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 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, Stein finds the idea that Toklas’s hands have prepared her food sensual. Compare and contrast different 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?