When most people picture Cornwall, they imagine sitting on sun-kissed beaches with blue, tranquil waves whilst they eat an ice cream. Yet there is another side – a rougher more brutal reality, and this is the world Lamorna Ash discovers upon, moving from London to Newlyn.
Having spent many of her childhood summers in Cornwall, as well as having a Cornish heritage, Ash has always felt a pull towards the county. In her stunning debut, she writes of her experience living in Newlyn, a fishing town located near Penzance, known for its larger than life characters. Ash finds herself on countless fishing trips during her time and is offered a glimpse into the life of a fishermen. Out on the water, she learns just what it takes to live a life between land and sea, and learns about herself in the process.
Cornwall is where I was born and bred, so for me reading any book related to my home always brings me joy. I also grew up in a fishing town and my weekends were spent fishing from off cliffs and sandy shores. I felt a deep connection to this story in that regard – I understood the excitement and thrill of hauling in a catch, and the atmosphere of the local pubs crammed with fishermen talking fishing politics and the like.
Yet even if you are unfamiliar to this way of life, Ash has written the book in a way that you can smell the crab pots and feel the salt spray on your cheeks. There are moments which Ash shares, where you can feel the buzz of life in all its messy glory, whether it be at sea abroad the Filadelfia or grabbing a pint in the Swordy. Dark, Salt, Clear is raw and beautiful, and utterly, utterly, addictive.
