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The Salt Road
From the author of The Tenth Gift comes another story of exotic, foreign lands, entwining storylines spanning generations, and the quests to overcome love lost.
The desert lay before them, and the secrets of the amulet . . .
From Tafraout's magnificent mountainside, Isobel absorbs the heat and romance of the Moroccan vista before her, with mosque and homes scattered far below. But a mere slip sees her tumbling uncontrollably into the arms of handsome rescuer Taïb, who notices her unusual silver amulet, and that her fall has revealed a tiny scroll hidden within. Entranced by the possibilities of its intricate and illegible script, they set out for the Sahara in search of a Tuareg elder to unlock the riddles of its past.
Little does Izzy realize that the desert holds the key to more mysteries than the amulet's. From beneath the beating sun emerges nomadic Princess Mariata, whose stories of tortured love bind her to the precious talisman in Izzy's hands. She's battled the sands; she's found and lost love among its dunes. And where the amulet crosses both their paths, answers to the deepest secrets lie.
The desert lay before them, and the secrets of the amulet . . .
From Tafraout's magnificent mountainside, Isobel absorbs the heat and romance of the Moroccan vista before her, with mosque and homes scattered far below. But a mere slip sees her tumbling uncontrollably into the arms of handsome rescuer Taïb, who notices her unusual silver amulet, and that her fall has revealed a tiny scroll hidden within. Entranced by the possibilities of its intricate and illegible script, they set out for the Sahara in search of a Tuareg elder to unlock the riddles of its past.
Little does Izzy realize that the desert holds the key to more mysteries than the amulet's. From beneath the beating sun emerges nomadic Princess Mariata, whose stories of tortured love bind her to the precious talisman in Izzy's hands. She's battled the sands; she's found and lost love among its dunes. And where the amulet crosses both their paths, answers to the deepest secrets lie.
393 pages, Paperback
First published October 19, 2010
192 people are currently reading
2092 people want to read
About the author
Jane Johnson
103 books552 followersJane Johnson is an English writer of books for adults and children and fiction book editor. As a writer she has used the pseudonyms Gabriel King, jointly with M. John Harrison, and Jude Fisher, as well as her real name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 264 reviews
August 16, 2024
The Salt Road is billed as a romance, and it may well be that readers who like romance writing will enjoy the love story set out across two separate timelines in this book. I wouldn't classify The Salt Road as a romance. I don't read romance as a genre. For me it's an adventure, set in an exotic location, painlessly educational, a travelogue... lots of things. I.e. it can be enjoyed on many levels. I'll attribute that enjoyment to the exceptional writing and to the intimate knowledge the author has in her subject matter. A book whose genre is hard to pin down and well worth an excursion from whatever genre keeps you occupied most!
For the most part the book is set in North Africa amid the shifting sands of Morocco and the Tuareg people, revealing their customs and stories, camel trading and battles. In the present day thread a westerner ventures in to this unfamiliar setting chasing an old story and in the more ancient thread we see that world through eyes that have seen nothing else.
And there's a twist. I've said too much already!
Try it.
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For the most part the book is set in North Africa amid the shifting sands of Morocco and the Tuareg people, revealing their customs and stories, camel trading and battles. In the present day thread a westerner ventures in to this unfamiliar setting chasing an old story and in the more ancient thread we see that world through eyes that have seen nothing else.
And there's a twist. I've said too much already!
Try it.
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
..
February 4, 2015
An astonishing and remarkable adventure! The author wrote this story beautifully as I could truly feel the hot desert sands beneath my feet and see the magnificence of the land through the eyes of her characters. In various chapters throughout the book her words were quite poetic as she captured the lives of its people. As it takes you along their journey you come to know how fate does seem to push us along the many paths that must be taken. A very enjoyable book indeed and highly recommended.
January 10, 2024
[5/10]
In the attic you will find a box with your name on it. Inside that box are what you might call ‘waymarkers’ for your life.
Isobel is a successful corporate accountant in the City of London. She worked hard to achieve her position and to escape from traumatic memories of her childhood and of her dysfunctional family. Her father’s death, and an unexpected legacy, forces Isobel to confront this past and to embark on a journey to a land of myths and legends.
Carrying an ancient Berber amulet with a hidden message locked inside, Isobel sets out for an exploration of Morocco, in the company of an unlikely rescuer from a rock climbing accident.
Is she being kidnapped by terrorists, falling in love or taken back to her roots, as the young man leads Isobel deeper into the Sahara desert on what was known to the local tribes as the Salt Road: the path taken by ancient caravans transporting precious salt to equatorial Africa, also the spiritual path to enlightenment for the Touaregs.
Izzy’s journey is mirrored in the flashbacks she has, probably induced by the mysterious amulet, of the harsh life and romantic relations of Mariata, a Touareg young woman of royal blood.
>>><<<>>><<<
This will be a very short review, for several reasons: I picked the book mostly for the cover, and as a chance to revisit this beautiful country of Morocco.
I didn’t notice that Jane Johnson is in fact the same author who used the pen name of Jude Fisher in a fantasy series that started quite well but ended in a trainwreck: Fool’s Gold
I don’t think my past disappointments coloured my present reluctance to give the book a fair chance: I only read about the author about halfway through the story, when certain stylistic choice became too familiar.
I’m sure that there is a very good story hidden somewhere along these salt roads, and I acknowledge that the author did her research on the subject very well, but I was bored out of my mind for most of the journey by the thinly disguised info dumps that seemed lifted wholesale out of a travel brochure and by the transparent mystery of Isobel and Mariata’s connection across decades, lifted right out of cheap telenovela scripts.
For all the good intentions and all the strong female lead characters [ Please do not try to tell me what is best for me. Other men have tried to do so in my life, quite wrongly. ] , Johnson remains unable to convince me she is in control of her story and of her literary tools.
I did enjoy the chapters about Mariata living a semi-nomadic life among her Berber cousins, and I felt some urge to return to the country while reading about Fez, Marrakesh and the Atlas mountains, but overall this was not really an inspired choice for me.
Other readers mileage might vary.
In the attic you will find a box with your name on it. Inside that box are what you might call ‘waymarkers’ for your life.
Isobel is a successful corporate accountant in the City of London. She worked hard to achieve her position and to escape from traumatic memories of her childhood and of her dysfunctional family. Her father’s death, and an unexpected legacy, forces Isobel to confront this past and to embark on a journey to a land of myths and legends.
Carrying an ancient Berber amulet with a hidden message locked inside, Isobel sets out for an exploration of Morocco, in the company of an unlikely rescuer from a rock climbing accident.
Is she being kidnapped by terrorists, falling in love or taken back to her roots, as the young man leads Isobel deeper into the Sahara desert on what was known to the local tribes as the Salt Road: the path taken by ancient caravans transporting precious salt to equatorial Africa, also the spiritual path to enlightenment for the Touaregs.
