
The Book of Salt
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Narrated by:
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J. Paul Boehmer
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By:
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Monique Truong
About this listen
“[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.
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Great audiobook
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A Fascinating and Relaxing Read
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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!
I will go back for more
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A Reflection of Life
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Great story bad narrator
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Beautiful novel, poor reading
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...wow...
time for round 2!
Gotta listen twice. wow.
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haunting
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I can't stop crying
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What is a madam?
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