ABOVE THE SALT

Gisela Chípe's sensitive performance combined with Katherine Vaz's artful prose offers a recipe for hours of enchanting listening. With passion and drama, Vaz draws from the true story of John Alves, a Portuguese immigrant. The novel dips into the harsh realities of his life from 1840 through the 1860s, softening it with scenes of magical realism. Chípe brings the magic to life. She captures the subtle interactions among the characters and their connections to the natural world. Chípe's handling of real-world events--John's fleeing his homeland in search of religious freedom and the constantly bad timing of his thwarted love of Mary Freitas--adds depth to this epic family saga, which spans two continents and several decades. Listening at its best. S.J.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2023]