Izzy’s journey is mirrored in the flashbacks she has, probably induced by the mysterious amulet, of the harsh life and romantic relations of Mariata, a Touareg young woman of royal blood.
>>><<<>>><<<
This will be a very short review, for several reasons: I picked the book mostly for the cover, and as a chance to revisit this beautiful country of Morocco.
I didn’t notice that Jane Johnson is in fact the same author who used the pen name of Jude Fisher in a fantasy series that started quite well but ended in a trainwreck: Fool’s Gold
I don’t think my past disappointments coloured my present reluctance to give the book a fair chance: I only read about the author about halfway through the story, when certain stylistic choice became too familiar.
I’m sure that there is a very good story hidden somewhere along these salt roads, and I acknowledge that the author did her research on the subject very well, but I was bored out of my mind for most of the journey by the thinly disguised info dumps that seemed lifted wholesale out of a travel brochure and by the transparent mystery of Isobel and Mariata’s connection across decades, lifted right out of cheap telenovela scripts.
For all the good intentions and all the strong female lead characters [ Please do not try to tell me what is best for me. Other men have tried to do so in my life, quite wrongly. ] , Johnson remains unable to convince me she is in control of her story and of her literary tools.
I did enjoy the chapters about Mariata living a semi-nomadic life among her Berber cousins, and I felt some urge to return to the country while reading about Fez, Marrakesh and the Atlas mountains, but overall this was not really an inspired choice for me.
Other readers mileage might vary.
August 21, 2024
3.5 Stars- This book was very informative about a culture that I knew nothing about. Plus the setting was extraordinary. I think I have only ever read one other book set in Morocco. The story tells about two different women and their lives. Both women had some extraordinary events happen in their lives and they are tied together with an amulet. The ending also had an incredible twist.
There were many elements that I enjoyed but this was a very lengthy book. It is listed as under 400 pages but each page is dense with description and text. At times it was a little difficult to follow what was going on with some of the strange words and things I had never heard of before. I also was a little frustrated at the ending. I was left with more questions and one of the events that happened was just not right to happen to one of the characters.
I do feel like this book taught me a lot and I am more aware of the world after reading this. It was definitely not an easy or quick read though.
There were many elements that I enjoyed but this was a very lengthy book. It is listed as under 400 pages but each page is dense with description and text. At times it was a little difficult to follow what was going on with some of the strange words and things I had never heard of before. I also was a little frustrated at the ending. I was left with more questions and one of the events that happened was just not right to happen to one of the characters.
I do feel like this book taught me a lot and I am more aware of the world after reading this. It was definitely not an easy or quick read though.
January 30, 2014
This book does not want to be put into a single category. But if you must, you may file it under mystery, romance, adventure or travelogue.
To me, it's just a great double weave of two stories of two very different characters, set against the same backdrop.
NO spoilers!
To me, it's just a great double weave of two stories of two very different characters, set against the same backdrop.
NO spoilers!
July 28, 2015
A beautifully written story. Set in North Africa, there are two story lines here following two women, which are set about 30 to 40 years apart from each other but they might as well have been set centuries apart. Mariata is a remarkable character creation. Her story is full of passion and strength and explores the relationship between man and nature.
Her vivid, personal descriptions bring the desert to life, I’ve infact learned a lot about the North African desert tribes and their culture through this book.
The story is structured to keep the suspense till the end as the two story lines intrweave
A very satisfying read.
Her vivid, personal descriptions bring the desert to life, I’ve infact learned a lot about the North African desert tribes and their culture through this book.
The story is structured to keep the suspense till the end as the two story lines intrweave
A very satisfying read.
February 11, 2021
The cryptic letter to Isabella from her late father had me intrigued and I was excited about reading further but the story very quickly moved in a different direction to what I was expecting. Desert stories set in Africa (or anywhere in the world) are just not my thing (or so I thought) and it seemed like it was heading to a one star rating but as I continued on, without warning it reeled me in and I was hooked and as the story unfolded it blew my mind. I was spellbound by the exotic setting of Morocco and Mariata and Izzy’s story, taking me on an extraordinary adventure and remarkable journey across the Sahara Desert. An utterly unique and well crafted novel. I thought it was superb how everything was pieced together.
The ending bumped up my rating to 5 stars. Brilliant!
POPSUGAR Reading Challenge 2021: #7 - A book with a gem, mineral , or rock in the title
The ending bumped up my rating to 5 stars. Brilliant!
POPSUGAR Reading Challenge 2021: #7 - A book with a gem, mineral , or rock in the title
May 8, 2012
This novel tells the stories of Isabelle Treslove-Faucet, once a wild tomboy but now a reformed, "grown up" corporate tax accountant, and the circumstances that lead her to travel to Morrocco to uncover her mysterious past, and Mariata, a Tuareg woman and desert wanderer who experiences a host of misfortunes and travails and must make a thousand-mile journey across the Sahara on foot to protect herself and her baby from an unwanted marriage. The two narratives are set about forty years apart in time, but this does not become apparent early on, so for a while readers will struggle to determine when and where all this is taking place and how any of these events could be linked together.
Isabelle's archeologist father has just died, and left her a box containing an amulet carved with strange symbols and some papers apparently documenting its discovery in an ancient African tomb. Isabelle is not the adventurer of her youth, but she does enjoy rock-climbing, and by the first grand coincidence of many in this novel full of unlikely happenings, she hears about a series of uncharted routes in Morocco that she and her best friend just Ihav to experience. They book a trip to Africa and off they go. But izzy doesn't get a chance to do much climbing; she nearly falls off a mountainside and breaks her ankle, and this sets off the chain of events that lead her to make a host of startling discoveries about the world around her, herself, and ultimately, find love in the most unlikely of places.
Mrs. Johnson writes very well, and this kept me reading and even at times very engrossed in this book. The writing is extremely descriptive and at times even heart-rendingly powerful. The depiction of Tuareg culture, a subject completely unknown to me, was fascinating and not only well researched, but based at least in part upon the author's own first-hand experience. There are some gripping descriptions of intense emotion, and chilling accounts of desert struggles and atrocities. All of this was very well handled.
I did not really find either of the female protagonists to be likable. I understand what the author was doing in Isabelle's case: showing how a woman could forget her past, forget how to be wild and free and trick herself into thinking that "living" is all about making money and pleasing the "fat cats". I comprehend how she had to have an attitude, be full of herself, her apparent stuffy upper-middle-class English-ness clashing and contrasting with the desert world into which she was thrust. I can't say that her journey of self-discovery was all that thrilling, nor was I convinced by the epilogue that she was now a wonderful person who had found her true home again. Around page 300 we find out exactly what made her become so cold and detached from the important things in life, and while I don't want to make light of a sad reality that probably hits close to home for many, I felt a bit manipulated by the whole thing. I mean, damn, am I supposed to feel awful for occasionally wishing her ill during the preceding pages now? To be fair though, there were a couple of hints dropped early on about the truth.
