The novel explores how world history might have been different if the black death plague had killed 99% of europes population, instead of a third because fewer catsmore rats. The years of rice and salt is an alternate history novel by american science fiction author kim stanley robinson, published in 2002. Sepetys knows her subject well and is able to clearly voice each of the teens fleeing the fall of germany. Among them are joana, emilia, and florian, whose paths converge en route to the ship that promises salvation, the wilhelm gustloff. Her novels between shades of gray, out of the easy, and salt to the sea have won or been shortlisted for more than forty book prizes, and are included on more than sixty state award lists. Salt to the sea summary and analysis free book notes. As world war ii draws to a close, refugees try to escape the wars final dangers, only to. Find all available study guides and summaries for salt to the sea by ruta sepetys. There is a bibliography but its not arranged in any useful way. In 1945, world war ii is drawing to a close in east prussia and thousands of refugees are on a desperate trek toward freedom, almost all of them with something to hide. Salt to the sea study guide from litcharts the creators. Similar to when you watch titanic for the first time, you know the ship is doomed but not exactly how the fictional characters will fare within that.
He is a young boy who really doesnt care about anyone but himself. Or rather its filled with stink, so much so that odours are described on nearly every page, ranging from the salty tang of the title character to the stench of durian fruit that lingers around the books protagonist, a young woman named miranda. The following version of this book was used to create this study guide. Shed published one book prior, strangers on a train, and her new novels content was on a totally different track from that thriller. Four young narrators from different nations experience the terrors of war. The book of salt is a brilliant debut by a young vietnamese american, monique truong.
So when i found out one of my book clubs had chosen salt to the sea by ruta sepetys as the botm for march. Salt manages to get into the bunker and fights winter. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Cities of salt, by abdul rahman munif, tells of the discovery of oil on the arabian peninsula and how it disrupted the land and the people, altered the sociopolitical climate of the country, and. Dont worry, thoughthis book is no james joyce novel dudes known for writing ulysses, one of the most difficult books of all time. Mar 31, 2003 the book of salt is a brilliant debut by a young vietnamese american, monique truong. Among them are joana, emilia, and florian, whose paths converge en route to the. Salt to the sea is a 2016 historical fiction young adult novel by ruta sepetys. In paris, 1934, binh has accompanied his employers, gertrude stein and alice b. She is salt to the sea, this was my first book by ruta sepetys, and it wont be last. It isnt very glamorous, and she finds the retail job tedious and soulsucking. A world history ebook 97806989152 by mark kurlansky.
When a publishing company agrees to produce an authors first book, it will often try to stake a claim to his or her second. The price of salt has a long history of identity crises when she first published the book in 1952 as the price of salt, author patricia highsmith used a pseudonym. Salt to the sea, which includes meticulously detailed authors notes, maps, and research and sources, is an ideal blend of historical facts, riveting drama, compelling characters, and suspense. From the beginning, veruca is described as a small girl who lived with her rich parents in a great city far away 6. When she first published the book in 1952 as the price of salt, author patricia highsmith used a pseudonym. Salt to the sea study guide contains a biography of ruta sepetys, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full.
Toklas, as a background against which to tell her tale. Toklas, to the train station for their departure to america. Find all available study guides and summaries for salt a world history by mark kurlansky. While he admires the woman he calls gertrudestein sic as a major energy force, his deeper loyalty goes to toklas, who shares his passion for the sensuality of preparing foodthe novel is in fact largely a meditation on the senses and sensuality, and the salt of the title has different sources table, sea, tears, sweat that create different. A lot of the covenant language in the bible resembles language of the suzerainvassal treaties of the time period. The best study guide to salt to the sea on the planet, from the creators of sparknotes.
One of the wealthiest, ancient, unknown people is the celts, who built their empire on salt. Im also a mother, a spouse, dog lover, and caretaker of a surprising number of living houseplants. Salt to the sea, by ruta sepetys the new york times. I have already tried sparknotes, bookrags, cliff notes, and such. I live in the chicago area and love thincrust taverncut pizza on both a spiritual and an. Freebooknotes found 8 sites with book summaries or analysis of the book of salt. Monique truongs first novel, the book of salt, is a remarkably inventive fictional account of a vietnamese cook whom truong appropriated from several pages. The book of shmooperonomy has a great explanation of all this talk about sacred covenant and giving stuff to god. Thousands of refugees try to evacuate as world war ii draws to a chaotic close. Winter is about to let her in, when he learns that the russian president is not really dead. I have already bought between shades of gray, and out of the easy is on its way. Told in the beguiling voice of a narrator who is fish, snake, girl, and woman all of whom must struggle against adversity for survival the novel is set alternately in nineteenthcentury china and in a futuristic pacific northwest. Salt had shot him with spider venom that temporarily paralysed him.
This is a very interesting book, but i cant say that i couldnt put it down. Something tells us she didnt want to be thrown down a garbage chute by a mass of squirrels, but, hey, who knows. Does anyone know where there are book notes about the book. The book is divided into three parts and begins thousands of years in the past. Freebooknotes found 10 sites with book summaries or analysis of salt to the sea. Today we take salt for granted, a common, inexpensive substance that seasons food or clears ice from roads, a word used casually in expressions salt of the earth, take it with a grain of salt without appreciating their deeper meaning. The book of salt, her first novel, was inspired by a brief mention of an indochinese cook in the alice b. In one scene of the price of salt, therese reads a portrait of the artist as a young man. The book of salt won the bard fiction prize and the barbara gittings award in literature, and was a finalist for britains. At the last second she stops the nuclear attack and kills winter. After alexander and hartwell decide to settle the strike, ramon thanks the sisters and brothers and publicly praises esperanza for her dignity and determination. Salt to the sea study guide from litcharts the creators of. The word lesbian is derived from the island of lesbos, the birthplace of sappho, who wrote poetry celebrating the beauty of female relationships.
