The book of salt a novel by monique truong listed on. The book of salt a novel by monique truong listed on art. The family lived in north carolina, ohio, and texas. Truongs debut novel, the book of salt, was a prizewinning critical and popular success, named to many bestoftheyear lists.
This chapter reflects on theorizations of queer diasporas through an analysis of monique truongs novel the book of salt 2003. In paris, in 1934, binh has accompanied his employers, gertrude stein and alivce b. Jun 15, 2004 truong coedited the anthology watermark. Reading guide for the book of salt by monique truong. The book of salt is vietnameseamerican author monique truong s first novel. Monique truongs debut book centers on binh, a gay vietnamese cook who flees saigon in 1929 to work as a galley hand at sea. The book of salt ebook by monique truong 9780547524993. Apr 07, 2003 the book of salt included a lot of monique truongs debut book centers on binh, a gay vietnamese cook who flees saigon in 1929 to work as a galley hand at sea. From september 2011 to july 2012, truong wrote a food column for the new york times.
Toklas, and is supplemented by his memories of his childhood in frenchcolonial vietnam. Monique truong s first novel, the book of salt, is a remarkably inventive fictional account of a vietnamese cook whom truong appropriated from several. Monique truong, the book of salt houghton mifflin 2003 in the kitchen. Meanwhile, in the book of salt different, but still show more content he says, my loss in body weight, however, i cannot hide. Press release for the book of salt published by houghton. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an unusual and entertaining read. Listed in the literature category on art in fiction, the book of salt 2003 is a biographical historical novel by monique truong. Monique truong is the vietnamese american author of the bestselling, awardwinning novels, the book of salt and bitter in the mouth. Monique truong s 2003 bestseller, the book of salt, offers a telling case study in loss and melancholia in the diaspora, as the haunted protago nist binh copes. The book of salt included a lot of monique truongs debut book centers on binh, a gay vietnamese cook who flees saigon in 1929 to work as a galley hand at sea. Her first novel, the book of salt, a national bestseller, was awarded the 2003 bard fiction prize, the stonewall book awardbarbara gittings literature award, and. Monique truong is coeditor of the anthology watermark. From the book of salt to the sweetest fruits, monique truongs. The story of the uprooted basket weaver is a parable for the kind of vessel that monique truong has fashioned in the book of salt.
In paris, in 1934, binh has accompanied his employers, gertrude stein and alice b. She had been prepared to perform that task from the very beginning. In time, the reader comes to realize that binh himself is the salt flower he describes while dining. Read free book excerpt from the book of salt by monique truong, page 1 of 5. Monique truong s first book is one of the most sensual books i have read recently, in the proper sense of the word. Her first novel, the book of salt houghton mifflin, 2003, was a national bestseller and the recipient of the new york public library young lions fiction award, bard fiction prize, penrobert w. Toklas, artsy american divas living privileged, glamorous lives in paris.
Her father, an executive for an international oil company, initially stayed behind for work but left the country after the fall of saigon. In a mesmerizing tale of yearning and betrayal, monique truong explores paris from the salons of its artists to the dark nightlife of its outsiders and exiles. Monique truongs debut novel, the book of salt, is narrated by a vietnamese man named binh who serves as the personal cook for those sapphic luminaries. Monique truong is the vietnamese american author of the bestselling, awardwinning novels, the book of salt, bitter in the mouth, and the sweetest fruits. The irony of acquiring a foreign tongue is that i have amassed just enough cheap, serviceable words to fuel my desires and never, never enough lavish, impudent ones to feed them. Truongs stellar cast of characters includes gertrude stein and alice b. Monique truong s debut novel, the book of salt houghton mifflin, april 2003, is a true literary feast. Her first novel,the book of salt, a national bestseller, was awarded the 2003 bard fiction prize, the stonewall book awardbarbara gittings literature award, and the young lions fiction award, among other honors. This story is about 3 people as told through the eyes of a vietnamese cook who finds himself in paris working for gertrude stein and alice b. Toklas, to the train station for their departure to america.
I love this fascinating book and had not read anything quite like it before. This book is structured as a stream of consciousness narrative, in which binhs present circumstances are mixed with episodes from his past, showing bits and pieces. Melancholic ghosts in monique truongs the book of salt jstor. Elegant, witty, intricate, and richly imagined, monique truongs book of salt isdare i say it. Discover the book of salt as its meant to be heard, narrated by j. Monique truong s first novel, the book of salt, is a remarkably inventive fictional account of a vietnamese cook whom truong appropriated from several pages of the celebrated expatriate american. Her first novel, the book of salt, a national bestseller, was awarded the 2003 bard fiction prize, the stonewall book awardbarbara gittings literature award, and the young lions fiction award, among other honors. Monique truong was born and raised in vietnam, and moved to the us after the fall of saigon. Her first novel, the book of salt, was a new york times notable book and a national bestseller. They gave her life, they told her, so that she could give them grandsons.
A novel by monique truong and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The book of salt quotes showing of 47 the irony of acquiring a foreign tongue is that i have amassed just enough cheap, serviceable words to fuel my desires and never, never enough lavish, impudent ones to feed them. The book of salt is vietnameseamerican author monique truongs first novel. Queer diasporic crossings and the persistence of desire in the. I hope that monique truong writes a sequel to it one day. Read the book of salt a novel by monique truong available from rakuten kobo. Reading guide for the book of salt by monique truong bookbrowse. His story centers in paris in his life as the cook in the home of gertrude stein and alice b. Toklasamerican expatriates living in paris who have come to occupy a sort. Her first novel,the book of salt, a national bestseller, has been awarded the 2003 bard fiction prize, the stonewall book awardbarbara gittings literature award, and the young lions fiction award, among other honors.
