In a compelling novel that takes the reader on a strange journey from Indochina to Paris, the Vietnamese cook for Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas reveals his own fascinating story-Paris, 1934. Binh has accompanied his employers to the station for their departure to America. His own destination is unclear: will he go with his 'Mesdames', stay in France, or return to his native Vietnam? Binh fled his homeland in disgrace, leaving behind his malevolent charlatan of a father and his self-sacrificing mother. For five years, ...
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In a compelling novel that takes the reader on a strange journey from Indochina to Paris, the Vietnamese cook for Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas reveals his own fascinating story-Paris, 1934. Binh has accompanied his employers to the station for their departure to America. His own destination is unclear: will he go with his 'Mesdames', stay in France, or return to his native Vietnam? Binh fled his homeland in disgrace, leaving behind his malevolent charlatan of a father and his self-sacrificing mother. For five years, he has been the personal cook at the famous apartment on the rue de Fleurs. Binh is a lost soul, an exile and an alien, a man of musings, memories and possibly lies- Tastes, oceans, sweat, tears - The Book of Salt is a an inspired novel about food and exile, love and betrayal.
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Add this copy of The Book of Salt to cart. $2.09, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Dallas rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by Vintage Books USA.
Add this copy of The Book of Salt to cart. $4.99, very good condition, Sold by Magers and Quinn Booksellers rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Minneapolis, MN, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by Vintage.
Add this copy of The Book of Salt to cart. $18.26, very good condition, Sold by Greener Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from London, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2004 by Vintage.
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Add this copy of The Book of Salt to cart. $18.82, new condition, Sold by Ria Christie Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Uxbridge, MIDDLESEX, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2004 by Vintage.
Add this copy of The Book of Salt to cart. $22.12, new condition, Sold by Booksplease rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Southport, MERSEYSIDE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2004 by Vintage.
Add this copy of The Book of Salt to cart. $22.62, new condition, Sold by Kennys.ie rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Galway, IRELAND, published 2004 by Vintage.
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New. 2004. New Ed. Paperback. A novel by Vietnamese American about the taste of exile. Num Pages: 272 pages. BIC Classification: FA. Category: (G) General (US: Trade); (U) Tertiary Education (US: College). Dimension: 147 x 197 x 18. Weight in Grams: 196......We ship daily from our Bookshop.
I found the idea of the book intriguing (story of an Asian chef's hard life till he gets hired in Paris by Alice B. Toklas and Gertrude Stein) but did not enjoy the way it unfolded. Ultimately, I got bored. I do recall that it received a good review.
Sebastienne
May 11, 2007
sad and moving
I couldn?t care less about Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas, but I cared very much about their Vietnamese cook, Binh, who narrates this fictional story. While the author?s time-shifting is a little confusing at times, you reach a point where it all begins to make sense. Binh?s story is bittersweet, and while the bitter predominates much of the time, the reader quickly develops empathy for his sufferings and comes to admire the way he plods on in spite of each tragic episode he faces. Truong?s style is lyrical and there is much understated humor. Binh is homosexual, which adds to his troubles, yet he makes no apologies and never forsakes his dignity.
