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.
Essay Topics
Binh’s father converts to Catholicism and clings to that faith, while his mother is a Catholic in name only. How does the Catholic church affect the attitudes and outlook of the members of Binh’s family and their relationships? How does Binh perceive his father’s religion?
Food is an important part of the novel, and cooking for others takes on a deeper dimension; for instance, for Stein, the idea that Toklas’s hands have prepared her food is sensual. What are some other ways that cooking takes on more meaning in The Book of Salt?
How does the author’s slipping back and forth in time affect how the reader understands the events of Binh’s life?
