Salsa

by Mary Gordon

A Vintage Shorts “Short Story Month” Original Selection   Brave, intelligent, fierce—eighteen-year-old Silvia knows how to handle men. When she discovered that her Salsa-dancing father’s been hiding an affair, she threw him out of the apartment she shared with her mother and changed the locks. But, Will is just so unlike the men that Silvia has known. He is privileged, irritating, and handsome. He wears disheveled clothes, never washes his tub, almost never eats sugar, and talks about faith and love. When Silvia falls ill, he takes gentle care of her until she recovers. And, when she gets an invitation to her father’s 50th birthday, Will urges her to go and offer a second chance to the one man she swore she would never forgive.   In this entrancing and masterful new story, award-winning writer Mary Gordon beautifully lays bare the passions and torments of a fearless young woman struggling with her heritage and impossibly torn between two men and the two very different worlds they inhabit.   An ebook short.

29 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 30, 2017

About the author

Mary Catherine Gordon is an American writer from Queens and Valley Stream, New York. She is the McIntosh Professor of English at Barnard College. She is best known for her novels, memoirs and literary criticism. In 2008, she was named Official State Author of New York.

Reviews

[Esil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never read anything by Mary Gordon. When I saw this short story available on Netgalley, I decided to give it a try. It was good and I would happily read more by Gordon. The story focuses on Sylvia, and her relationship with her father. The story has a tight and focused narrative arc, saying everything through a few discrete scenes. A worthy quick read for a time when I feel unable to focus for very long. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read a free copy.

[Sarah Joint · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very quick short story, didn't take me long to read at all. It flows nicely and keeps your attention. The main character is likeable and interesting. The ending is abrupt, leaving you to your own conclusion. I cannot say much about the plot other than what's in the synopsis, so this review will stay short and sweet. Nice short read about opening yourself up and allowing people in. I wish it had been longer, because I'd like more Silvia!

I received a copy of this from Net Galley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Salsa' by Mary Gordon is about a the dance, not the condiment. It's also about a wronged daughter and a second chance.

Silvia is eighteen and pretty world-wise. Her father is a salsa dancer and makes tapes, but when Silvia catches him with another woman, she kicks him out and changes the locks. She and her mother have to care for one another, but she meets a man named Will who is so unlike the other men in her life. When Silvia falls ill, she is usually left to tend to herself, but Will steps in. When Will finds out about Silvia's father's birthday, he urges her to attend the party and look for reconciliation.

It's a really short read, but there is a lot happening in this story, and I felt like some of the characters were fleshed out better than some much longer novels I've read. This is good writing, with tight, economical story building, but not lacking in depth.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Vintage, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

[dp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eighteen year old Silvia carries the weight of the world on her shoulders. She’s closed the door on her relationship with her father – he’s become an angry man, strikes Silvia when she defends her mother and has having an affair with another woman. Silvia takes a job as a cocktail waitress to help her mother pay rent. Her upbringing was atypical and centered around her parent’s salsa dancing parties until the wee hours of the night leaving little time for academics. In their circle a pretty face was more important than a good education.

Everything changes when Silvia begins a relationship with the new guy at work, Will. Will is Silvia’s polar opposite – a rich, spoiled kid who takes for granted the things Silvia values. Will is kind and wants to take care of Silvia but she knows he can never understand where she comes from.

This is a lovely coming of age short story about courage, acceptance and second chances.

Thank you to Vintage Books and Netgalley for providing me this ARC in exchange for my own review.

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very commendable short story, even if it touches on familiar things – a girl growing to hate her father and what he puts her mother through. The salsa/Hispanic touch is a nice addition, but it's not the only element that is enough to make this worth a mention. A very nice calling card from an author quite unknown to me.