The Salt and Light Express

De: Lee Ann Walling

Narrado por: Maria Marquis

When Chris Lawler is left adrift by the sudden loss of her partner, she heads west on a cross-country road trip—but no GPS can navigate her loneliness or the guilt over her part in Sally’s accident.

Struggling to find belonging among Utah’s red rocks and in the Texas Hill Country, she meets two remarkably different people who begin to kindle her healing. She is smitten by one of them, but past rejection renders her insecure and awkward. Adding to her isolation, her judgmental kin in Texas rebuff her attempts to reconcile.

A violent reckoning at the small town library where her family lives finally forces Chris to confront the roadblocks that prevent her from loving and being loved. At its heart, The Salt and Light Express explores and celebrates the depths of friendship between two older women, both rebounding from personal tragedies and wondering if their joy is in the rearview mirror.

©2025 Shifting Sands Media (P)2025 Shifting Sands Media

Stitched With Color

The Salt and Light Express is a beautifully written meditation on love and grief. Reading it reminded me of W.S. Merwin’s poem Separation:

“Your absence has gone through me
Like thread through a needle.
Everything I do is stitched with its color.”

Carol, the main character, is mourning the loss of her partner, and that grief runs through the book like Merwin’s thread—quietly but unforgettably. It’s heartbreaking to witness her struggle to find her footing in a world forever changed. Yet again and again, she rises. Her small victories feel luminous and deeply earned.

The novel confronts difficult subjects with grace, compassion, and honesty. It’s a story that lingers—one that would make a powerful and thought-provoking choice for any book club.

Excellent audible book - great story and narration

I’m currently listening to an outstanding Audible book called Salt and Light Express by Lee Ann Walling. It follows the journey of an older gay woman who drives from Delaware to Texas after losing her longtime partner, and along the way, discovers not just new landscapes but new parts of herself.

Lee Ann Walling, who also happens to be a member of my church, Epworth UMC, has written a story that feels deeply human and beautifully grounded in real emotion. That connection is not the reason for my praise, though — I’m recommending it because the book is genuinely well written, thoughtfully structured, and wonderfully narrated.

What makes Salt and Light Express special is how universal it feels. Yes, it’s told through the lens of a gay woman’s experience, but at its heart, it’s about love, grief, and rediscovering purpose after loss — themes that resonate with anyone, gay or straight. The main character’s honesty, vulnerability, and quiet strength draw you in, and the writing has a natural rhythm that keeps you engaged from start to finish.

The narration is excellent, too — clear, expressive, and perfectly matched to the tone of the story. You can almost feel the hum of the road beneath the RV wheels and the weight of the memories she carries.

In the end, this isn’t just a story about being gay or growing older; it’s a story about being human. About resilience, forgiveness, and finding light even when life takes you down unfamiliar roads.

Whether you’re part of the LGBTQ+ community or not, I think you’ll find Salt and Light Express to be a heartfelt and beautifully told story — one that lingers with you long after the last chapter.