Robert olen butler has published twelve novels the alleys of eden, sun dogs, countrymen of bones, on distant ground, wabash, the deuce, they whisper, the deep green sea, mr. The stories are largely characterdriven, with cultural differences between vietnam and the united states as an important theme. A good scent from a strange mountain jl jlo chi minh came to me again last night, his hands covered with confectioners sugar. Universal humanity people come from around the world and can understand each other without even speaking the same languages. I am at a loss to adequately describe the poignance of. Does deprivation make pleasure that much more potent. A good scent from a strange mountain is a 1992 collection of short stories by robert olen butler. In the following essay, he discusses the different kinds of knowing represented in a good scent from a strange mountain. So im gonna tell you a little about friendship in this great book called a good scent from a strange mountain by robert o butler. Good scent from a strange mountain fairy tale prezi. Spaceman, fair warning, hell and forthcoming this august a small hotel.
The phrase itself is a translation of the four chinese characters. Butler has published a volume of his lectures on the creative process, from where you dream, edited with. Awarded the pulitzer prize for fiction, butlers 15 stories, set in the vietnamese enclaves of suburban new orleans, capture the voices of people who have lost their homeland and are trying to adapt t. A good scent from a strange mountain by robert olen butler. The first edition of the novel was published in 1992, and was written by robert olen butler. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 269 pages and is available in paperback format. Presentation on the chapter, relic, from a good scent from a strange mountain. A good scent from a strange mountain and drown essay 856 words 4 pages throughout the short story collections in robert butlers a good scent from a strange mountain and junot diazs drown, the most prominent differences between these short stories were 1 poverty versus enough and 2 a healthy versus destructive home and. Available on kindle ebook and can be read on any device with the free kindle app. Distraught with the fact that his son is ignoring his vietnamese culture, ted decides to introduce his favorite childhood pasttime to his son. Read the deuce, butlers novel about a half asian, halfamerican boy living in the united. The name stink bug derives from the smell the insects release when they are. Butler looked at the more than thirty short stories he had previously written and rediscovered an interest in vietnamese folkways.
A good scent from a strange mountain 1992 edition open. The collection a good scent from a strange mountain had its inspiration in national public radios request for butlers contribution to a series on writing. Now grove press is proud to reissue this contemporary classic by one of americas most important living writers, in a new edition of a good scent from a strange mountain that. Robert olen butlers story, a good scent from a strange mountain, focuses intently on the last phase of an old mans life. Free download or read online a good scent from a strange mountain pdf epub book. It is known that this book a good scent from a strange mountain was a great success with the readers and even won the pulitzer prize for fiction in 1993. Throughout the short story collections in robert butlers a good scent from a strange mountain and junot diazs drown, the most prominent differences between these short stories were 1 poverty versus enough and 2 a healthy versus destructive home and family life and other surroundings.
A paperback version will be too skimpy for this purpose. Crickets summary crickets is a story about a vietnamese father named ted who is living in louisiana with his wife and son, bill. Ernest hemmingway robert olen butlers pulitzer prize winning book, a good scent from a strange mountain, revolves around vietnamese immigrants residing in new orleans as they struggle with the culture gap, the weight of history, and a country left behind. A good scent from a strange mountain won the pulitzer prize for fiction.
His new novel perfume river is another good scent, for sure. Sep 18, 2017 robert olen butlers military service in vietnam informs much of his most recognized writing. Written in a soaring prose, butlers haunting and powerful stories blend vietnamese folklore and contemporary american realities. Robert olen butler has published ten critically acclaimed books since 1981, eight novelsthe alleys of eden, sun dogs, countrymen of bones, on distant ground, wabash, the deuce, they whisper, and the deep green seaand two volumes of short fictiontabloid dreams and a good scent from a strange mountain, which won the 1993 pulitzer prize for fiction. A good scent from a strange mountain book won the pulitzer prize for fiction. Robert olen butlers military service in vietnam informs much of his most recognized writing. Picture of the first edition henry holt and company boards for a good scent from a strange mountain. A good scent from a strange mountain book by robert olen.
The phrase is a translation of bao son ky huong, the saying of the hoa haos. Where is the line between prostitution and a loveless union. A good scent from a strange mountain excerpt youtube. Picture of the back dust jacket for the first edition of a good scent from a strange mountain. Butlers conceit is a new one, revolving around vietnamese immigrants in the greater new orleans area, transplants from one delta to another, dealing with the culture gap as well as the weight of history, of a. The vietnam war continues to play itself out in fiction, autobiography, and history books, but no american author has captured the experiences of the vietnamese.
