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Saltwater Spirits
In the idyllic seaside village of Kampung Rhu, a life rooted in tradition and ritual promises cohesion, beauty, and happiness. Norma, a spirited young seamstress who lives in the village with her father, stepmother, and noisy neighbors, dreams of freedom.
One day, an unexpected visitor appears in the village with an enticing offer. Soon, Norma is bearing witness to mysterious events too intriguing to ignore. She discovers she has a part to play in uncovering the secrets surrounding her home.
Saltwater Spirits is a coming-of-age story that weaves a lively cast of characters into a striking social backdrop to create a rich exploration of human nature. This timeless tale asks what it means to walk between worlds, protect what is sacred, and remain true in the face of great change.
One day, an unexpected visitor appears in the village with an enticing offer. Soon, Norma is bearing witness to mysterious events too intriguing to ignore. She discovers she has a part to play in uncovering the secrets surrounding her home.
Saltwater Spirits is a coming-of-age story that weaves a lively cast of characters into a striking social backdrop to create a rich exploration of human nature. This timeless tale asks what it means to walk between worlds, protect what is sacred, and remain true in the face of great change.
321 pages, Paperback
Published May 31, 2019
1 person is currently reading
41 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 29, 2019
I read books to get to know the characters in them. In Saltwater Spirits, there is a beautiful, fascinating, intricate cast. There were passages I had to re-read because they were so truthful to the characters' personalities and histories. Sofia with the stick, for example - her protectiveness, her fury - I started to tear up, and had to read it 3 times before I let myself go on.
I really hope that I can learn more about what these characters do in the future. There are so many stories that I would love to read, about Maryam, Abu Hassan, Ali, Luqman, Jannah, of course Norma and Sabariah.
Thank you for the wonderful book, I could not stop reading it until I was finished. :)
I really hope that I can learn more about what these characters do in the future. There are so many stories that I would love to read, about Maryam, Abu Hassan, Ali, Luqman, Jannah, of course Norma and Sabariah.
Thank you for the wonderful book, I could not stop reading it until I was finished. :)
September 28, 2021
As a Malay from the Southeast Asian archipelago, this read and its nuances resonated with me deeply. My references for kampung life and what it was like before would largely be P. Ramlee movies and old photographs from my grandparents. In a novel though, there is a strong and familiar emotional connection. A story that could be so specifically Singapore, I dived into this and couldn't let go of certain the experiences of Norma and the people she grew up with. What struggles they must have faced to let go of an identity and embrace a new kind of life, i.e. urbanisation. Thanks Syahidah for sharing your vision with the world. I am almost hoping for a continuation in a second book! This is an easy read though you'll be left wanting more.
December 29, 2023
At long last, a book that I can immerse myself in and just enjoy the story. Saltwater Spirits by Syahidah Ismail is a coming-of-age story, focusing on Norma, a young seamstress, as she navigates the flux that is the cusp of adulthood, against a wider backdrop of societal displacement in the name of progress.
This is a familiar story, especially in this part of the world, with the idyllic kampung life and its strong communal spirit, being juxtaposed against the forces of change that loom and threaten the beauty of this way of life. Yet, Ismail has crafted a work that achieves this without being overly schmaltzy or hyperbolic. Each character is fully fleshed out with believable individual motivations. There is no unrealistic grand gesture, yet each character’s struggle is no less impactful. After all, all societal changes are truly experienced by the Everyman, each of us not fully aware of the wider forces at play and only trying to live our lives the way we wish to.
Above all, the sense of place that Ismail creates is masterful indeed. I was transported into the past and introduced to the kampung life and unique Malay culture without any overt introduction to each and every aspect. Ismail assumes that we know and understand what she is writing about, instantly creating that space for me as a reader to inhabit organically. No pandering to the reader here! Yet, it was so effective that I just fired up google and continued reading. This is so rare, with most reads set in non-white cultures having those little explanations appended to each new term or custom. Useful, but ultimately jarring. Thus, it was refreshing indeed to have the Southeast Asian experience not be othered. It made me feel so seen and I’m not even Malay.
All in all, this was a read that I thoroughly enjoyed and definitely recommend!
Diversity meter:
Strong female characters
Malay characters
This is a familiar story, especially in this part of the world, with the idyllic kampung life and its strong communal spirit, being juxtaposed against the forces of change that loom and threaten the beauty of this way of life. Yet, Ismail has crafted a work that achieves this without being overly schmaltzy or hyperbolic. Each character is fully fleshed out with believable individual motivations. There is no unrealistic grand gesture, yet each character’s struggle is no less impactful. After all, all societal changes are truly experienced by the Everyman, each of us not fully aware of the wider forces at play and only trying to live our lives the way we wish to.
Above all, the sense of place that Ismail creates is masterful indeed. I was transported into the past and introduced to the kampung life and unique Malay culture without any overt introduction to each and every aspect. Ismail assumes that we know and understand what she is writing about, instantly creating that space for me as a reader to inhabit organically. No pandering to the reader here! Yet, it was so effective that I just fired up google and continued reading. This is so rare, with most reads set in non-white cultures having those little explanations appended to each new term or custom. Useful, but ultimately jarring. Thus, it was refreshing indeed to have the Southeast Asian experience not be othered. It made me feel so seen and I’m not even Malay.
All in all, this was a read that I thoroughly enjoyed and definitely recommend!
Diversity meter:
Strong female characters
Malay characters
August 24, 2025
"City life is very different. You are forced to live among strangers, not friends. Food is expensive. Even the way you talk will have to change. I don't know about you, but I want to see my son and my grandson grow up here just like I did and my father before me." - Saltwater Spirits by Syahidah Ismail
A vibrant and endearing coming-of-age story awaits you in this debut novel by Syahidah Ismail. Filled with memorable characters living together in the idyllic village of Kampung Rhu, it strikes a sense of familiarity and nostalgia to every Malay reader yearning for a heartwarming read.