Apr 07, 2003 while he admires the woman he calls gertrudestein sic as a major energy force, his deeper loyalty goes to toklas, who shares his passion for the sensuality of preparing foodthe novel is in fact largely a meditation on the senses and sensuality, and the salt of the title has different sources table, sea, tears, sweat that create different. Monique truong s first novel, the book of salt, is a remarkably inventive fictional account of a vietnamese cook whom truong appropriated from several pages of the celebrated expatriate american. The book of salt is vietnameseamerican author monique truongs first novel. The book of salt summary and analysis like sparknotes. Honest pleasures in food and motherhood from a restless midwesterner. Salt houses is a story of displacement, from a novelist who knows salt houses traces several generations of a displaced palestinian family. Lesson plans and resources for taste of salt table of contents 1. Fiction as world war ii draws to a close, refugees try to escape the wars final dangers, only to find themselves aboard a ship with a target on its hull. This is a very interesting book, but i cant say that i. Kurlanskys book about salt, like his book on cod, is loaded with detail. The story also touches on the disappearance of the amber room, a work of art stolen by the nazis that has never been recovered. This 45page guide for the book of salt by monique truong includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 24 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. The book of salt serves up a wholly original take on paris in the 1930s through the eyes of binh, the vietnamese cook employed by gertrude stein and alice b. The story also touches on the disappearance of the amber room, a work of.
The theme of sexuality in the book of salt serves as an important connection with other themes, such as diaspora and orientalism. Salt houses is a story of displacement, from a novelist who knows salt houses traces several generations of a displaced. It tells the story of four individuals in world war ii who make their way to the illfated mv wilhelm gustloff. Readers guide for the book of salt published by houghton. As thousands of desperate refugees flock to the coast in the midst of a soviet advance, four paths converge, vying for passage aboard. In reaction to his homosexual relationship with chef bleriot, his father, the old man, rejects him stating that, ive always only had. Lesson plans and resources for taste of salt table of contents. Salt to the sea by ruta sepetys goodreads share book. A world history, author mark kurlansky delves into the history of salt, as well as its impact on empires, wars, and economies, in a text that is lively, comprehensive, and surprising.
Salt is the history of the world told from the point of view of the only rock that we eat, which is salt. Salt to the sea also shares many similarities withother young adult novels dealing with wwii and the holocaust, specifically those that focus on the experiences of children and young adults, like the book thief by markus zusak, number the stars by lois lowery, milkweed by. The price of salt has a long history of identity crises. Nothing like this happens again, but red is a traditional literary symbol of lust and passion, so therese is seeing an inner passion on the outside. The novel will certainly place her as one of the brightest young stars on the american literary scene. Veruca salt in charlie and the chocolate factory shmoop. Sepetys is considered a crossover novelist, as her books are read by both teens and adults worldwide.
Monique truong is coeditor of the anthology watermark. Salt fish girl by larissa lai goodreads share book. Salt to the sea by ruta sepetys although a young adult novel, this tale of the end of world war ii and the refugee ship wilhelm gustloff will also appeal to all who like historical fiction. In this odd scene from the beginning of the book, therese tries on a red dress and feels like shes seeing her true identity. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. The scope of this book is epic in that it starts at the beginning of recorded world history and ends at roughly present day times. It was published by createspace independent publishing platform and has a total of 275 pages in the book. Start your 48hour free trial to unlock this the book of salt study guide and get instant access to the following summary. This book is extrememly boring and i dont understand it. In her novel, truong uses the famous literary couple gertrude stein and alice b.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading salt to the sea. Its a shame its not properly referenced, theres really no way of checking any of the billions of facts presented. Two unrelated people florian and emilia meet by chance after he saves her from an attacker, and together they seek shelter in a barn, where they meet other. His story centers in paris in his life as the cook in the home of gertrude stein and alice b. Salt to the sea also shares many similarities withother young adult novels dealing with wwii and the holocaust, specifically those that focus on the experiences of children and young adults, like the book thief by markus zusak, number the stars by lois lowery, milkweed by jerry spinelli, or the diary of anne frank. If there is a the book of salt sparknotes, shmoop guide, or cliff notes, you can find a link to each study guide below. I have to have it finished for school in a week and need help. Does anyone know where there are book notes about the book salt by mark kurlansky.
Salt to the sea takes places in east prussia in january 1945. A mesmerizing narrative voice, an insiders view of a fabled literary household and the slow revelation of. Nineteenyearold therese belivet works at a swanky new york city department store during the christmas season. This 45page guide for the book of salt by monique truong includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 24 chapters, as well as several more.
If there is a salt to the sea sparknotes, shmoop guide, or cliff notes, you can find a link to each study guide below. Sexuality in the book of salt christina fan, english 365, northwestern university. She now knows that they have won something the bosses cannot take away, which they can leave to their children, the salt of the earth. I will laugh, cry, get angry right along with the characters of my book and it doesnt take a lot for a book to pull that out of me.