Book Review: "The House on Salt Hay Road" by Carin Clevidence

Title: The House On Salt Hay Road

Author: Carin Clevidence

Publisher: Picador Publishing

ISBN, PUB Date: 978-0-312-57296-9, May 24, 2011

Reviewed by: Tiffany Schlarman for Author Exposure

In 1938 on Long Island, New York, a fireworks factory explodes in one of its quiet coastal towns.  In the house on Salt Hay Road, Clay Poole is thrilled by the excitement the event has caused in his normal everyday life.  His older sister, Nancy, is more interested in the new boy who appears in the aftermath of the accident.  The sibling’s lives were disrupted once, when they became orphans and moved into the house on Salt Hay Road with their aunt and uncle. Now, unbeknownst to them, their lives are about to yet again be interrupted, tested, and tried.  The House on Salt Hay Road captures the hold that home has on us, even after we leave it far behind.  A poignant story of family, The House on Salt Hay Road tells a tale one won’t soon forget.

Carin Clevidence is a talented author.  She writes with skill and ease.  This story was easy to read, follow, and understand.  However, it didn’t capture me.  It took me quite a while to get through this title because I simply wasn’t hooked.  The characters, though well developed, didn’t intrigue me.  I found myself annoyed with them.  Nancy Poole really irked me.  I had a hard time relating to her. I didn’t like her personality, which made the book hard to read.

Sections of this story had intrigue and mystery surrounding them.  The family has secrets and troubles of the past that pop up throughout the book.  I really felt for the Poole children, as they were dealt a rough hand when they lost their parents.  However, that loss shaped their personalities and affected them in ways they didn’t even understand themselves, making them not always likeable.  They lacked the ability to keep me entertained or interested in their lives. 

One of my favorite parts about this book was the setting.  I really enjoyed the ocean landscape.  Clevidence does a wonderful job describing the setting so that the reader can easily picture the places and people.  I could feel the salty air on my face as I read this book. 

While this book discusses personality, bonds, and the sands of time, it also tells a story of a brother and sister, husband and wife, loss and gain, and the simple daily elements of life that make us who we are.  It was well written, but just lacked a compelling story for me.  While the story remained in my thoughts, I was happy to be done with the book and move on to another which captured my complete attention.  If the synopsis interests you, try it.  I think many who enjoy the writing style of Carin will enjoy this book.  For me, my heart just wasn’t in it.