Author: Ruta Sepetys
Genre: Historical Fiction; Young Adult
Rating: 9.5/10
Salt to the Sea weaves a story with four different perspectives. Each character has secrets from their past that are casting a shadow over their present lives, and we watch as they make their way towards the Wilhelm Gustloff, in hope of a better and brighter future.
This book gave me literal chills. This story was phenomenal; heartbreaking in its content and intimate in its perspective. I didn’t even know where to start with this review, as I am in awe of this author's insane talent.
I was blown away by the diverse perspectives, no doubt carefully selected by the author to show us the reality of life during a war. I’m a huge fan of learning about historical events, but more importantly the people who lived through them – I prefer reading individual stories to the collective narrative, as it feels more real and more personal.
Hence, I found it equally interesting and painful to read about the experiences of the characters. They were portrayed so realistically, with their intricate backstories adding richness to the story. I also loved how we could witness the characters’ pasts influencing their present actions and decisions as the story progressed.
The details really painted a picture of how war affects people not just physically, but also emotionally and psychologically. Every detail regarding the destruction caused by war, the loss of human lives, the constant fear and guilt and grief, really made my heart ache for the characters.
All in all, the characters were what made the story feel so real and tangible.
One nitpick I did have with the book was that the constantly changing perspectives made it difficult for me to completely immerse myself in the characters’ situations. This does get resolved as the book goes on though, because the story becomes more linear to follow as the characters’ paths cross.
“What had human beings become? Did war make us evil or just activate an evil already lurking within us?”
I appreciated the author’s writing style greatly. It did not elaborate in gruesome detail about the devastation, but rather either narrated the scene in a straightforward manner, or hinted at what had happened through the interactions between the characters. I felt that this writing style created the realistic atmosphere of war times; the characters are obviously hurt by the devastation, but to a certain extent they are also numb to it. They are under constant pressure to keep moving forward or risk suffering a similar fate. Throughout the book, it was evident how much effort the author put into crafting this book to authentically portray the happenings during World War II.
The ending to this story really broke my heart. But with such beautiful prose, it also felt like a fitting tribute to the sacrifices and struggles faced by innocents in the war. I definitely recommend giving this book a read, especially for fans of historical fiction. As the author writes, the truth of the war and struggles can’t just be forgotten when the survivors are gone – we must give their story a voice.
“I wept because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet.”
Reviewed by: S.R. Scribbles (1st reading)
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