The Salt and Light Express
In Lee Ann Walling’s insightful novel The Salt and Light Express, a grieving woman undertakes a solo road trip that opens her to the transformative power of relationships.
Chris drives her Winnebago from Delaware to Utah with the ashes of Sally, her partner of thirty-five years, resting in a hot cinnamon and spice tea tin on the seat beside her. Headed for Bryce Canyon to honor Sally’s request that her ashes be spread there, Chris reflects on their years together and her fear of facing the future alone. Along the way, she encounters people whose reactions to the LGBTQ+ community range from friendly to frightening. A serendipitous encounter with Claire, a kindred spirit, invites Chris to once again risk opening herself up to love.
Intimate and complex, the book examines the human need for connection and belonging and the inner turmoil of reconciling these basic needs with the struggle for personal authenticity in a society marked by racism, political polarization, and homophobia. The story flows through its shifts in focus as Chris is torn between her needs for belonging and for personal authenticity. Navigating multiple crisis points, including disturbing interactions with Texas hill country relatives and community reactions to events fostering welcome, inclusion, and historical accuracy, she is forced by her convictions to take a stand.
Multiple engaging subplots add texture and depth to the story, but distract from Chris’s pivotal relationship with Claire, whose temporary absence leaves a void. Nevertheless, the book is satisfying and hopeful, handling diverse approaches to spirituality, authenticity, and relationship in a sensitive, thoughtful, and nonjudgmental manner.
The Salt and Light Express is a compelling novel about love, loss, transformation, and the power of being authentic in a troubled world.
Reviewed by
Kristine Morris
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
