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The words in The Book of Salt are so enriched they secrete voluptuous pleasure. The consistency that Truong used in kneading sensation and sensuality with the physical act of cooking was alluring and effective. Whereas GertrudeStein's "Lifting Belly" was an exclusive conversation between two lovers barring everyone else, the sensations evoked by food in Truong's novel invite a wider readership.

For example:

When I place that first bite of boeuf Adrienne in my mouth and I am brought to my knees--figuratively speaking, of course, as I reserve that posture for love and prayers--by the white wine (cognac, laurel, thyme, and red currants, that elusive final ingredients that ends all of their compliments with a question mark, I know that my Mesdames are on their knees as well, saying a word of thanks for two heady days of marinating and one hour of steady basting (210).

It seems that the boeuf Adrienne evokes strong sensation for Binh and his Mesdames. In the same way, food is the foundation of most sensuality between Binh and Mesdames and between Alice B. Toklas and GertrudeStein and between the Mesdames and the women who visit for teas/dinners; Truong represents food as something provoking an inclusive relationship, one in which all characters in the novel and all outside readers share. Unlike "Lifting Belly," the omniscent narration of The Book of Salt and sexual outlet of food and cooking welcomes all food-lovers and cooking fanatics to relate to the pleasureful relations in the novel.

   Thus, from this I can extract that feminism is a declaration of choice. Some are aroused by enticing aromas of delectable food, some by sexual activity, some by males (as is Binh), some by females (as are ABT and GS). For me, Truong's novel synthesized the entire course and all of our conversations about sex, about gender, about identity, about sexual orientation.

   Feminism is not about hating men, feminism is not about making a political statement, feminism is not about only loving women.  Feminism is a doctrine of choice... Feminism is supporting choices.