The Blue Salt Road, Joanne Harris
The Blue Salt Road is a take on the myths of selkies: seal-people who can shed their sealskin and become humans, and can be trapped on land by the theft of their skins. This is mostly told in a stripped back, fairytale sort of register; you’re told how characters feel, but there is a lot of telling (and intentionally so: that isn’t a criticism, because that style is deliberate). For the most part, it’s a straight retelling: a girl lures a selkie from the sea and loves him, and then hides his sealskin to keep him on land with her.
What Harris adds to the tale is a little more psychology — examination of the girl’s reasons, of the selkie’s feelings, of how he tries to fit in with the human world he’s been pulled into… and examination of the grief and loss and betrayal inherent in the story.
For all that the shape of the story is pretty traditional, I found the ending a surprise — and in a good way. I’m not sure I believe that the selkie will be happy with the final shape of his life, and there’s still a lot of grief and betrayal… but there’s also a very human and real determination to make something of it. Nobody dies of pure grief here, as in a fairytale: instead, people must carry on.
I enjoyed this a lot, and thought it did quite a bit with the story while keeping a fairytale-style narration.
I’m excited to read this! I just got a copy recently. Funny, my current book deals heavily with Selkies, so this would be a good follow-up, so see another spin on the story.
Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies recently posted…The Monday Check-In ~ 9/2/2019
It has lovely illustrations, too, which I forgot to mention!
Hi Nikki,
Actually followed you here. I found you on Goodreads under the review section of Angela Carters, The Bloody Chamber.
I wanted your thoughts on something. Do you think Carter was merely reproducing the original power structures of the fairytales that she attempts to subvert?
Hmm, that’s quite a question! It’s been a long time since I read it, so I hesitate to give an opinion, particularly since my preferred method for doing literary criticism was close-reading.
This sounds like something I could get into. it’s the first I’ve heard of it, so thanks for bringing it to my attention.
Jenna @ Falling Letters recently posted…The Cybils Awards Need You (Yes, YOU!)
Enjoy! It has lovely illustrations too.