Review: The Salt God's Daughter by Ilie Ruby

Title: The Salt God's Daughter Author: Ilie Ruby Publication Date: September 4, 2012
From Goodreads:
Set in Long Beach, California, beginning in the 1970s, The Salt God’s Daughter follows Ruthie and her sister, Dolly, as they carve out a life in a place filled with meteorological myths and exotic folklore, where female rites of passage are met with startling discoveries. Raised by a mother drawn to the ocean and guided by the moons, their heritage is a mystery and with their mother often absent, they are forced to confront the social and sexual mores of the time on their own as they search for true love and a home. Ruthie's daughter, Naida, is born into this conflicted landscape with a secret she tries to keep hidden as she seeks out the father she never knew. Woven with a traditional Scottish folktale and hints of Jewish mysticism, The Salt God’s Daughter examines how far we’ll go to find our place in a world that is often hostile to those who are different.
My Thoughts:
It's the 1970s and Ruthie and Dolly are living on the road with their mother, Diana. Traveling through California in "Big Ugly", their station wagon, Ruthie and Dolly are just young children forced to work strawberry fields and trash pick to survive. Diana lives her life by the moons, obsessing over her Farmer's Almanac, always changing her course depending on what the book has to offer that day. Diana's moods are constantly shifting as well, drinking often and punishing Ruthie for very small mistakes. 
From childhood to adulthood, Diana's ways stay with Ruthie, who constantly struggles with life's injustices and who wants nothing more than to find love. This comes in the shape of Graham, a mysterious man who comes and goes without warning, ultimately giving Ruthie what she always wanted: Naida, a daughter. The Salt God's daughter follows the lives of Diana, Ruthie and Naida as they struggle to make sense of their pasts and determine what promise their future holds.

First, I have to say that this novel is written quite beautifully. Almost lyrically. The author has an exceptional skill and it shows. But have you ever finished a book that left you feeling confused? That is how I am feeling right now, confused. When I first came upon The Salt God's Daughter, I knew right away that I wanted to read it. I am drawn to stories about unstable families, especially mothers and daughters, and this one sounded very promising. The stunning cover definitely helped grab my attention as well. But it was far different from what I was expecting. 
The story takes place in three parts: Ruthie before Naida, Ruthie immediately after Naida's birth, and Naida's childhood. I was immediately drawn to Ruthie, her childhood was harsh and I wished I could snatch her right out of the book to live with me each time her mother left her standing alone in the desert for hours just to teach her a lesson, always wondering how long she would be there before her mother's mood changed and she came back for her. Many times I was left feeling uncomfortable for the girls, knowing that things would not get better for them yet still aching each time another vicious act was committed against them. I felt for Dolly too, although her smug attitude sometimes turned me off to her, and especially Naida. Born with a defect but also the gift of sight, she is tortured at school and her only friends are the old folks in the retirement home in which she lives. 
But as much as I loved the characters and felt every heartache they endured, and as beautifully written as it was, I still struggled to keep up with the storyline. Reality is fused with folklore throughout the story and this is where I came into trouble. I had a very hard time figuring out if these tales were meant  to be believed or were just used as metaphors. Did these strange things actually happen, or were they meant to explain other things altogether? I just don't know, and I'm not sure I will ever figure it out, short of actually talking with the author. I think I would have enjoyed the book much more had I known about this ahead of time. I like knowing beforehand if there is a mystical aspect to a story, for this very reason.
However, that being said, please do not let this discourage you from reading this story. I know for a fact that had I known from the beginning that there was this aspect to the story, I would have really loved it. So now that you know, you will not be confused as I was. Please do not let my bias stop you from giving this a chance. The writing is lovely and the story is heartbreaking, two crucial elements to a wonderful read.

For more about Ilie Ruby and The Salt God's Daughter, visit her website.
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*I received this book for free in exchange of my honest review. This did not influence my opinion in any way and all views and opinions expressed are 100% my own.