Our Cut of Salt explores the horrors of occupation via the lens of three generations of women as well as a one-of-a-kind haunted house. A disturbing, mesmerizing read' — Paul Tremblay, New York Times bestselling author of Horror Movie.

There is something haunting Nuhad's childhood home in Haifa. Cats avoid its perimeter, strange noises come from within, and residents have been known to disappear entirely in its walls without a trace. Although Nuhad has not returned to her home since the Nakba in 1948, she always held a place for the house in her heart. And, in return, the house did the same for her. After Nuhad passes away, her granddaughter, Marina, is determined to visit her grandmother's home in Haifa after a lifetime of being kept in the dark about her culture and family history. Marina's mother, Haifa—named for the city that was lost to their family—reluctantly agrees to her trip, despite her omnipresent anxiety. When a long-buried spirit of the past begins to haunt both dreams and waking life, Marina develops breathing problems that cause her to feel as if she is drowning on dry land. Despite Nuhad's warnings, Haifa rushes to help her daughter. As the three women converge in their ancestral haunted home, they must learn what the price of the past truly is.

Praise for the book:

• 'Lyrical and terrifying, Helm's portrait of generational trauma will leave you aching in its wake. Our Cut of Salt is not just a powerful exploration of injustice and survival, but also a testament to the power of love' — Monika Kim, author of The Eyes are the Best Part.
• 'In this moving exploration of mother-daughter relationships, and generational trauma and grief, Helm provides a timely reminder that the real horrors can be found in history' — E. L. Chen, author of One of Us Is Already Dead.
• 'Our Cut of Salt is the must-read of the year. Longing and rage are woven beautifully in this multi-generational family story, taking readers to the steps of a house in Haifa that they will not forget' — Trang Thanh Tran, author of She Is a Haunting.
• 'The strands of generations are so beautifully woven together and the writing is deft, lyrical and completely gets under your skin' — Daisy Pearce, author of Something in the Walls.
• 'Our Cut of Salt rages and aches and demands your complete attention, re-contextualizing the very notion of what a haunted house is' — Clay McLeod Chapman, author of Wake Up.
• 'Helm's debut cuts into your skin, and buries itself between the layers. It bleeds, it stings and it leaves you forever changed' — Soraya Bouazzaoui, author of Aicha.
• 'Painfully timely and poignant, it's a testament to Helm's mastery of the craft that Our Cut of Salt is horrifying even in its quiet moments' — Megan Bontrager, author of The Sea Hides its Dead.
• 'A raw and affecting dive into family secrets and the buried past in the best gothic haunted house tradition. Honest, heart-felt and gripping' — Bitter Karella, author of Moonflow.

Links:

• Bookshop
• Amazon

Additional Content

Monthly Reflection

February Reading Stats:

• This month was by far the most books I've read in a month in a long time. It was so fun just loooooving reading. It brought me so much joy.
• Although most books I read this month were just okay, I still had a great time, which is all that matters.

Favorite Non-fiction Book: "Original Sins" by Eve L. Ewing

Synopsis: Why don’t our schools work? Eve L. Ewing tackles this question from a new angle: What if they’re actually doing what they were built to do? She argues that instead of being the great equalizer, America’s classrooms were designed to do the opposite: to maintain the nation’s inequalities.

Review: I'm so mad at myself because I've had an arc of this book for over a year now and it took me this long to read it. This book desperately made me want to become a teacher again and I think it's absolutely required reading for all educators. The bibliography of this book alone is enough to recommend it--so impressive! And I got chills reading the last chapter.

Favorite Fiction Book: "A Mouth Full of Salt" by Reem Gaafar

Synopsis: "A Mouth Full of Salt" uncovers a country on the brink of seismic change as its women decide for themselves which traditions are fit for purpose – and which prophecies it’s time to rewrite.

Review: While the pace of the beginning of this book was a little slow, I was wholly captivated by it. Such a powerful mix of mystery, tension, and folklore. It’s an important look at Sudanese history and the racism/classism present in its past that still dictates its future. And the ending? It hit me in the chest; absolute perfection.

What I’ve added to my TBR (to-be-read)

• "Japan's Infamous Unit 731" by Hal Gold: This is a piece of history I knew nothing about, so naturally now I need to know everything.
• "Shorelines" by Alycia Pirmohamed: A memoir that explores migration, memory, and home.
• "Our Cut of Salt" by Deena Helm: A Palestinian horror from a debut author that explores the idea of home.
• "Exiles" by Mason Coile: I've been coming to realize that I really like short sci-fi books, so I had to add this one to my list.