Point of View

‘Of Women and Salt’ is characterized by its diverse perspectives, spanning across time and geographical location. The reader hears from a range of characters’ perspectives, including María Isabel, Dolores, Carmen, Jeanette, Maydelis, Gloria and Ana. The most commonly revisited narratives are those of Carmen and Jeanette, whose strained relationship and personal struggles serve as a continually underlying theme throughout the novel. By continuously returning to their lives, the reader is able to see how the consequences of actions taken by their ancestors play out in the modern day. The narratives of other women are mysteriously missing – nothing is heard from or about María Isabel’s daughter, Cecelia, and Cecelia’s own child is simply named as ‘X’ in the family tree. Moreover, the reader does not hear from Carmen’s sister Elena. This serves to preserve an element of the unknown; the narrative...