The Salt Point

This book deals with those of us who are gay and are trying to find that perfect partner. I guess it spoke strongly to me because while I am in my early 30s, I was dating someone in his early 20s. While a difference in 10 years may not be much, in this age bracket it does prove to be. The longing to be with someone, falling for the wrong person, and missing the better choice out of blind passion. Wonderful story!

I was looking forward to reading The Salt point after reading Russell's The Coming Storm. Russell has the ability to make the characters seem as if you've known them your whole life. This holds true with The Salt Point. The 3 main characters are lifelike and you will know at least one person in your life who are identical to Paul or Anatole. It is very difficult for some to realize that they are gay and are in love with someone of the same sex, Russell demonstrates this masterfully in The Salt Point. if you have read the Coming Storm then this novel is a must read. If you have not then I still suggest that you read this novel because Paul Russell is a very gifted author.

The Salt Point is a wonderful story surrounding the lives of three friends: Lydia, Chris, and Anatole. Throughout the book, the pasts of each is revealed and you learn more about why they act the way they do. Their lives are stagnant and complicated, but satisfying, until Leigh enters the picture. Leigh is a teenager who capitivates the three freinds with his beauty and charm. He likes for everyone to think he's a mystery, in order to keep their attention. Leigh disrupts their lives completely and destroys their misguided happiness. What some people might find too soap operish about the relationships between the four characters, I thought was the greatest strength of Russell as an author because he is able to pull you into the lives of these individuals, as if they are real people, and feel sorrow or anger towards them. How you can just feel your heart ache when you witness how strong Anatole's love for Leigh is that he would suffer so much. When I reached the end of the book, I was disappointed that there wasn't more. I didn't want to leave their world. That is the sign of a great writer.

In this book, Paul Russell paints the picture of three friends whose quaint relationship comes to a crashing hault with the arrival of the mysterious Leigh. Different parts of the story are seen through the eyes of different characters. Russell gives much information about the three friends. Anatole, Chris, and Lydia represent a generation that has lost hope. Leigh is a seemingly carefree attractive youth. However, the only glimpse the reader gets of Leigh's character comes from a few of Leigh's dreams. Some argue that Leigh is superficial, but I would argue that Russell intentionally underdeveloped Leigh's character because he wanted to emphasize the older frienship and the fact that Leigh is an outsider. The few pieces of background information the reader gains about Leigh suggest he too has had a rough life. Paul Russell is a great author. With the exception of Sea of Tranquility, his novels are very well-written character studies. His descriptions are beautiful. He is a masterful writer, and this book is one of his best. Do yourself a favor and read this book.

The three main characters conduct deep, self analysis over their individual attractions to and experiences with a young, handsome street "hustler". Each of the main characters (two men and one woman) reflect on their pasts and internalizes his/her relationship with the others and with the beautiful street boy. This infatuation and desire eventually leads to self recrimination and seriously undermines the friendships. This was a good work with much psychological speculation.