Book Review: Salamandra by Tara Lingemanby

My Rating:

3.5⭐️

Tara Lingeman’s  Salamandra is a touching story revolving around the life-changing impact of loss and grief and how every individual has to embark on a personal journey to cope with and accept the changes losing somebody important entails. The story explores the void left in lives of those left behind and what it takes to go on living without those who who have passed on.

At the very beginning of this story, we meet Rose, almost 70 years old, mourning the recent loss of her husband Moses who she has spent the past thirty years. Moses had been instrumental in her overcoming her addiction and alcoholism and being able to start over. She owns and operates her sho “Salamandra” dealing with local arts and crafts and has had a loving and stable life with Moses.   In the past, her life choices had resulted in her estrangement with her only daughter, Gloria with whom she has tried to make amends but who has chosen to ignore her. She has a friend in Aida, who also relocated to Madrid, New Mexico after her marriage collapsed and now runs an Airbnb. Sean and his son Max are her current renters who are dealing with their own loss. Sean’s ex-wife, Max’s mother recently passed on and Max, in his mid-twenties, who was responsible for taking care of her, is having a tough time dealing with the loss. Mahogany is Rose’s granddaughter, is grieving the recent death of her mother Gloria in a car accident and in the process of clearing out her mother’s belongings happens to see a box full of cards addressed to her mother from Rose. Mahogany and Rose were unaware of each other's existence and Mahogany decides to travel to New Mexico to find out more about her grandmother and break the news of Gloria’s untimely demise, while also needing space from her husband with whom she feels emotionally unfulfilled. As the story progresses and these characters' stories intersect, we see how each of them cope with their own tragedies and troubled pasts,  while extending a hand of empathy and support to one another.

Each of these characters and their stories are beautifully penned by the author in this moving novel. In Salamandra, Tara Lingeman crafts an emotional story about love, loss, friendship and family . A bit of mystery is added to the mix with the discovery of unidentified human remains on the grounds surrounding Aida’s home. I was curious about the origin of the name of this novel and had initially assumed that the name had something to do with Rose’s shop “Salamandra”. I had been only vaguely aware of the lore surrounding the salamander (on researching it, I found reference to the same in Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451) and found how the central theme of this novel relates to the salamander symbolically. I also enjoyed the descriptions of the New Mexico landscapes and Native American symbolism and rituals. I do wish there had been more reference to the local culture and myth. Though the author tries to do justice to each of the characters, the ending was a bit rushed and much of the potential storyline left unexplored. Overall, this is an emotional read that leaves you with a smile on your face and hope in your heart.

Thanks to the author for sending me a copy of this moving story to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own.