Salt River Road by Australian author Molly Schmidt is a heart-warming fiction story that features love and loss, a journey towards compassion, and the incredible power of human connectedness.
Set in Western Australia in the late 1970s, the Tetley family are not only grieving their mother and wife Elana’s death from cancer but also the possibility of losing the family sheep farm when it comes to a standstill. Father Eddie is numb with grief and his five children are left to take care of themselves.
As the family deals with the loss, we follow teenage siblings Rose and Frank struggling with their mother’s death in diverse ways. Rose leaves to avoid the misery of home; she meets Elders Patsy and Herbert who guide her through her pain and share knowledge passed on and the strength you find in community.
The original and compelling characters are strongly defined by the author, which makes it easier to envision the family as it unravels and the steps they take in their grieving process.
The plot is clever and well-constructed and the narrative is exceptionally easy to read. The main story focuses on challenging struggles, grief, healing and reconciliation against a backdrop of cultural traditions, spirituality, and an orderly culture with defined roles.
Schmidt has used the small rural town setting to show the rich history of the Menang, Goreng Noongar people, the traditional custodians of the region. The landscape sweeps through the pages and comes to life it is as if you have popped into the outback of southern Western Australia.
For her debut novel, Molly Schmidt is a gifted storyteller; she writes with her heart and soul. She draws from her own personal experience with losing someone special. Grief is different for everyone; it is an individual journey. Understanding this concept, Schmidt pens characters, young and old, all grieving, each in a different place in their personal journey.
The prose poetry throughout the book was wonderful. I found myself re-reading the meaningful passages, it highlights the talent the author has.
The book cover art “Quandongs” by Glenda Williams, Noongar Elder defies the visual expectations for a coming-of-age story. It exudes a vibrant colour palette that is so effective giving it an abundance of energy and warmth. The text on the cover does not detract from the Quandong illustration. It is a cover that will stand out on a bookshelf and catch your eye, it is stunning.
Salt River Road will certainly make you cry but also give you a reason to smile. I highly recommend it.
Thank you, Beauty and Lace and Fremantle Press, for the opportunity to read and review.
A selection of our Beauty and Lace Club members are reading Salt River Road by Molly Schmidt. You can read their comments below, or add your own review.
My love of books started at a very young age. My mum has always been a reader and encouraged me to read, buying me endless book from classic fairy tales advancing to the world of Enid Blyton, CS Lewis, Louisa May Alcott, Kathryn Kenny, Carolyn Keene, Francine Pascal. In my adult years the list of authors is endless and every room in my house is filled with books.
One of my favourite novels is Narnia which has always has a special place in my heart. I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 1978 and when I was given this book to read it let me escape to another world where I felt like I was in the book with all the characters, it wasfun and exciting to escape from reality and eased the ups and downs of the disease at such a young age.
In books nothing is impossible and there is endless potential and hundreds of places to explore or being taken to places that are only made up from the authors’ great minds, the past and future to navigate, characters lives you step into taking you on an emotional rollercoaster ride or being scared out of your wits. I can experience things that I can’t in real life because they’re not possible or real. It challenges my perspective and mindset expanding my worldview.
I find joy, comfort and peace with books, many people may not get it, but I know bookworms like me truly understand. Reading makes my heart happy.
Salt River Road is a story on how one family grieved the loss of a family member. Each had a story to tell as they all grieved differently but also together. A family nearly thrown apart but came together when close to losing their rented farm and income.
Set in Western Australia where they struggled to maintain day to day living initially and past mistakes haunt them.
Sad but inspiring and shows a lot of respect to Goreng Nyoongar people. I am glad I was chosen to read this unique story.
Wow…
This book made me cry multiple times, the story line, the grief, the characters journey through that. Pulled at my heart strings. Reminded me of losing my own mother and how easy it is to get lost in the grief and drown. It also highlights how your friends, your family, your community rally around you. Trying to make sure you stay afloat.
The Tetley siblings relationship with eachother made me wish I had more. You could really feel the love and loyalty in Molly Schmidt’s writing.
I loved that the story had the poetry in it to break it up. The book was very emotionally heavy for me, the poetry helped lighten it.
Noongar Elders Patsy and Herbert were so beautiful, so loving, so caring. Schmidt’s portrayal of their relationship with the land, the culture, it warmed my heart.
This book was beautiful. But heavy on my heart.
Thank you to Beauty and Lace Magazine for allowing me the privilege of reading this
Salt River Road by Molly Schmidt is a compelling novel that delves into the profound journey of grief and healing.
The story is told through the eyes of sweet Rose and troubled Frank, two siblings who grapple with the devastating impact of their mother’s battle with cancer.
With racism at the core, this is a beautiful story of reconciliation showcasing both sorrow and warmth at the same time. The author has written an outstanding novel that honours Noongar Elders, featuring two endearing characters, Patsy and Herbert. I also enjoyed the snippets of poetry throughout the novel that enhances its depth and character.
Thank you very much Beauty and Lace for the opportunity to read and review this beautifully written novel.
Salt River Road by Molly Schmidt.
All I can say is wow what a magnificent book.
I was captured from the beginning to the end such a powerful story of grief and passion.
The story is based about the Tetley family who lose there beautiful mum and wife . There are 5 siblings and Rose being the main character and telling the story from her heart. I love the poems she writes .
What a brilliant story of love,grief and loss.
Thankyou beauty and lace and Fremantle Press for the opportunity to read an award winning story.
Thanks to Beauty and Lace and Fremantle Press for my copy to read and review.
This book follows the Tetley family through their grieving process after losing their wife and mother. The family falls apart and are at risk of losing their family home due to neglect.
Mainly focusing on Rose and Frank (two of the five children) it shows how people handle grief differently.
An aboriginal couple come back into the families life after being cut out due to a racist grandfather. This is a touching side to the story.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was well written and easy to read and understand. I loved the way the characters were described and conveyed. It featured grief, racism, love and family.
I would definitely read another of Molly Schmidt’s books and recommend to anyone that likes a good Australian story.