The Book of Salt

By: Monique Truong

Narrated by: J. Paul Boehmer

“[He] came to us through an advertisement that I had in desperation put in the newspaper. It began captivatingly for those days: Two American ladies wish...” It was these lines in The Alice B. Toklas Cook Book that inspired The Book of Salt.

In Paris, 1934, Bính has accompanied his employers, Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas, to the train station for their departure to America. His own destination is unclear: will he go with "the Steins", stay in France, or return to his native Vietnam?

Bính has 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 live-in cook at the famous apartment at 27 rue de Fleurus. Before Bính’s decision is revealed, his mesmerizing narrative catapults us back to his youth in French-colonized Vietnam, his years as a galley hand at sea, and his days turning out fragrant repasts for the doyennes of the Lost Generation.

©2013 Monique Truong (P)2013 AudioGO

Great audiobook

I really enjoyed this book and the voice narrator. I was able to put it in a lil speed, while still understanding the story.

I will go back for more

I love this type of book. Taking me to countries, times, lifestyles, and thoughts I could never explore in any depth on my own, Nor would I wish to, to be honest.
The narrator did an excellent job, I thought. The loneliness and anguish of Bin's life were so well done. The self-centered world of his madames so complete.
I don't love excessive descriptions of gay and lesbian love affairs, so I probably would have skipped this one had I known what it contaoned. However, I am glad I I stuck with it. The intimacy is necessary, not gratuitous at all in this story.
I look forward to another by this author!

A Fascinating and Relaxing Read

I love this fascinating book and had not read anything quite like it before. I hope that Monique Truong writes a sequel to it one day; I would love to read more about Binh's experiences. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an unusual and entertaining read.

A Reflection of Life

I truly enjoyed the audio version of this story. The stream of consciousness style of writing can be a bit chalet follow but listening made it easier. I will definitely be carrying this one with me for a while.

Great story bad narrator

I don’t usually write a review, but the narrator is completely wrong for this story. He sounds like Brain from “Pinky and the Brain”. It is a wonderful story of a Vietnamese man who becomes a home cook for Gertrude Stein, but the narrator is British and has trouble pronouncing the French and Vietnamese phrases in the book.