Salt Slow

A collection of creepy, feminist short stories from one of my new favorite authors. What more could I want?

Salt Slow was introduced to me by a friend from work and I had heard of it before, but this was the push I needed to pick it up and I’m so glad I did. I reread this book at the end of March and tabbed a bunch of quotes. There are a couple stories that didn’t vibe as much with me, but overall, I really enjoyed this collection. These stories can all be described as a woman’s craving for something. A hunger, a desire burning within desperate to come out or be fulfilled. Some are softer, more quiet, while some are bigger and creepier. Each story has its own horror edge to it which only adds to the impact.

Here are a couple quotes that I hope make you interested in picking it up.

“We are frenetic with hunger, with wanting, with the repentance of the season. We laugh like hyenas, our heads thrusting forward from our bodies.” – Mantis

“Sleeping gave me time off from myself – a delicious sort of respite. Without it I grow over-familiar, sticky with self-contempt.” – The Great Awake

“In this way, she becomes aware of the curious history of the world, the wide gulfs of experience that can exist between lovers.” – Granite

There are so many more, but I don’t want to give too much away. My favorite stories from the collection are Mantis, The Great Awake, and Granite, but all of them are enjoyable and fascinating. If I haven’t convinced you to read Julia Armfield yet, hopefully this will give you enough of a taste to make you pick it up. If not, please tell me what I have to do to get you to because you will not regret reading her work.