Sep 15, 2015

Book Review: Season of Salt and Honey by Hannah Tunnicliffe

First Chapter, First Paragraph is hosted weekly by Bibliophile by the Sea. Share the first paragraph of your current read. Also visit Teaser Tuesdays meme hosted by Jenn
Season of Salt and Honey by Hannah Tunnicliffe, published September 1, 2015; Touchstone
Genre: contemporary fiction; women's fiction
Objective rating: 4/5 stars

My comments: Francesca "Frankie" Caputo hides out in her former fiance's family cabin in the Washington State woods, unable to face friends or family after his death in a surfing accident. Her fiance, Alex, used to take her to this cabin, which she finds a refuge after his funeral.

However, Alex's parents want her out of the cabin and charge her with trespassing. She remains anyway, bolstered by friendships with new neighbors and one small child who shows her the forests and the foods one can forage there. Things come to a head when both her boisterous Italian family and Alex's parents come to the cabin, and Frankie finds out the truth about herself and her relationship with her now deceased fiance. 

An excellent novel of loss and family ties, truth and its consequences. A lovely novel revealing family and love relationships and their sometimes complex qualities. 

First chapter, first paragraph:
Aunty Connie's cucumber sandwiches, stripped free of plastic wrap, are lined up on a rectangular plate on Mrs. Gardner's table, pointed tips dried and turning stale, like rows of teeth. Four rows, the jaw of a great white shark. I stare at them too long and feel my father's gaze turn towards me. I force myself to blink. He watches me from across that room filled with people wearing black and charcoal. It isn't the weather for these colors; it's unseasonably hot and the musty smell of clothes pulled from the backs of drawers mingles pungently with spring sweat. 
Teaser, ch. 11:
"...You'd think your mom would be pleased - rapt - that she could offer Frankie a place to get away to think. To be away from it all." 
Based on the first paragraph and excerpts only, would you continue reading?
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review

12 comments:

  1. I do like the beginning and I've got this book here to read at some point. Thanks for sharing about it!

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  2. I would keep reading at least one more chapter.
    trish - my teaser

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  3. I love the sound of this one....who wouldn't want to curl up in a cozy cabin to heal? Here's mine: “PRETTY GIRLS”

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  4. Yes, I would definitely keep reading this one, Harvee; I love the cover, too! It sounds like a great story, or maybe that it has a lot of potential?? :) Thanks so much for sharing this one!

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  5. I definitely would keep reading.

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  6. This sounds like an emotional read... I'd keep going.

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  7. I like the beginning you shared, the voice of the narrator in particular. The blurb has me interested too. I love books like this. Thank you for sharing.

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  8. I like the intro but would read a bit more before deciding. Hope you like it.

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  9. I like the way the author takes the reader into the room and lets us know through the dark-colored clothes that there has been a funeral. Since I live in Washington State, I'm almost always interested in books set in this area. This sounds like a good story.
    My Tuesday post features A Weekend Getaway

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  10. I would. I like how descriptive the author is especially in the first book. You can tell right away that this is a gathering after a funeral even though there is nothing about death in the paragraph.

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  11. I'd definitely keep reading. I want to know what happens next.

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  12. This sounds like another hit by this author! I read (and enjoyed) The Color of Tea. Thank you for sharing a bit of this book, Harvee. :)

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I appreciate your comments and thoughts...

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