Our Cut of Salt - by Deena Helm (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Our Cut of Salt is an unflinching, sinister, and moving take on the haunted house novel, from a bold new Palestinian voice. Perfect for fans of The Only Good Indians and The Haunting of Hill House.

There is something haunting Nuhad's childhood home in Haifa. Cats avoid its perimeter, strange noises come from within, and residents have been known to disappear entirely into its walls without a trace.

Although Nuhad has not returned to her home since the Nakba in 1948, she always held a place for the house in her heart. And, in return, the house did the same for her.

After Nuhad passes away, her granddaughter, Marina, is determined to visit her grandmother's home in Haifa after a lifetime of being kept in the dark about her culture and family history. Marina's mother, Haifa - named for the city that was lost to their family - reluctantly agrees to her trip, despite her anxiety.

When a long-buried spirit of the past begins to haunt both dreams and waking life, Marina develops breathing problems that cause her to feel as if she is drowning on dry land. Despite Nuhad's ghostly warnings, Haifa rushes to help her daughter. As the three women converge in their ancestral haunted home, they must learn what the price of the past truly is.

Review Quotes

"Our Cut of Salt is a raw and affecting dive into family secrets and the buried past in the best gothic haunted house tradition. Honest, heart-felt and gripping!" --Bitter Karella, author of Moonflow

About the Author

DEENA HELM is a mixed Palestinian-American author, and Our Cut of Salt is her debut novel. Her other works can be found in Fikra Magazine and So To Speak. Alongside her literary endeavors, she has previously worked in social media, and you can find her @deenahlm in most places. She asks that you, the reader, do everything in your power to resist genocide and deepen your commitment to liberation for all.