Mariata also had a high and mighty attitude, and while it was often explained that she believed herself to be descended from a great tribal queen, there didn't seem to be any indication that her background warranted any expectations other than a lot of struggle in life. She was a poet, though, and that automatically earns her more points than isabelle, in my book.
The actions of some of these people are just bizarre. mariata's tribe is massacred, her beloved killed before her eyes on their wedding night, and her father, who apparently cares for her at least a little, spirits her away to live in a modern town with him and his new, shrewish wife. At no point does anybody say, "the reason this girl won't talk to anyone, doesn't care about cleaning herself, eating, or religious studies, is that her people were massacred and her husband murdered, so give her some space and some consideration all right?" Characters fall in love at first sight, and chances are that even you're trekking for uncountable weeks in the desert, you'll eventually bump into somebody you know, and with luck it'll be either your brother or your worst enemy. You'd also better watch out if you're a rebel chief, too, capturing Europeans for ransom, because there's a good chance that the person you grab will end up being your daughter-whom-you've-never-seen-before. Forgive me if I sound a little cynical: while I am certainly open to accept that many strange things do happen in life, and that there might be forces that exist beyond the veil of our knowledge, I do not believe in Fate, God or any similarly capitalised concepts. Mrs. Johnson clearly does, and what I see in her book as "incredible coincidences" are to her the knots of the skein of Fate that ties together those who must be tied. I think it's mostly a difference of worldview, and I'm resigned to the fact that I just don't "get" this way of thinking and probably never will.
While I'm on the subject, though, the portrayal of magic and the fantastic in this book is pretty interesting. It's completely taken for granted...moreso, perhaps naturally, by Mariata and the people who populate the desert, but even Isabelle quickly simply accepts that her amulet is vested with magical powers and that it's more than just "a good luck charm". Spirits, or "djenoun", are everywhere, filling the deserts and the hearts and minds of its inhabitants. It's a little refreshing and yes, despite what I said in the previous paragraph, I can't help but think that it'd be a good thing if the world were indeed hosts to such People of the Wilderness and similar manifestations.
So, ultimately, not a bad way to spend a little time. I hated the epilogue by the way, maybe because I've seen too many books (largely, but not exclusively, belonging to the romance genre....hey, I work with this stuff; I don't read it by choice) where there's an "afterthought" after the last chapter, set months or years later, where there's a toddler, a baby, and probably a dog, too, just to let you know that everything turned out ok! This was just a desert variant of the same phenomenon, rather than the usual "suburban house".
Isabelle's archeologist father has just died, and left her a box containing an amulet carved with strange symbols and some papers apparently documenting its discovery in an ancient African tomb. Isabelle is not the adventurer of her youth, but she does enjoy rock-climbing, and by the first grand coincidence of many in this novel full of unlikely happenings, she hears about a series of uncharted routes in Morocco that she and her best friend just Ihav to experience. They book a trip to Africa and off they go. But izzy doesn't get a chance to do much climbing; she nearly falls off a mountainside and breaks her ankle, and this sets off the chain of events that lead her to make a host of startling discoveries about the world around her, herself, and ultimately, find love in the most unlikely of places.
Mrs. Johnson writes very well, and this kept me reading and even at times very engrossed in this book. The writing is extremely descriptive and at times even heart-rendingly powerful. The depiction of Tuareg culture, a subject completely unknown to me, was fascinating and not only well researched, but based at least in part upon the author's own first-hand experience. There are some gripping descriptions of intense emotion, and chilling accounts of desert struggles and atrocities. All of this was very well handled.
I did not really find either of the female protagonists to be likable. I understand what the author was doing in Isabelle's case: showing how a woman could forget her past, forget how to be wild and free and trick herself into thinking that "living" is all about making money and pleasing the "fat cats". I comprehend how she had to have an attitude, be full of herself, her apparent stuffy upper-middle-class English-ness clashing and contrasting with the desert world into which she was thrust. I can't say that her journey of self-discovery was all that thrilling, nor was I convinced by the epilogue that she was now a wonderful person who had found her true home again. Around page 300 we find out exactly what made her become so cold and detached from the important things in life, and while I don't want to make light of a sad reality that probably hits close to home for many, I felt a bit manipulated by the whole thing. I mean, damn, am I supposed to feel awful for occasionally wishing her ill during the preceding pages now? To be fair though, there were a couple of hints dropped early on about the truth.
Mariata also had a high and mighty attitude, and while it was often explained that she believed herself to be descended from a great tribal queen, there didn't seem to be any indication that her background warranted any expectations other than a lot of struggle in life. She was a poet, though, and that automatically earns her more points than isabelle, in my book.
The actions of some of these people are just bizarre. mariata's tribe is massacred, her beloved killed before her eyes on their wedding night, and her father, who apparently cares for her at least a little, spirits her away to live in a modern town with him and his new, shrewish wife. At no point does anybody say, "the reason this girl won't talk to anyone, doesn't care about cleaning herself, eating, or religious studies, is that her people were massacred and her husband murdered, so give her some space and some consideration all right?" Characters fall in love at first sight, and chances are that even you're trekking for uncountable weeks in the desert, you'll eventually bump into somebody you know, and with luck it'll be either your brother or your worst enemy. You'd also better watch out if you're a rebel chief, too, capturing Europeans for ransom, because there's a good chance that the person you grab will end up being your daughter-whom-you've-never-seen-before. Forgive me if I sound a little cynical: while I am certainly open to accept that many strange things do happen in life, and that there might be forces that exist beyond the veil of our knowledge, I do not believe in Fate, God or any similarly capitalised concepts. Mrs. Johnson clearly does, and what I see in her book as "incredible coincidences" are to her the knots of the skein of Fate that ties together those who must be tied. I think it's mostly a difference of worldview, and I'm resigned to the fact that I just don't "get" this way of thinking and probably never will.
While I'm on the subject, though, the portrayal of magic and the fantastic in this book is pretty interesting. It's completely taken for granted...moreso, perhaps naturally, by Mariata and the people who populate the desert, but even Isabelle quickly simply accepts that her amulet is vested with magical powers and that it's more than just "a good luck charm". Spirits, or "djenoun", are everywhere, filling the deserts and the hearts and minds of its inhabitants. It's a little refreshing and yes, despite what I said in the previous paragraph, I can't help but think that it'd be a good thing if the world were indeed hosts to such People of the Wilderness and similar manifestations.
