Welcome to Shelf Control — an original feature created and hosted by Bookshelf Fantasies.
Shelf Control is a weekly celebration of the unread books on our shelves. Pick a book you own but haven’t read, write a post about it (suggestions: include what it’s about, why you want to read it, and when you got it), and link up! For more info on what Shelf Control is all about, check out my introductory post, here.
Want to join in? Shelf Control posts go up every Wednesday. See the guidelines at the bottom of the post, and jump on board!
Title: The Blue Salt Road
Author: Joanne M. Harris
Published: 2019
Length: 215 pages
What it’s about (synopsis via Goodreads):
An earthly nourris sits and sings
And aye she sings, “Ba lilly wean,
Little ken I my bairn’s father,
Far less the land that he staps in.
(Child Ballad, no. 113)
So begins a stunning tale of love, loss and revenge, against a powerful backdrop of adventure on the high seas, and drama on the land. The Blue Salt Road balances passion and loss, love and violence and draws on nature and folklore to weave a stunning modern mythology around a nameless, wild young man.
Passion drew him to a new world, and trickery has kept him there – without his memories, separated from his own people. But as he finds his way in this dangerous new way of life, so he learns that his notions of home, and your people, might not be as fixed as he believed.
Beautifully illustrated by Bonnie Helen Hawkins, this is a stunning and original modern fairytale.
How and when I got it:
I bought a copy last year.
Why I want to read it:
This is a slim little hardcover book, and on my copy, the cover design is in silver, not white. So eye-catching! I just happened to be at my favorite bookstore one weekend and saw this book in the window, and felt completely drawn to it. I love folk tales and fairy tales, and a story about a selkie sounds just about perfect.
What do you think? Would you read this book?
Please share your thoughts!
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Want to participate in Shelf Control? Here’s how:
- Write a blog post about a book that you own that you haven’t read yet.
- Add your link in the comments!
- If you’d be so kind, I’d appreciate a link back from your own post.
- Check out other posts, and…
Have fun!
Bookshelf Fantasies 
Ooh I haven’t heard of this one but selkies are one of my favourite creatures from folklore so I’ll have to give it a try! I’d love to hear your thoughts on it once you read it. 😊
https://jessticulates.com/2020/05/20/wyrdandwonder-shelf-control-63-goldenhand-by-garth-nix/
Well, the fact that it’s relatively short is giving me some good incentive to move it to the top of my pile. 🙂
I love Joanne Harris. And this one looks delightful.Yup I’d love to read it.
What else of hers have you read? I actually didn’t realize that Joanne M. Harris and Joanne Harris were the same author until after I bought the book. I’ve read Chocolat and Five Quarters of the Orange, but that was a long time ago.
I remember when this came out, I was intrigued because I’ve loved the books of hers I’ve read in the past. Sounds like having a physical copy is the way to go!
It’s so pretty. 🙂 What else of hers have you read?
I might read this one, and I love the cover. Thanks for sharing.
http://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/2020/05/shelf-control-may-20.html
Thanks, Cheryl! And thanks for sharing your link!
Pingback: Shelf Control #4: A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka – a hot cup of pleasure
I have read one book of hers (Blackberry wine) and have another (five quarters) on the shelves. Here’s mine for the week:
https://ahotcupofpleasureagain.wordpress.com/2020/05/20/shelf-control-4-a-short-history-of-tractors-in-ukrainian-by-marina-lewycka/
I’ve read Five Quarters, and think I have Blackberry Wine on my shelf! I actually didn’t realize they were the same author until today!
It looks gorgeous! I think I’ll add it to my own list.
Here’s mine for this week: https://angiesbookmarks.wordpress.com/2020/05/20/shelf-control-1/
Thanks for sharing your link!
What a beautiful cover! 😀
It’s even prettier in person! 🙂
Harris is a marvelous writer and story teller but I prefer her more realistic books.
Any in particular you recommend? I’ve read two of her other books, but years and years ago.
I like her books that take place in the boy’s school. The first one was Gentlemen and Players – just stunning!
Thanks! I haven’t heard of it, but I’ll look it up!
Pingback: Shelf Control Wednesday – Life in the Book Lane
Oh yah, I’d read this! Great cover, and selkies… I’m in. An old and favourite book of mine is A Stranger Came Ashore, by Mollie Hunter. Also about a selkie, it’s Children’s/YA, and I recommend it. Gentlemen and Players is by far the best Joanne Harris book I’ve read. So ditto Davida’s recommendation!
Okay, that’s two for Gentlemen & Players — guess I’ll need to read it! A Stranger Came Ashore sounds like something I’d enjoy too. Thanks!