A Mouth Full of Salt

By (author): Reem Gaafar

The Nile brought them life, but the Nile was not their friend.
A small farming village in North Sudan wakes up one morning to the news that a little boy has drowned. Soon after, the animals die of a mysterious illness and the date gardens catch fire and burn to the ground. The villagers whisper of a sorceress who dwells at the foot of the mountains. It is the dry season. The men have places to go, the women have work to do, the children play at the place where the river runs over its own banks. Sixteen-year-old Fatima yearns to leave the village for Khartoum.
In Khartoum, a single mother makes her way in a world that wants to keep girls and women back. As civil war swells, the political intrudes into the personal and her position in the capital becomes untenable. She must return to the village.
A Mouth Full of Salt uncovers a country on the brink of seismic change as its women decide for themselves which traditions are fit for purpose – and which prophecies it’s time to rewrite.

Reviews

ltIgtA Mouth Full of SaltltIgt skillfully recounts the nuanced history of two countries that were divided long before they had any say in the matter Gaafar approaches this narrative with compassion confronting uncomfortable truths headon ltIgtThe New ArabltIgt
Insightful elegant and compelling with a profound sense of place Gaafar shows brilliance in the ways she weaves destinies together Karen Jennings author of ltIgtCrooked SeedsltIgt
An impressive debut I was gripped until the very last sentence Leila Aboulela author of ltIgtRiver SpiritltIgt
This beautiful novel tells the story of all of Sudan its rituals joys and sorrows full and dry nights stability and displacements Amir Tag Elsir author of ltIgtThe Grub HunterltIgt
A riveting novel which brings alive the vibrations of village life the story is so beautifully and grippingly told that once started it is difficult to put down Francis Mading Deng author of ltIgtCry of the OwlltIgt
A vivid beautifully written and transportive read Gaafars powerful female characters show how women dealt the weakest hands claim small victories through tenacity and strength of spirit I loved it Rosalind Russell author of ltIgtThe End of Where We BeginltIgt
Compelling Gaafars medical and scientific training contribute to the novels remarkably organic descriptions as well as some of the themes that Gaafar addresses whether they have to do with womens health issues or the clash between science and tradition ltIgtThe Africa ReportltIgt
Gaafar tells the intertwined stories of three women who are confronted with injustice A conversation about responsible writing role models and the forgotten war in Sudan ltIgtQantaraltIgt
A riveting debut novel ltIgtA Mouth Full of SaltltIgt captivates from the first line with its intoxicating mix of high intrigue sociopolitical commentary and postcolonial history ltIgtAfropean MagazineltIgt
A stunning powerful story of a community in the north of Sudan struck by calamity and loss Samia Aziz


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Details

Dimensions:

256 Pages
8in * 5in * 0in
10gr

Published:

April 01, 2025

ISBN:

9781778430657

Book Subjects:

FICTION / World Literature / Africa / Nigeria

Language:

eng

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