It is also about food which is given much description in this novel. After spending time at sea as a cook, he lands in paris and eventually answers an ad for a position in the household of gertrude stein and her lovercompanion, alice b. Poet ocean vuongs debut novel is a shattering portrait of a family, a first love, and the redemptive power of storytelling. Set in paris during the 1930s this intricate, compelling and witty novel weaves in historical characters with remarkable originality an inspired. Binh, to me, is emblematic of the relationship between france and vietnam. From monique truong, the bestselling and awardwinning author of the book of salt, comes a brilliant, mesmerizing, beautifully written novel about a young womans search for identity and family, as she uncovers the secrets of her past and of history.
We know from history that stein and toklas had at different points two chefs from indochine. A novel 9780618446889 by truong, monique and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. From the monster bookshop fleckney, united kingdom seller rating. Read free book excerpt from the book of salt by monique truong, page 3 of 5. In 1975, at the age of six, truong and her mother left vietnam for the united states as refugees of the vietnam war. Born in saigon, south vietnam, monique truong came to the u. In her novel, truong uses the famous literary couple gertrude stein and alice b. Against the odds, she has made unsettling art from precisely such exotic cuttings and transplantings. Readers guide for the book of salt published by houghton mifflin. We know from history that stein and toklas had at different points two chefs. Her first novel, the book of salt, a national bestseller, was awarded the 2003 bard fiction prize, the stonewall book. Monique truong s debut novel, the book of salt, is narrated by a vietnamese man named binh who serves as the personal cook for those sapphic luminaries gertrude stein and alice b.
They should have been more compassionate about him. He says, my loss in body weight, however, i cannot hide. Truong s stellar cast of characters includes gertrude stein and alice b. Her short fiction and essays have been taught in universities across america. The book of salt is a 2003 novel by monique truong. In a compelling novel that takes the reader on a journey from indochina to paris, binh, a gay man and the vietnamese cook. Readers guide for the book of salt published by houghton. April 7, 2003 in a dazzling if sometimes daunting debut, gertrude stein and alice b. It shows itself as a forlorn expression on my face, one that my madame and madame have yet to notice truong 8. Monique truong by ng yisheng fridae speaks to vietnameseamerican novelist monique truong, bestselling author of the book of salt which is set in 1920s paris and features a young gay character a vietnamese cook who lives in the household of. The book of salt quotes by monique truong goodreads.
The book of salt is monique truong s truly mesmerising and witty first novel set primarily in 1930s paris. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Heat the book of salt by monique truong shanghai noir. The book of salt is the first novellength work by truong. The book of salt won the bard fiction prize and the barbara gittings award in literature, and was a finalist for britains. The book of salt, her first novel, was inspired by a brief mention of an indochinese cook in the alice b. In the book of salt, monique truong uses both the structure of the novel and the use of food, salt in particular, to look at the identity of both her. Written when the speaker, little dog, is in his late 20s, the letter unearths a familys history that began before he was born a history whose epicenter is rooted in vietnam and. Both these books feature lgbt characters which is perhaps why she was invited to the sexual confusion panel, even though she adamantly pointed out that none of her gay and lesbian characters. Elegant, witty, intricate, and richly imagined, monique truong s book of salt isdare i say it. Book club live the book of salt by monique truong youtube.
Bingham fellowship, stonewall book awardbarbara gittings. In monique truong s the book of salt, salt figures prominently in the life of the cook binh. Truong picks up that point of unknown and spins it into a novel about love, identity, home and food. The book of salt serves up a wholly original take on paris in. Mar 31, 2003 the book of salt is a brilliant debut by a young vietnamese american, monique truong. The time period is the 1920s and 1930s and focuses on binh, a young, gay vietnamese cook living in frenchcolonized vietnam who must flee saigon. The novel will certainly place her as one of the brightest young stars on the american literary scene. Binh the narrator is the main character of the book, whose story crosses continents, in an era that we are familiar with only from its bottledup version. In an elegant if rambling style somewhat reminiscent of stein herself, truong relates binhs rise from obscurity to. Buy the book of salt by monique truong online at alibris. Toklas, as a background against which to tell her tale. Reading monique truong s book of salt in monique truong s the book of salt, salt figures prominently in the life of the cook binh. Her mother and father had told her so, and she believed them.
After all, truong deliberately places binh in the home of gertrude stein and alice b. Monique truong is the bestselling author of the book of salt 2003 and bitter in the mouth 2010. On earth were briefly gorgeous is a letter from a son to a mother who cannot read. Dec 28, 2020 the book of salt by monique truong a novel of paris in the 1930s from the eyes of the vietnamese cook employed by gertrude stein and alice b. A novel of paris in the 1930s from the eyes of the vietnamese cook employed by gertrude stein and alice b. He narrates his journey while later employed as a livein cook for gertrude stein and alice toklas, two esteemed women who operate a literary salon in paris. He came to us through an advertisement that i had in desperation put in the newspaper.
410 16 1052 78 334 159 1214 1176 554 494 532 908 656 73 1564 66 537 394 432 1361 1658 626 1415 1570