Sneak Peek: The Taste of Salt by Martha Southgate
We’re thrilled to give you an early peek at Martha Southgate’s novel The Taste of Salt, arriving in bookstores on September 13th. Read some fantastic pre-pub blurbs below and don’t miss the excerpt at the bottom of the page.
Award-winni
ng novelist Martha Southgate (who, in the words of Julia Glass, “can write fat and hot, then lush and tender, then just plain truthful and burning with heart”) now tells the story of a family pushed to its limits by addiction over the course of two generations. Josie Henderson loves the water and is fulfilled by her position as the only senior-level black scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. In building this impressive life for herself, she has tried to shed the one thing she cannot: her family back in land-locked Cleveland. Her adored brother, Tick, was her childhood ally as they watched their drinking father push away all the love that his wife and children were trying to give him. Now Tick himself has been coming apart and demands to be heard. Weaving four voices into a beautiful tapestry, Southgate charts the lives of the Hendersons from the parents first charmed meeting to Josie’s realization that the ways of the human heart are more complex than anything seen under a microscope.
Advance Praise for The Taste of Salt:
“A haunting novel about the ways we hurt and are hurt by the people we love most in the world, and about how, despite that, we find solace in their love.”—Ayelet Waldman, author of Red Hook Road
“A poignant exploration of the legacies our families leave us and the dangers of trying to deny them.”—Danielle Evans, author of Before you Suffocate Your Own Fool Self
“Open-hearted and open-eyed, Southgate explores how we come together, how we come apart, and how we hold one another, with all our beauties and flaws.”—Stacey D’Ersamo, author of The Sky Below
“Extraordinarily moving and keenly sensitive tour de force that will linger in your mind and heart for a long time.”—James Hannaham, author of God Says No
“Martha Southgate has written a tender, confident, and unfussy novel about a marine biologist who tries to save herself by shutting out the human world. Of course, that never works, and her journey back toward connection gives this novel its charge. This book is a moving eulogy for lost loved ones and even for a lost, loved city, Cleveland. The Taste of Salt had me misting up by the end. For real.”—Victor LaValle, author of Big Machine
“The Taste of Salt is a beautiful and heartbreaking portrait of a modern family. Employing a chorus of voices and perspectives, Martha Southgate probes the depths of her troubled characters with clarity and tenderness.”—Dan Chaon, author of Await Your Reply
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Overall Score
Reader Rating: 0 Votes
Would love to read it!!
As a fellow water lover this sounds great – would love a copy!
Oh, pick me, pick me! Sounds captivating, and I can’t wait to read it.
Salty dog! I’d like to read it.
This sounds wonderful! Would love a copy to review!
Love,family,addiction. The trinity known by so many. I’d like to read it because I’m one of those “many,” I’m a recent Cleveland transplant, and it sounds like a lovely and touching read.
This sounds like it will be a very interesting read.
Sounds like a really compelling read. Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
Sounds like a really compelling read. Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
Sounds like a perfect fit for my life. Would love to read
Sounds like a perfect fit for my life. Would love to read
Even though I have such a fear of water, I love books about family problems. It makes me feel even more blessed by my family. All of our faults pale in comparison.
Even though I have such a fear of water, I love books about family problems. It makes me feel even more blessed by my family. All of our faults pale in comparison.
Sounds great and an author that I’ve not read so would love to have one of the ARC’s up for grabs!
All I need to know is that this book is published by Algonquin! Your books are always such high quality. Would love to have an advance copy.
All I need to know is that this book is published by Algonquin! Your books are always such high quality. Would love to have an advance copy.
Used to go the Cape every summer with my family and haven’t been back since 2000, miss it terribly. I’d love an advance copy.
Would so love this ARC. I’ve hard great things about Martha Southgate’s writing.
Would so love this ARC. I’ve hard great things about Martha Southgate’s writing.
I agree wholeheartedly with Julia Glass, I’ve read all of Martha’s books and have enjoyed them immensely. So I eagerly look forward to winning a copy of A Taste of Salt!
I agree wholeheartedly with Julia Glass, I’ve read all of Martha’s books and have enjoyed them immensely. So I eagerly look forward to winning a copy of A Taste of Salt!
Sounds like a great summer read! Would love to see it.
The ocean always comforts me… this sounds like an interesting story, would love to read it!
Algonquin’s on a severe excellent roll these days; congrats on all!
I haven’t read this author but her view of the modern family sounds challenging. We all belong to a family however much we sometimes wish we didn’t. Would love to have an advance copy.
I haven’t read this author but her view of the modern family sounds challenging. We all belong to a family however much we sometimes wish we didn’t. Would love to have an advance copy.
Sounds like a great book to read while recovering from knee replacement surgery…pick me plz:-)
Sounds like a great book to read while recovering from knee replacement surgery…pick me plz:-)
Love Martha Southgate! Would love a copy.