So, ultimately, not a bad way to spend a little time. I hated the epilogue by the way, maybe because I've seen too many books (largely, but not exclusively, belonging to the romance genre....hey, I work with this stuff; I don't read it by choice) where there's an "afterthought" after the last chapter, set months or years later, where there's a toddler, a baby, and probably a dog, too, just to let you know that everything turned out ok! This was just a desert variant of the same phenomenon, rather than the usual "suburban house".
July 26, 2010
This book has an intriguing title which doesn't give any clues to what the book is going to be about which is why I entered for it on Goodreads First Reads, and when I won and it arrived I saw the cover and I just knew it was going to be a good book. The cover gives the impression of the east, which is where the majority of the book is set.
The book starts off by introducing the character Isabelle and her life so far, it is written well and we get to know the traits that Izzy has, and that there may also be some darkness in her past. Isabelle is a character who I can relate to well, even though at times she can be a bit naive and selfish.
The book switches between two stories which linked to each other at the end of the book. The first being the story of Isabelle which started at beginning, then the second was introduced cleverly by Isabelle having a dream.
The story of Mariata and Amastan had to be my favourite of the two. Mariata was annoying at times as she was slightly arrogant at first, but after moving villages, she lightened up. From the start of her relationship with Amastan I could tell that something terrible was going to happen. Tana -one of my favourite characters- warned Mariata many times about Amastan but she was just too head over heels.
Once the scene of these two stories was set I was gripped to both of them I just couldn't read it fast enough! Isabelle and Mariata went through so many exciting and heart racing events, which I couldn't predict what was to come next like I can in so many books nowadays. One of the things that I really couldn't predict was the ending, the connection between the two stories. The only visible connection was the amulet. I considered the two women being related, but I did not expect that!
This book taught me a lot about the ethnic background of people in the east and the danger that people face, with corrupt governments ect. It has enlightened me to the Islam religion which I didn't know much about before.
Overall, this is now one of my favourite books and I award it five stars! I recommend it to anyone who loves to read and to people who are just curious about books, because once they read this one they will be hooked line and sinker!!
The book starts off by introducing the character Isabelle and her life so far, it is written well and we get to know the traits that Izzy has, and that there may also be some darkness in her past. Isabelle is a character who I can relate to well, even though at times she can be a bit naive and selfish.
The book switches between two stories which linked to each other at the end of the book. The first being the story of Isabelle which started at beginning, then the second was introduced cleverly by Isabelle having a dream.
The story of Mariata and Amastan had to be my favourite of the two. Mariata was annoying at times as she was slightly arrogant at first, but after moving villages, she lightened up. From the start of her relationship with Amastan I could tell that something terrible was going to happen. Tana -one of my favourite characters- warned Mariata many times about Amastan but she was just too head over heels.
Once the scene of these two stories was set I was gripped to both of them I just couldn't read it fast enough! Isabelle and Mariata went through so many exciting and heart racing events, which I couldn't predict what was to come next like I can in so many books nowadays. One of the things that I really couldn't predict was the ending, the connection between the two stories. The only visible connection was the amulet. I considered the two women being related, but I did not expect that!
This book taught me a lot about the ethnic background of people in the east and the danger that people face, with corrupt governments ect. It has enlightened me to the Islam religion which I didn't know much about before.
Overall, this is now one of my favourite books and I award it five stars! I recommend it to anyone who loves to read and to people who are just curious about books, because once they read this one they will be hooked line and sinker!!
November 7, 2011
Originally posted on Cozy Up With A Good Read
This was one book that I did not like at all, it came close to being a DNF (but I hate spending time reading something to not finish it). The first chapter intrigued me a little, and I thought there would be a good mystery and maybe some action to the story, but as I read on I felt that the story dragged on with information that I did not think pertained to the story as a whole. I found I could not connect with any of the characters, and felt myself pushing to finish the story, hoping that maybe the ending would make up for it (which it didn't).
The characters seemed a little one dimensional to me and I just couldn't find myself liking anything about them. And then the storyline of the book kept jumping back between Isabelle's story and Mariata's, but at times the one section was so long that I found myself forgetting what last happened in the other person's story. There was one part of the story where Isabelle talks about her childhood, and the information came out of nowhere (nothing led up to that scene). She then talks about a big event in her life, it is mentioned in two pages and never talked about again (and something like this would have a bigger impact on a story).
I found Mariata's story interesting and would have liked to have a little more of that throughout the novel. I found the ending to be disappointing though, kind of like the author just needed to finish the story and that she needed to connect all the characters together. This book just could not keep my attention, I kept drifting away (I think that's the reason I could barely remember what was happening with the two different stories).
Maybe I'll think differently a few years from now....
This was one book that I did not like at all, it came close to being a DNF (but I hate spending time reading something to not finish it). The first chapter intrigued me a little, and I thought there would be a good mystery and maybe some action to the story, but as I read on I felt that the story dragged on with information that I did not think pertained to the story as a whole. I found I could not connect with any of the characters, and felt myself pushing to finish the story, hoping that maybe the ending would make up for it (which it didn't).
The characters seemed a little one dimensional to me and I just couldn't find myself liking anything about them. And then the storyline of the book kept jumping back between Isabelle's story and Mariata's, but at times the one section was so long that I found myself forgetting what last happened in the other person's story. There was one part of the story where Isabelle talks about her childhood, and the information came out of nowhere (nothing led up to that scene). She then talks about a big event in her life, it is mentioned in two pages and never talked about again (and something like this would have a bigger impact on a story).
I found Mariata's story interesting and would have liked to have a little more of that throughout the novel. I found the ending to be disappointing though, kind of like the author just needed to finish the story and that she needed to connect all the characters together. This book just could not keep my attention, I kept drifting away (I think that's the reason I could barely remember what was happening with the two different stories).
Maybe I'll think differently a few years from now....
November 17, 2024
Am besten nicht den Klappentext lesen !
Dieses Buch springt zwischen zwei Zeitsträngen hin und her. In der aktuellen Zeit haben wir Isabelle, welche aus London kommt. Im Nachlass ihres Vaters erhält sie ein Amulett, was sie auf geheimnisvolle Art nach Marokko bringt und ihr auch dort weiter den Weg in die Vergangenheit weist.
In dem anderen Zeitstrang lernen wir die junge und starke Frau Mariata kennen, die von einem angesehenen Wüstenvolk abstammt und einen schweren Weg nach dem Tod ihrer Mutter bestreiten muss. Sie wird von ihrem Vater und ihren Brüdern zu einem anderen Wüsenstamm gebracht und von dort an geht ihr Leben den Bach runter und sie muss von dort fliehen. Was sie dann erwartet ist nicht nur Liebe, sondern vorallem viel Schmerz und Leid.
Das Buch ist wahnsinnig spannend und schafft es einen wirklich in den Bann zu ziehen. Man sieht die Wüste vor seinem inneren Auge glasklar und kann fast den heißen und sandigen Wind der Sahara spüren.
