46 pages • 1 hour read
Monique TruongThe Book of Salt
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2003A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Book of Salt by Monique Truong, set in the 1920s and 1930s, follows Binh, a young, gay Vietnamese cook who flees Saigon after an affair with a French chef and navigates life in Paris, where he works for Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas. Binh grapples with his identity while forming complex relationships, ultimately choosing between returning to Vietnam or staying in Paris, haunted by memories of familial rejection and past trauma. The book refers to physical self-harm and heavy alcohol use.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Monique Truong's The Book of Salt is praised for its evocative prose and rich, sensory descriptions, immersing readers in 1930s Paris. The narrative's exploration of identity and exile is poignant, though some find its pace languid and structure complex. Overall, it's a vivid and thought-provoking read that may appeal more to literary fiction enthusiasts.
Who Should Read The Book of Salt?
Ideal for readers who enjoy rich, lyrical prose and historical fiction, The Book of Salt by Monique Truong appeals to those intrigued by immigrant stories, culinary arts, and literary figures. Fans of The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen and The Paris Wife by Paula McLain would find this novel captivating.