- Paperback: 261 pages
- Publisher: Mariner Books; Reprint edition (15 Jun 2004)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0618446885
- ISBN-13: 978-0618446889
- Product Dimensions: 21 x 14.2 x 1.7 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,481,164 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
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"Truong has a talent that inspires awe, as well as eager anticipation of what she will give us in the future."
--This text refers to an alternate
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edition.
Book Description
'The Book of Salt reminded me of how thrilling really fine writing can be, and how rarely one sees it' Sarah Waters
--This text refers to an alternate
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edition.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
OF THAT DAY I have two photographs and, of course, my memories. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
OF THAT DAY I have two photographs and, of course, my memories. Read the first page
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Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Set in Saigon in the 1920s and in Paris in the early 1930s, this is a deeply moving novel about loss and exile. The main character has loved and lost, several times, but it is the loss of the homeland and its rich language, and especially of his long suffering mother, that is the root of his sadness.
With the same sensitivity he shows as a cook, he describes his relationship with his employers, 'the Steins'; i.e. Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas. He is captivated by Miss Toklas and her quiet yet effective ways of pleasing, not unlike his own.
The cameo portrait of Ho Chi Minh during his early years of exile is a definite added bonus to this fine debut novel. I am eagerly awaiting Ms. Truong's next work of fiction.
With the same sensitivity he shows as a cook, he describes his relationship with his employers, 'the Steins'; i.e. Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas. He is captivated by Miss Toklas and her quiet yet effective ways of pleasing, not unlike his own.
The cameo portrait of Ho Chi Minh during his early years of exile is a definite added bonus to this fine debut novel. I am eagerly awaiting Ms. Truong's next work of fiction.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The use of language and the descriptions, especially of people, are beautifully drawn, BUT (and this is a big "but"), the book jumps around in time in a most confusing manner - and there were still passages that I couldn't quite place in the sequence of events, despite going back over them - giving it a rambling and disjointed feel. Unfortunately, this book didn't manage to give me either a feel for 1930's Paris or much insight into the life of poor Vietnamese in French-occupied Indo-China - much of the rambling was exploring the narrator's relationships with his mother and father and his current lover. Nothing was explained at all clearly - and this book just didn't do it for me. It gets 2*s only because of the lovely use of language
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The style of writing about two interesting people is good, with energetic descriptions and shows a deep understanding of human life. One interesting theme is that of self-harm, whether through alcohol abuse or trying to obliterate one's identity, symbolised by freezing one's finger(print)s.
However, after a good first half, it starts to plod along, is drawn out and reading it became a chore. Many strands fizzle out.
However, after a good first half, it starts to plod along, is drawn out and reading it became a chore. Many strands fizzle out.
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