Ich habe besonders mit Mariata mitgefiebert und mitgelitten, aber auch bei Isabelles Geschichte war ich immer interessiert, wie es weiter geht.
Das Ende war mir jedoch ein klein wenig zu schnell und etwas undurchsichtig.
Der Klappentext fasst meiner Meinung nach die Geschichte falsch zusammen und deswegen würde ich nicht empfehlen diesen zu lesen.
Wer sich für Nordafrika und die Wüste interessiert wird hier auf seine Kosten kommen.
Ein wirklich toller Roman, den ich gerne gelesen habe und von dem ich mich gerne in ein fremdes Land und eine fremde Kultur habe entführen lassen!
Dieses Buch springt zwischen zwei Zeitsträngen hin und her. In der aktuellen Zeit haben wir Isabelle, welche aus London kommt. Im Nachlass ihres Vaters erhält sie ein Amulett, was sie auf geheimnisvolle Art nach Marokko bringt und ihr auch dort weiter den Weg in die Vergangenheit weist.
In dem anderen Zeitstrang lernen wir die junge und starke Frau Mariata kennen, die von einem angesehenen Wüstenvolk abstammt und einen schweren Weg nach dem Tod ihrer Mutter bestreiten muss. Sie wird von ihrem Vater und ihren Brüdern zu einem anderen Wüsenstamm gebracht und von dort an geht ihr Leben den Bach runter und sie muss von dort fliehen. Was sie dann erwartet ist nicht nur Liebe, sondern vorallem viel Schmerz und Leid.
Das Buch ist wahnsinnig spannend und schafft es einen wirklich in den Bann zu ziehen. Man sieht die Wüste vor seinem inneren Auge glasklar und kann fast den heißen und sandigen Wind der Sahara spüren.
Ich habe besonders mit Mariata mitgefiebert und mitgelitten, aber auch bei Isabelles Geschichte war ich immer interessiert, wie es weiter geht.
Das Ende war mir jedoch ein klein wenig zu schnell und etwas undurchsichtig.
Der Klappentext fasst meiner Meinung nach die Geschichte falsch zusammen und deswegen würde ich nicht empfehlen diesen zu lesen.
Wer sich für Nordafrika und die Wüste interessiert wird hier auf seine Kosten kommen.
Ein wirklich toller Roman, den ich gerne gelesen habe und von dem ich mich gerne in ein fremdes Land und eine fremde Kultur habe entführen lassen!
August 7, 2020
Beetje onevenwichtig. Begint als een gezellige Britse chicklit, wordt dan afgewisseld met wat een Arabisch sprookje lijkt, af en toe wat (interessante, gruwelijke, en mij onbekende) geschiedenis over het lot van de Touaregs, en uiteindelijk komen het verhaal uit het verleden en dat in het heden wel érg romantisch bij elkaar, en de vriendin uit het Britse chicklit stukje is nergens meer. Maar toch van genoten, al was het maar door de verrukkelijke woestijnsetting.
January 14, 2022
I have had this book for more than 10 years on my shelves and I finally read it and OMG I can't believe how magical it is. It was with me for so long and I haven't known I had such a beautiful story with me.
July 28, 2023
Мароко, неговата история и вярвания са ми непознати. Беше страшно интересно да опозная една различна култура, един различен свят.
Изключително силно начало. Така беше до около средата на историята. От там нататък драмата ми дойде в повече. Да, има доста обрати в действието, но бяха …мелодраматични моменти който развалиха динамиката на книгата и удоволствието от четенето й. Може да послужи за сценарий за някой индийски сериал. Финалът – доста претупан и захаросан. Не е ясно както точно се случи този финал. Иска ми се да беше обърнато повече внимание на моментите преди него относно Тана, Амастан, Мариата. Но в крайна сметка често читателя иска едно, а автора друго.
В крайна сметка давам 5 звезди заради атмосферата на романа. Откъсваш се напълно от своите географски ширини и се пренасяш в напълно различен свят, в напълно различно време. Това е уникална способност, която все по - малко писатели и съответно книги, успяват да постигнат. „Пътят на солта“ ме накара да се влюбя в пустинята, макар никога да не съм я виждала.
Изключително силно начало. Така беше до около средата на историята. От там нататък драмата ми дойде в повече. Да, има доста обрати в действието, но бяха …мелодраматични моменти който развалиха динамиката на книгата и удоволствието от четенето й. Може да послужи за сценарий за някой индийски сериал. Финалът – доста претупан и захаросан. Не е ясно както точно се случи този финал. Иска ми се да беше обърнато повече внимание на моментите преди него относно Тана, Амастан, Мариата. Но в крайна сметка често читателя иска едно, а автора друго.
В крайна сметка давам 5 звезди заради атмосферата на романа. Откъсваш се напълно от своите географски ширини и се пренасяш в напълно различен свят, в напълно различно време. Това е уникална способност, която все по - малко писатели и съответно книги, успяват да постигнат. „Пътят на солта“ ме накара да се влюбя в пустинята, макар никога да не съм я виждала.
May 25, 2017
Prošla knjiga (Stupovi od svjetla) koju sam pročitala od ove autorice bila mi je naporna i nimalo zanimljiva. Za razliku od nje ''Put soli'' je sasvim druga priča. Jedna vrlo zanimljiva knjiga s divnim opisima Maroka :)
August 14, 2025
DNF à 34%. je me forçais pour rien à continuer 🫠
January 15, 2012
I read Jane Johnson's The Tenth Gift in July of 2009. That story involved the lives of two women living in two different time periods paralleling each other. The story and Johnson's writing stayed in my mind; a woven tapestry that at the end was revealed its completion not its unraveling. I know I'm being overly dramatic here but I've never really come across another writer like Jane Johnson, with her exotic settings, evocative prose and dynamic female characters. Maybe I could call up a few authors that have storylines with similar elements but not the same way of threading together the stories and histories of the female characters.
Johnson's sophomore effort The Salt Road, is equally good as The Tenth Gift, and follows a similar formula. This time we are taken to the historical land of the desert Tuareg tribes and modern day Morocco. At its heart, The Salt Road is about the strength of women, and further, is wonderfully insightful about the lives of the Tuareg people. The women in the novel, Mariata and Isabelle, overcome abuse and hardship and in the process find their true selves. There are also good and not so good surprises in store for both characters that keep the story suspenseful. Johnson portrays the Tuaregs as a fierce people fighting to preserve their traditions in an oppressive world.
I recommend The Salt Road. Its focus on the lives of women reminded me other great novels with strong women within an historical context:
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
The Expected One and The Book of Love by Kathleen McGowan
Labyrinth by Kate Mosse
My Rating: 4.5
http://myobsessionwithbooks.blogspot....
