Salt Slow: From the author of Our Wives Under the Sea

Salt Slow is a brilliant collection of short stories that just won't leave you. Julia Armfield is a wordsmith of great skill, her imagery stopping you in your tracks - the description of lobsters at the beginning of the title story, "Bobbing, belly-up, claws thrown out, like a strewing of tulips" is a good example. Disturbingly imaginative, I had a similar reaction to the short stories of Ian McEwan. This deserves to be the start of a similarly glittering career. Lesley Wilson

Really enjoyed these imaginative stories and the author’s writing style. Looking forward to reading her other book. Particularly liked the story about Cassandra.

I loved these short stories. Perfect for a winter night. Very hard to put down. I loved the characters even in a short time they felt fully fleshed out and relatable. The sleepless city felt a relatable pandemic. The woman not leaving the house. There’s so much imagery and mythology in present day mundane settings. I look forward to revisiting it next winter. Much better than Daisy Jones similar offering.

I’d give it 2.5 stars. Really not a favourite and I read it for book club.

I thought this was a very strong first collection of short stories. Beautifully written and haunting. Many of them stay with you, as their content was often uncomfortable. The stories are full of dark humour too. I especially loved the story about the wolf, but they were all very readable in their own way. Look forward to seeing more of her work!

This little book has a lot to offer. Nine short stories all with a shade of the Gothic or the macabre about them as they explore different comings, goings and phases in women's lives. All are well-written, clever and engaging. These are stories that can make you ache with feeling.There are romantic relationships - queer and straight - that are fraught with difficulties, pain and loss. There are sisterly relationships; both affirming and fractious. There is a hint of the monstrous in each story, which seems to make each one evermore human.The missing star between 4 and 5 is simply because some of the stories didn't hit 5/5 for me, personally, and you should definitely read salt slow for yourself as they may resonate with you perfectly.

I read this as it had been nominated by my book club. Not my normal type of book at all however I absolutely loved it. Stories that really make you 'feel' something ... sometimes maybe a bit uncomfortable, sometimes sad, sometimes confused and wondering but absolutely gripping and beautifully written. Would definitely recommend.

I read a lot of short stories and was really impressed by this collection. They do exactly what I think a short story should do - give you a snapshot out of a life; a point or moment in time where you are parachuted in, or canon fired into somebody else’s experience. These are experiences which could, broadly, be quite like your own, but with an extraordinary twist - sometimes alarming, but deliciously so. The joy in reading these stories is succumbing to the unravelling towards the surreal.

I loved this book. I like the quirkiness of the stories and the layers of meaning. Extremely good writer whose work I will now follow. Highly recommend this book.

Sehr schöner Schreibstil, lässt sich in englisch schön flüssig lesen. Und das Buch an sich ist sehr schön gestaltet.

I love a great short story, and this book has some well thought out and interesting ones that I truly enjoyed. What I didn't like were most of her abrupt endings or endings written differently than the rest of the story so that it sounds more mysterious. Sorry if I am explaining it wrong but you will notice it. Granite had a rotten ending IMO but Cassandra was awesome so I gave it 4 stars. A good collection.

A student at my HS (I'm a librarian) requested this book and I told her I'd read it first to make sure it was appropriate. I am SO glad she requested this book - it's just a wonderful collection of gothic feminism. I have Our Wives Under the Sea but haven't gotten around to reading it yet, but this collection just bumped Armfield's debut novel to the top of my TBR pile!

This collection of short stories was as unsettling as it was great. The writing is excellent, and every story carries with it an underlying sense of disquiet and uncanny. Every story is utterly detached from the rest while somehow feeling tied together all the same, probably through the strength of the writing.