This is a lovely family saga following the life of Kate who has to grow up fast when her mother dies in childbirth leaving Kate to become mother to her younger siblings. All Kate wanted was to get a good education but after her mother's death this was not to be. Being denied it herself Kate was determined to get her wish for her own children and in later years her granddaughter. What Kate didn't realise is that her children had their own dreams and not being the same as Kate's saw family clashes. An enjoyable read.

A Pinch of Salt by Eileen Ramsay takes readers to 1910 in Scotland. Kate Kennedy is only thirteen years old when her mother passes away giving birth. Kate now is responsible for taking care of her father, her siblings, and the house. The years pass by quickly for Kate in the mining town as she cares for her family. She loves her family and wants to see her siblings get opportunities that were not available to her. After World War I, Kate finds herself going from her father’s household to her husbands. She starts a bakery business while raising a family. Kate transfers her aspirations (that she had for her siblings) to her oldest son, but at what cost to her other two children. Life is full of ups and downs especially when the world is on the brink of another war. Will Kate get the better life for her children she so desires?

A Pinch of Salt is a gritty, realistic story. It is a book of hardship, loss, and love. It has some good writing, but lacks a good flow/pace. I found it a little difficult to read A Pinch of Salt. The first half of the book was better than the second. If the book had better pacing, it would have been easier (and a more enjoyable) book to read. The story could have done with some shortening (it went on too long). There are parts that are rambling. Kate is a difficult character to like. Kate is stubborn, hard woman (which fit in with the town and era), but she kept making the same mistakes. I wish we could have seen some growth in her character. I am giving A Pinch of Salt 3 out of 5 stars. The ending of A Pinch of Salt felt incomplete. I wish the author had included an epilogue that allowed the readers to see how Kate’s life played out. I appreciated the mention of one of my favorite authors, Mazo de la Roche (just love the Jalna series). I felt that A Pinch of Salt could have been a good book with just a little polishing.

A Pinch of Salt by Bonnier Zaffre is a story about the stages of life and how they can come full circle at times.
Kate grew up as a miner’s daughter. Her mother passed away when she was thirteen and she was put in charge of the household and her younger siblings. There is no woman to guide her as many in the village are mourning the losses from a recent mine collapse and struggling to survive on their own. The story is told over many decades of her life. How will life turn out for Kate? Is she destined to struggle in the poor mining village or will she find a love of her own and move on?
I found this book to move a bit slow at times. I was more engrossed in the beginning when Kate was young, confused and struggling to do her best to support the family. Later I didn’t care as much what happened to her as she seems obsessive about things; can’t say too much or it will be a spoiler. I give this book 4 of 5 stars. The writing is good; no obvious errors and the characters have depth. You are able to understand why they characters make the decisions they do. At times, I believe there is too much non-relevant background that bogged down the story line. I can’t stand to not finish a book but I did leave this for a bit and then come back to it.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. A Pinch of Salt is a gritty, realistic novel. It is a hard novel to wade through and I am afraid I read over books in between.

Kate is a young child in Scotland in the 1910's when tragedy strikes her family.

Leaving a very young Kate to look after her father and bring up her brothers and sisters.
Kate has to put her dreams on hold with school, as she has to do her duty for her family with only her dad working in the mine money is scarce for the family and Kate adjusts their lives accordingly.

When her brothers and sister start to grow up things do become slightly easier but the World War I breaks out and her brothers go into the army.

With more devastating news for the family, things have to change again.

The story covers Kate and her family until the 1950's with all the ups and downs of life with a large family, well written story with a lovely storyline that covers generations of the Kennedy family saga.

The years quickly pass for Kate Kennedy. A miners daughter in Scotland in the early 1900's she doesn't have time to morn her mother's death when she is 13. It is her duty to take over as mother to the rest of the bairn . Her childhood gone she works from sun up to sun down caring for everyone else but herself.Life is a true struggle but she doesn't seem to realize it, it's just her life and she must go on. She becomes a wife and mother and she still does her duty taking care of everyone else. She does find pleasure in having her own bakery and is glad to be able to provide for her family with the money earned. She does quite well at her baking! There are tragedies and some good times as well. I found this book to show just how strong the human spirit can really be! Fascinating book!
Pub Date 10 Aug 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnier Zaffre for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Excellent book. Great storyline and wonderful main characters. I would recommend this book.