Johnson's sophomore effort The Salt Road, is equally good as The Tenth Gift, and follows a similar formula. This time we are taken to the historical land of the desert Tuareg tribes and modern day Morocco. At its heart, The Salt Road is about the strength of women, and further, is wonderfully insightful about the lives of the Tuareg people. The women in the novel, Mariata and Isabelle, overcome abuse and hardship and in the process find their true selves. There are also good and not so good surprises in store for both characters that keep the story suspenseful. Johnson portrays the Tuaregs as a fierce people fighting to preserve their traditions in an oppressive world.
I recommend The Salt Road. Its focus on the lives of women reminded me other great novels with strong women within an historical context:
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
The Expected One and The Book of Love by Kathleen McGowan
Labyrinth by Kate Mosse
My Rating: 4.5
http://myobsessionwithbooks.blogspot....
April 1, 2011
I actually bought this novel for someone else, who couldn't get hold of it in the States. It's not something I would have bought from a store normally. But I was intrigued both by the idea of the story and the author's history. I am primarily a sci fi and fantasy reader although I love a good historical like Dunnett or Erskine.
I found the opening pretty slow. I wasn't even sure I liked it, but the skill of the author shows in the gradual build up throughout the novel. It's beautifully written. Isabelle, who is the main character, isn't immediately likeable in that she 'appears' a tad stand offish and perhaps that was my problem in the beginning, that I didn't immediately identify with her. There are reasons, naturally, why Isabelle is like she is and these unfold through her story, told in first person, and Mariata's story, told in third. So we have a dual timeline running throughout. We begin in the 'real world' of Isabelle and her examining the contents of a box her father has left her. Inside is an amulet, and the adventure of its history is both Isabelle and mariata's story.
I adored learning about the Tuareg and could only imagine the hardship of crossing a desert. Not something I would want to do but seen through others eyes, absolutely fascinating.
Romance or adventure? This is definitely both with a bit of history thrown in. I am not giving away any spoilers, but definitely go read.
I guess I had better get this off to its true owner now. *G*.
I found the opening pretty slow. I wasn't even sure I liked it, but the skill of the author shows in the gradual build up throughout the novel. It's beautifully written. Isabelle, who is the main character, isn't immediately likeable in that she 'appears' a tad stand offish and perhaps that was my problem in the beginning, that I didn't immediately identify with her. There are reasons, naturally, why Isabelle is like she is and these unfold through her story, told in first person, and Mariata's story, told in third. So we have a dual timeline running throughout. We begin in the 'real world' of Isabelle and her examining the contents of a box her father has left her. Inside is an amulet, and the adventure of its history is both Isabelle and mariata's story.
I adored learning about the Tuareg and could only imagine the hardship of crossing a desert. Not something I would want to do but seen through others eyes, absolutely fascinating.
Romance or adventure? This is definitely both with a bit of history thrown in. I am not giving away any spoilers, but definitely go read.
I guess I had better get this off to its true owner now. *G*.
March 10, 2011
A wonderfully told story. The story moves back and forth between two strong women, from very different worlds. Izzy, now Isabelle is a powerful lawyer on the fast track, with many secrets in her past. The author has made it clear why Isabelle's relationship with her mother was so strained but the reader is unaware of the unhappiness she experienced due to her father until almost the very end of the book. Upon his death, he leaves her something from his travels that he promises will change her world, an artifact from his archaeologist's days. The second tale revolves around Mariata, a member of a nomadic desert tribe. Her story is much more powerful than that of Isabelle's. She is a member of the Tuareg tribe and faces many, many hardships and cruelties during her life.
Initially I thought that the Elizabeth's story was happening today and Mariata's story centuries ago. Sadly, life hasn't changed much for women in Morroco. Mariata's story actually occurs only about 30-40 year prior to Isabelle's. I didn't realize this until the last stage of the novel. I wonder if I had realized it early, would I have interpreted the novel differently? My predictions would certainly have been different!
Initially I thought that the Elizabeth's story was happening today and Mariata's story centuries ago. Sadly, life hasn't changed much for women in Morroco. Mariata's story actually occurs only about 30-40 year prior to Isabelle's. I didn't realize this until the last stage of the novel. I wonder if I had realized it early, would I have interpreted the novel differently? My predictions would certainly have been different!
June 10, 2012
If this had not been a book club book, I think I would have given up by page 150. Mariata's story is enchanting but Isabelle is infuriating and ignorant. Unfortunately there are people like her who do travel and who are as insensitive as she to the cultures of others. By page 191 the story finally started to become more interesting and I stopped skimming over Isabelle's chapters and actually read the whole rest of the story. The previous 100 pages had been spent skimming the chapters with Isabelle just looking for dialogue and the mention of the amulet. Without Mariata, the book would have been 1 star. Without Isabelle, it would have been 4 stars!
February 16, 2011
Interesting book!
August 30, 2023
My rating would be more like 3.5.
I have to be completely honest, I enjoyed the book but something was missing. I feel like the story is untold, the conclusion was too swift, too simplified.
I enjoyed Mariata POV, but Izzy's wasn't as enjoyable. Mariata story was tragic, but inspiring with a strong message. Izzy's story was more boring and meaningless. Besides her role in the end, I don't see the need of her story to be told. There were many sorrow, pain and tears during this book and that emotional part is very important and my favourite part. But I don't feel like this book is complete, like it is finished, like it has everything it should.
I feel like the book had so much potential but it was caught up with some meaningless plot and descriptions by Izzy's POV and it made this book so much less than it could have been. It's a pitty.
I have to be completely honest, I enjoyed the book but something was missing. I feel like the story is untold, the conclusion was too swift, too simplified.
I enjoyed Mariata POV, but Izzy's wasn't as enjoyable. Mariata story was tragic, but inspiring with a strong message. Izzy's story was more boring and meaningless. Besides her role in the end, I don't see the need of her story to be told. There were many sorrow, pain and tears during this book and that emotional part is very important and my favourite part. But I don't feel like this book is complete, like it is finished, like it has everything it should.
I feel like the book had so much potential but it was caught up with some meaningless plot and descriptions by Izzy's POV and it made this book so much less than it could have been. It's a pitty.
September 4, 2018
I found the cuts between the storyline jarring and wished there were indicators.
For some reason, I thought the two storyline were further apart than they actually are.
An absorbing tale. I'm glad I read it.
For some reason, I thought the two storyline were further apart than they actually are.
An absorbing tale. I'm glad I read it.
May 11, 2021
This was a good book, well written, great plot with a very different setting but I just could not like Isabelle and this hindered my reading. Others may enjoy this adventure/love story.
March 20, 2018
4.5 ***** I was completely transported to another place and time in this book. I lived in the desert of Morocco and Algeria, I travelled the hot desert and experienced everything these characters went through. I loved the dual timeline of the past and the present and kept wondering until quite near the end how everything would tie together. I also learnt a great deal about the struggles the desert nomads went through and also the terrible persecution they have had to endure due to western countries taking their land and resources. I loved this adventure that I was taken on, the search for identity and freedom. I will be looking at more books by this author.
