3.18.207 - Silver and Salt

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is a difficult, painful read but a wonderfully-written look into a family fraught with dysfunction and mental illness.

Max is a celebrated photographer who meets and marries, Sophia, an opera singer. He whisks her away from London and her singing world and goes off on his photography trips, eventually leaving her with two small girls. Max is never around and when he is, he's distant and abusive to his wife and girls. Sophia eventually lapses into mental illness. Beatrice, Max's sister, eventually swoops in to care for the girls.

Vinny is the oldest and strongest daughter. She excels at school and is focused on her study of languages. Ruthie is the youngest and doesn't cope well with her parents' absence. Max eventually tries to teach Ruthie photography, but is still abusive and mean in his methods while Ruthie strives for his attention and praise.

When Max passes away, the sisters meet at their villa in Greece. A family is also on the compound vacationing, and Ruthie becomes obsessed with the young daughter, Annie. Annie's brother, Edward, is cruel to Annie and it opens up a plethora of past memories, spiraling Ruthie into the same mental illness as her mother.

A remarkably-written book about such a painful subject.