Love Martha Southgate! Would love a copy.
Algonquin sounds like they have published another great read. I will visit my favorite book seller In Sept.
Algonquin sounds like they have published another great read. I will visit my favorite book seller In Sept.
Don’t we all have a little dysfunction in our family. I know I do! I read the little bit you have posted here and I am sucked in! This book sounds like a great read, I love this kind of story.
Thanks for the chance to win.
Don’t we all have a little dysfunction in our family. I know I do! I read the little bit you have posted here and I am sucked in! This book sounds like a great read, I love this kind of story.
Thanks for the chance to win.
Oh — and I meant to add – the cover is beautiful!
Oh — and I meant to add – the cover is beautiful!
Oh — and I meant to add – the cover is beautiful!
Sounds like a terrific book. Would love the opportunity to read it pre-pub. Thanks.
Sounds like a terrific book. Would love the opportunity to read it pre-pub. Thanks.
What a lovely cover! Would love to read!
What a lovely cover! Would love to read!
Thanks for the chance… I loved her last book.
Thanks for the chance… I loved her last book.
I was intrigued by this one right away. Count me in!
I was intrigued by this one right away. Count me in!
I would love to win it!
I would love to win it!
Love the cover. Sounds like a good read.
Love the cover. Sounds like a good read.
Love the cover. Sounds like a good read.
Wow, this sounds so powerful! Addiction can destroy a family, from one generation on to the next. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of this book!
Looks like another good book to add to my tbr list!
Looks like another good book to add to my tbr list!
Looks like another good book to add to my tbr list!
This sounds very good, looking forward to it!
sounds an excellent read! I’d love to win a copy!
sounds an excellent read! I’d love to win a copy!
sounds an excellent read! I’d love to win a copy!
I’d really love to read an advance copy of this! I so enjoyed the originality of voice and content Southgate brought to Third Girl from the Left. I’m sure this will be just as great a read.
I’d really love to read an advance copy of this! I so enjoyed the originality of voice and content Southgate brought to Third Girl from the Left. I’m sure this will be just as great a read.
I’d really love to read an advance copy of this! I so enjoyed the originality of voice and content Southgate brought to Third Girl from the Left. I’m sure this will be just as great a read.
This looks like another good book from Martha Southgate. I have been a fan of her writing since The Fall of Rome.
This sounds fantastic. Thanks for holding this giveaway.
Wow, this looks awesome! Definitely going to have to add it to my reading and recommending lists!
Wow, this looks awesome! Definitely going to have to add it to my reading and recommending lists!
Wow, this looks awesome! Definitely going to have to add it to my reading and recommending lists!
I’m a huge fan of Martha Southgate’s work and am thrilled to know that her next literary gem will arrive this fall…can’t wait!
I’m a huge fan of Martha Southgate’s work and am thrilled to know that her next literary gem will arrive this fall…can’t wait!
The description of this new novel is stunning. I would love to enter this world, created by Southgate. Thank you for the chance to win a copy of this novel!
The description of this new novel is stunning. I would love to enter this world, created by Southgate. Thank you for the chance to win a copy of this novel!
Looks perfect for a summer’s end read. I really liked Martha Southgate’s book, The Fall of Rome. Third Girl from the Left is still on my TBR list.
Looks perfect for a summer’s end read. I really liked Martha Southgate’s book, The Fall of Rome. Third Girl from the Left is still on my TBR list.
Looks perfect for a summer’s end read. I really liked Martha Southgate’s book, The Fall of Rome. Third Girl from the Left is still on my TBR list.
I love Martha Southeast. I can’t wait for this book.
I love Martha Southeast. I can’t wait for this book.
I love Martha Southeast. I can’t wait for this book.
Sounds amazing! Would love the chance to read it fully.
Sounds amazing! Would love the chance to read it fully.
Sounds amazing! Would love the chance to read it fully.
I love salt. I love books. Gimme!
I love Martha’s writing and I can’t wait to read this one!
I love Martha’s writing and I can’t wait to read this one!
I love Martha’s writing and I can’t wait to read this one!
Love, Love, Love Southgate’s writing. It would be such a joy to read this next month while on vacation!
I’ve never read one of Ms. Southgate’s books…but after reading the above excerpt, I’m definitely adding her to my list!
I’ve never read one of Ms. Southgate’s books…but after reading the above excerpt, I’m definitely adding her to my list!
I’ve never read one of Ms. Southgate’s books…but after reading the above excerpt, I’m definitely adding her to my list!
I am looking for another great summer read, and this looks like it! Also, could add another author to my list -I wanna win it!
I am looking for another great summer read, and this looks like it! Also, could add another author to my list -I wanna win it!
I am looking for another great summer read, and this looks like it! Also, could add another author to my list -I wanna win it!
I would love to read this book. I thoroughly enjoyed THE FALL OF ROME a few years back.