Norma is a young woman living in Kampung Rhu, a filial and hardworking young seamstress who dreams of freedom. Her life in the peaceful yet colourful seaside village takes a turn when a visitor to the village appears with a lucrative offer for all.
And just like that, the villagers soon experience mysterious incidents in Kampung Rhu. Norma and her friends Sabariah and Ali seek to learn about the truth behind these incidents - while trying to deal with the fact that change will come in the time of modernisation and gentrification.
I loved the descriptions and lively narrative of kampung life, from their daily interactions and routines to the traditions and camaraderie between the villagers. The author paints a vivid portrait of the village, and while I did not grow up in one, I was raised by movies of the P Ramlee era, as well as movies featuring kampung life such as those that starred Latifah Omar and Nordin Ahmad. It was truly illuminating to read such a well-written book set in that era.
I also enjoyed reading about the Norma and Sabariah's character growth. As the protagonist, Norma might seem like a quiet, demure and responsible girl who heeds her father and stepmother's every word. Yet Norma is also determined, hardworking and filled with grit as she protects the people around her. This was a truly enjoyable and spirited book I would highly recommend.
A vibrant and endearing coming-of-age story awaits you in this debut novel by Syahidah Ismail. Filled with memorable characters living together in the idyllic village of Kampung Rhu, it strikes a sense of familiarity and nostalgia to every Malay reader yearning for a heartwarming read.
Norma is a young woman living in Kampung Rhu, a filial and hardworking young seamstress who dreams of freedom. Her life in the peaceful yet colourful seaside village takes a turn when a visitor to the village appears with a lucrative offer for all.
And just like that, the villagers soon experience mysterious incidents in Kampung Rhu. Norma and her friends Sabariah and Ali seek to learn about the truth behind these incidents - while trying to deal with the fact that change will come in the time of modernisation and gentrification.
I loved the descriptions and lively narrative of kampung life, from their daily interactions and routines to the traditions and camaraderie between the villagers. The author paints a vivid portrait of the village, and while I did not grow up in one, I was raised by movies of the P Ramlee era, as well as movies featuring kampung life such as those that starred Latifah Omar and Nordin Ahmad. It was truly illuminating to read such a well-written book set in that era.
I also enjoyed reading about the Norma and Sabariah's character growth. As the protagonist, Norma might seem like a quiet, demure and responsible girl who heeds her father and stepmother's every word. Yet Norma is also determined, hardworking and filled with grit as she protects the people around her. This was a truly enjoyable and spirited book I would highly recommend.
November 1, 2020
“Norma never understood why men wanted stupid wives and intelligent daughters.”
The statement above is taken from the book where Norma lives in a time when society believes that a woman’s role is to watch over household chores, while the husband is the breadwinner. Women who have career aspirations and dreams are considered dangerous. Fathers expect their future sons-in-law to be good enough for their brilliant and smart daughters, but at the same time, it’s the very same group of men who expects their wives to be submissive and obedient. So basically their expectations of a wife’s behaviour and daughter’s intellectual contradict.
Folks living in the city/town and villages have very different way of thinking such as their believe and mentality. Villagers in Kampung Rama-Rama are superstitious that they regard any kind of issues and problems as supernatural disturbance from djinns when those kind of problems that are the products of greedy rich people who only cares about generating profit.
The words and sentences that the author used to describe Kampung Rama-Rama was captivating because it helped me envisioned the environment and setting of the village especially since I grew up in the city and never had the chance to live the village life.
I would like to thank the author, Syahidah Ismail for sending me a copy of this book in exchanged for an honest review.
The full review is up on my blog: https://bookieecookiee.wordpress.com/...
The statement above is taken from the book where Norma lives in a time when society believes that a woman’s role is to watch over household chores, while the husband is the breadwinner. Women who have career aspirations and dreams are considered dangerous. Fathers expect their future sons-in-law to be good enough for their brilliant and smart daughters, but at the same time, it’s the very same group of men who expects their wives to be submissive and obedient. So basically their expectations of a wife’s behaviour and daughter’s intellectual contradict.
Folks living in the city/town and villages have very different way of thinking such as their believe and mentality. Villagers in Kampung Rama-Rama are superstitious that they regard any kind of issues and problems as supernatural disturbance from djinns when those kind of problems that are the products of greedy rich people who only cares about generating profit.
The words and sentences that the author used to describe Kampung Rama-Rama was captivating because it helped me envisioned the environment and setting of the village especially since I grew up in the city and never had the chance to live the village life.
I would like to thank the author, Syahidah Ismail for sending me a copy of this book in exchanged for an honest review.
The full review is up on my blog: https://bookieecookiee.wordpress.com/...
July 26, 2019
This debut novel by Syahidah Ismail brings back so many childhood memories for me - Watching old Malay movies in Singapore about kampung life, my grandma telling me supernatural folktales and the local neighbourhood mosque's Azan beaming beautifully in the air. The list goes on... As I was reading this in my new home in Melbourne, I cannot help but feel very nostalgic about this story. Thank you Syahidah for bringing my memories back to life! I'm hoping there is a second book!
January 31, 2021
What a wonderful story. I love it.
October 11, 2021
A beautifully told story of family - a snapshot into the characters lives. Loved the byplay between characters too; felt real.
October 14, 2021
real characters that will stay with you.
June 26, 2023
An engrossing read with memorable characters. I enjoyed this.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews