SPOILER ALERT!!
“Fate is a hunter, shame is a hunter, guilt is a hunter, fear is a hunter.”
The whole story is stitched up by these four phrases, front and back. Four phrases from four estranged individual. A war-torn Germany. Four people with four dark secrets. Four different lands. All equally ravaged by the curse of World War II.
The title of the story is a cunning metaphor to the worst maritime disaster in the history of mankind. The title acts as a remembrance for both human suffering and insignificance of human life in front of nature. A sacrifice made to quench the thirst of consequences for the terrible acts of men. But unlike the salt particles in water, the corpses of men, women and children scattered across the violent, gushing dark sea did not just dissolve. They all washed up on shores for years, reminding people of the unforgettable past.
“Shame is a hunter. I feel its claws scraping me from the shadows.”
Ruta Sepetys’ writing in Salt to the Sea feels raw, emotional, and incredibly human. The way she tells the story through multiple perspectives makes it so much more personal—you really feel like you’re stepping into each character’s shoes. Her writing is simple but powerful, with sentences that hit hard without being overly dramatic. The poetic rhythm of her sentences, coupled with rich symbolism and recurring motifs like the sea, creates an immersive and reflective atmosphere.
However, the story should not be judged by its individual elements. The whole picture is greater than the sum of its pieces. The story, to my humble opinion, serves a much bigger purpose – documentation. An incident of this scale should never be forgotten. The voice of the survivors should never get muffled. This piece of literature serves as a constant reminder to our bloody past, human cruelty and as a stern warning to NEVER let such incidents ever happen again.
Have you read this novel yet? If not then do yourself a favour and grab a copy from your local bookstore. If yes, then do let me know in the comments, your review.