August 10, 2022
Една страхотна история, която ни отвежда в Мароко и която ни напомня, че в живота никоя среща не е случайна.
June 19, 2016
Rating: 2.5 stars
I had high expectations from this book -- written by an author who went to Morocco and married a Berber, two different time lapse related stories, a rich setting with exotic elements and vast history -- but found it disappointing, lacking in a number of ways.
Firstly, the historical story is the better of the two, with better characters which you can root for and a worthwhile storyline though a bit too fated and climatic but at least it made sense. The modern day lady Izzy is surly and churlish at best. I don't know what Taib sees in her while he has his pick of ladies from in Paris. Her reasoning is flimsy and confusing mostly. She decides to head off with a stranger as if on a whim in a new country crossing illegal borders (while she hasn't been outside uk in her ultra disciplined adult life) throwing all caution to the wind, ends up burying an old lady who is like a treasure to a community (though there are 100s of kith and kin around) all alone with no idea what is required in her funeral rites and no way of communicating with her, but doing it nonetheless perfectly! The guide/her hero Taib suddenly emerges to her as the prefect guy she has waiting for all her life for, opens up to him and suddenly is kidnapped by the very people the ancient timeline story is about -- certainly a very small world though the desert is very vast !
Secondly, the author's own insecurities about her life choices creep up in her sentences in Izzy's story. She addresses the local Berber women almost in every context as crow-women with monkey-paws, cackling, etc., quite derogatory to say the least, while bashing the West in its exploitation and it's way of life but looking down at the same time at the her adopted culture -- talk about confusion !
Thirdly, in the middle 100 pages it makes no sense for the story of Izzy to progress the way it was, but suddenly in the last 50 pages, both stories converge and it all makes sense. I mean, come on, Amastan and Mariata hadn't managed to locate each other for 40 yrs while traveling the length and breadth of the desert/countries with countless relations who could enlighten them but confused Izzy not only gets kidnapped by her dad conveniently but manages to unite her family, solve the mystery and find the perfect guy, all in like 2-3 days! Same instance is with Mariata who travels across countries but still manages to get found only by her enemies!
Lastly, some details like Izzy's attack by her English dad and Mariata's stay in the city with her prospective grooms was tedious and could've been less detailed. Maybe it was to fatten up the book?
Overall, it was at best an okay read. Author really expects the reader to suspend disbelief and take her snides with a pinch of salt. I couldn't really!
I had high expectations from this book -- written by an author who went to Morocco and married a Berber, two different time lapse related stories, a rich setting with exotic elements and vast history -- but found it disappointing, lacking in a number of ways.
Firstly, the historical story is the better of the two, with better characters which you can root for and a worthwhile storyline though a bit too fated and climatic but at least it made sense. The modern day lady Izzy is surly and churlish at best. I don't know what Taib sees in her while he has his pick of ladies from in Paris. Her reasoning is flimsy and confusing mostly. She decides to head off with a stranger as if on a whim in a new country crossing illegal borders (while she hasn't been outside uk in her ultra disciplined adult life) throwing all caution to the wind, ends up burying an old lady who is like a treasure to a community (though there are 100s of kith and kin around) all alone with no idea what is required in her funeral rites and no way of communicating with her, but doing it nonetheless perfectly! The guide/her hero Taib suddenly emerges to her as the prefect guy she has waiting for all her life for, opens up to him and suddenly is kidnapped by the very people the ancient timeline story is about -- certainly a very small world though the desert is very vast !
Secondly, the author's own insecurities about her life choices creep up in her sentences in Izzy's story. She addresses the local Berber women almost in every context as crow-women with monkey-paws, cackling, etc., quite derogatory to say the least, while bashing the West in its exploitation and it's way of life but looking down at the same time at the her adopted culture -- talk about confusion !
Thirdly, in the middle 100 pages it makes no sense for the story of Izzy to progress the way it was, but suddenly in the last 50 pages, both stories converge and it all makes sense. I mean, come on, Amastan and Mariata hadn't managed to locate each other for 40 yrs while traveling the length and breadth of the desert/countries with countless relations who could enlighten them but confused Izzy not only gets kidnapped by her dad conveniently but manages to unite her family, solve the mystery and find the perfect guy, all in like 2-3 days! Same instance is with Mariata who travels across countries but still manages to get found only by her enemies!
Lastly, some details like Izzy's attack by her English dad and Mariata's stay in the city with her prospective grooms was tedious and could've been less detailed. Maybe it was to fatten up the book?
Overall, it was at best an okay read. Author really expects the reader to suspend disbelief and take her snides with a pinch of salt. I couldn't really!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2018
A beautiful and poignant novel, brilliantly written to capture the readers hearts. I absolutely loved it.
I would classify The Salt Road as historical fiction, adventure, with the right amount of romance.
I loved following adventurous but walled off Izzy through her discovery of the puzzle her dad left her in his will. I am an avid traveller, and reading about her adventures in Morocco makes me want to book a plane ticket and rush over immediately. I was angry at Miles for not taking care of her and letting her get hurt while wall climbing, and was glad to see that he was only a minor character. I loved meeting Taib through Izzy's eyes, and I could see right away that he was more than a random Berber with a donkey. I got to know him as Izzy got to know him being treated by his grandmother, then enlisting his help to learn more about the amulet she has. Which leads them on an adventure of a lifetime through the dessert to bury Lallawa, and finally coming full circle to meet Fennec (trying not to give spoilers!).
Going back in time, I love the wild, and proud Mariata. I imagined myself as a Tuareg princess living in the dessert and almost being tamed by a useless loser like Rhossi, only to run away to help a woman I'd only just met's son. I imagined laying eyes on Amastan for the first time and falling madly in love with this troubled soul, and then learning his secret, but loving him nonetheless. I imagined having my love torn away from me, killed in front of my face, and living with no purpose in my new stepmother's house until I find that I am carrying the link to the love of my life. Then bravely crossing the dessert pregnant and alone, only to be captured again by the same Rhossi I ran away from in the first place, mere days after I give birth to my baby, who gets lost in the chaos. Only to come full circle as fate would have it.
And my favourite part of all was learning about a new culture that I had known very little about before. The Tuareg, the Berber people, the tribes, Tin Hinan, and all the other people of the dessert and their daily lives. I am passionate about learning new things, especially as it relates to people and cultures so the Salt Road was a special treat.
Needless to say, The Salt Road will stay in my heart like the select few that's truly made me feel for the characters: Cutting for Stone, People of the Book, and Sarah's Keys.
I would classify The Salt Road as historical fiction, adventure, with the right amount of romance.
I loved following adventurous but walled off Izzy through her discovery of the puzzle her dad left her in his will. I am an avid traveller, and reading about her adventures in Morocco makes me want to book a plane ticket and rush over immediately. I was angry at Miles for not taking care of her and letting her get hurt while wall climbing, and was glad to see that he was only a minor character. I loved meeting Taib through Izzy's eyes, and I could see right away that he was more than a random Berber with a donkey. I got to know him as Izzy got to know him being treated by his grandmother, then enlisting his help to learn more about the amulet she has. Which leads them on an adventure of a lifetime through the dessert to bury Lallawa, and finally coming full circle to meet Fennec (trying not to give spoilers!).
Going back in time, I love the wild, and proud Mariata. I imagined myself as a Tuareg princess living in the dessert and almost being tamed by a useless loser like Rhossi, only to run away to help a woman I'd only just met's son. I imagined laying eyes on Amastan for the first time and falling madly in love with this troubled soul, and then learning his secret, but loving him nonetheless. I imagined having my love torn away from me, killed in front of my face, and living with no purpose in my new stepmother's house until I find that I am carrying the link to the love of my life. Then bravely crossing the dessert pregnant and alone, only to be captured again by the same Rhossi I ran away from in the first place, mere days after I give birth to my baby, who gets lost in the chaos. Only to come full circle as fate would have it.
And my favourite part of all was learning about a new culture that I had known very little about before. The Tuareg, the Berber people, the tribes, Tin Hinan, and all the other people of the dessert and their daily lives. I am passionate about learning new things, especially as it relates to people and cultures so the Salt Road was a special treat.
Needless to say, The Salt Road will stay in my heart like the select few that's truly made me feel for the characters: Cutting for Stone, People of the Book, and Sarah's Keys.
November 2, 2011
THE SALT ROAD
Jane Johnson
The story is set in today's world, a lady CPA with "issues", including disliking her French mother and hating her archeologist father. Now she has her life perfectly in order and nothing can disturb her - until her father dies and leaves her the house she grew up in. Along with the house, he leaves a note about a box in the attic which she can open, or leave closed - her choice.
She opens the box and finds an unusual amulet, obviously foreign and old. With it is some notes referring to the grave of a Moroccan woman where the amulet was found. It seems to point to Morocco.
On impulse, she calls her best girlfriend and they go to Morocco to do some mountain climbing. On the flight over, they meet a couple of guys also headed that direction for climbing and they join up. This makes one of the guys angry and he deliberately put Isabelle in a dangerous situation and she falls from the rock. The amulet wedges in the side of the rock and saves her long enough for her to rope and climb to precarious safety.
So starts this adventure of a woman who is damaged from her childhood, but finds strength, romance and a new self, all because the amulet seemed to draw her to this strange and wonderful place.
Concurrently, another romance is in the making, but we don't know in what period this is happening. It is a Berber girl, Mariata, wearing an unusual amulet, whose father travels the Salt Road and leaves her with another desert tribe when her mother dies. She is not safe in this new village and one day an opportunity opens for her to escape to another tribe where she is honored and accepted. She falls in love with a young man of this tribe and they are very happy until this tribe is attacked, her lover is killed and Mariata is kidnapped by the rival tribe's chieftain and forced to be his wife. Now pregnant, she escapes once again and tries to cross the desert to return to the tribe of her lover.
The Salt Road is two involved and detailed stories which weave around and compliment each other. The suspense of each story is built and then the other story picks up. Although I thought I could see where the story was going, the ending totally surprised me!
Jane Johnson
The story is set in today's world, a lady CPA with "issues", including disliking her French mother and hating her archeologist father. Now she has her life perfectly in order and nothing can disturb her - until her father dies and leaves her the house she grew up in. Along with the house, he leaves a note about a box in the attic which she can open, or leave closed - her choice.
She opens the box and finds an unusual amulet, obviously foreign and old. With it is some notes referring to the grave of a Moroccan woman where the amulet was found. It seems to point to Morocco.
On impulse, she calls her best girlfriend and they go to Morocco to do some mountain climbing. On the flight over, they meet a couple of guys also headed that direction for climbing and they join up. This makes one of the guys angry and he deliberately put Isabelle in a dangerous situation and she falls from the rock. The amulet wedges in the side of the rock and saves her long enough for her to rope and climb to precarious safety.
So starts this adventure of a woman who is damaged from her childhood, but finds strength, romance and a new self, all because the amulet seemed to draw her to this strange and wonderful place.
Concurrently, another romance is in the making, but we don't know in what period this is happening. It is a Berber girl, Mariata, wearing an unusual amulet, whose father travels the Salt Road and leaves her with another desert tribe when her mother dies. She is not safe in this new village and one day an opportunity opens for her to escape to another tribe where she is honored and accepted. She falls in love with a young man of this tribe and they are very happy until this tribe is attacked, her lover is killed and Mariata is kidnapped by the rival tribe's chieftain and forced to be his wife. Now pregnant, she escapes once again and tries to cross the desert to return to the tribe of her lover.
The Salt Road is two involved and detailed stories which weave around and compliment each other. The suspense of each story is built and then the other story picks up. Although I thought I could see where the story was going, the ending totally surprised me!
November 16, 2014
I still remember that moment a few weeks back, my train approaching London King’s Cross Station, me closing the book around a hundred pages in and exiting the train carriage onto the platform. That was the moment, when out of nowhere a short dialogue from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings occurred to me, Frodo Baggins asking Sam Gamgee after his first encounter with the elves:
“’Do you like them still, now you have had a closer view?’
They seem a bit above my likes and dislikes, so to speak,’ answered Sam slowly.”"
And there and then I realised, this is exactly how I felt about The Salt Road.
Jane Johnson, as a writer, is well above my likes and dislikes. But then again, what was I expecting?
She’s been writing since childhood, is a publishing director at HarperCollins, published the works of J. R. R. Tolkien during the 1980s and 1990s and works together with authors, such as George RR Martin, Sam Bourne, Raymond E Feist, Robin Hobb, Tom Knox, Dean Koontz, Mark Lawrence, Stuart MacBride, and Joe Abercrombie. And by no accident.
I found The Salt Road not just very well written, the language skilfully bringing to life the Sahara desert and Morocco, where this historical novel is set, but also thoroughly researched, the author’s personal experiences giving the descriptions a depth that firmly transports the reader into another world. The harsh scenery she paints hooks you not just with its many perils, but it also captures the awe that make so many people fall in love with it.
It is a tale of two women, from two different worlds and times, effortlessly and masterfully woven together around a mysterious amulet. Just like all important things in life, its story starts from the heart and moves wider and wider still, introducing us to flavours of exotic cultures, the life and history of its peoples, twirling their enchanting and colourful world around us, only to eventually bring us back to where it has all started, the heart.
http://mitriel.wordpress.com/2014/11/...
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