A good scent from a strange mountain ocean state libraries. Jl jlo chi minh came to me again last night, his hands covered with confectioners. Edible insects food and agriculture organization of the united. Butlers novels include the alleys of eden, countrymen of bones, and sun dogs. A contemporary classic by one of americas most important living writers, this edition of a good scent from a strange mountain includes two subsequently published stories salem and missing that brilliantly complete the collections narrative journey, returning to the jungles of vietnam. A good scent from a strange mountain questions and answers. This book is a collection of 17 anthologies, all written in the first person that blend vietnamese folklore, the terrible, lingering memories of war, american pop culture and family drama into a woven fabric that tells the stories of those who actually served in the vietnamese war. Plus, six volumes of short fiction tabloid dreams, had a good time, severance, intercourse, weegee stories, and a good scent from a strange mountain. A good scent from a strange mountain 11j jl jl o chi minh came to me again last night, his hands covered with confectioners sugar. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of a good scent from a strange mountain by robert olen butler. Now grove press is proud to reissue this contemporary classic by one of americas most important living writers, in a new edition of a good scent from a strange mountain that includes two subsequently published stories salem and missing that brilliantly complete the collections narrative journey, returning to the jungles of vietnam. A good scent from a strange mountain quotes by robert olen. Remember that the dust jacket is an important part of any book, and so books without their original dust jackets typically have less value.
A good scent from a strange mountain quotes by robert olen butler. Still, there may be some elements of the works vocabulary with which you are unfamiliar. A good scent from a strange mountain is robert olen butlers pulitzer prizewinning collection of lyrical and poignant stories about the aftermath of the vietnam war and its enduring impact on the vietnamese. The a good scent from a strange mountain community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. Pdf a good scent from a strange mountain book by robert. Remote work advice from the largest allremote company.
Pulitzer prizewinning author robert olen butler reads an excerpt from the book a good scent from a strange mountain thats the book he won that prize at the tallahassee authors network meeting. Robert olen butler won the 1993 pulitzer prize for his short story collection a good scent from a strange mountain, yet another entry in the canon of literature about the vietnam war. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. A good scent from a strange mountain the english department. There are always two sides of a story, and this book gives us the story of what it wasis like to be a vietnamese refugee in the united states of america after the vietnam war. This was something of a surprise to me, the first time i saw him beside my bed, in the dim light from the open shade. Sep 11, 2011 the same holds true for robert olen butlers a good scent from a strange mountain1993s pulitzer winner. A good scent from a strange mountain crickets by erica. Picture of the 1992 first edition dust jacket for a good scent from a strange mountain.
I am at a loss to adequately describe the poignance of butlers prose in this collection. Written in a soaring prose, butlers haunting and powerful stories blend vietnamese folklore and contemporary american realities, creating a vibrant panorama that is. With a good scent from a strange mountain, robert olen butler gives a unique voice to a unique group of displaced vietnamese people, all trying to figure out a way to make a home for themselves in a new country, while still struggling to maintain their identities. A good scent from a strange mountain summary supersummary. A good scent is a collection of short stories, not necessarily about the vietnam war, or even the aftermath of the vietnam war, but more about the people of the vietnam war and its impact on the vietnamese. A good scent from a strange mountain is a pulitzerwinning compilation of stories primarily about the vietnamese diaspora, with the majority of the stories written from the perspective of immigrants living in and around new orleans. It received the pulitzer prize for fiction in 1993. A good scent from a strange mountain goes a long way toward making the vietnamese real, and its method is bold. Apr 05, 2001 a good scent from a strange mountain paperback stories. Environmental education resources to commemorate earth days 50th anniversary. A good scent from a strange mountain quotes showing of 3 i can speak these words and perhaps you can see these things clearly because you are using your imagination. Picture of the first edition page for a good scent from a strange mountain. Buy a cheap copy of a good scent from a strange mountain book by robert olen butler. The title of both the story and the book, a good scent from a strange mountain, demonstrates butlers method.
Sep, 2014 pulitzer prizewinning author robert olen butler reads an excerpt from the book a good scent from a strange mountain thats the book he won that prize at the tallahassee authors network meeting. A good scent from a strange mountain biography of robert olen butler. A good scent from a strange mountain by robert olen butler, 1992, h. A good scent from a strange mountain book by robert. That is why it is very important to pay special attention to some facts from the authors biography in order to make a good analysis of the literary work and to compare and contrast the. Additional gift options are available when buying one ebook at a time.
The vietnam war continues to play itself out in fiction. Semansky publishes widely in the field of twentiethcentury culture and literature. A collection of his stories, a good scent from a strange mountain, won the 1993 pulitzer prize for fiction. It received the pulitzer prize for fiction in 1993 each story in the collection is narrated by a different vietnamese immigrant living in the us state of louisiana. Can you love someone without being able to fully communicate with himher. He has received a guggenheim fellowship in fiction and a national endowment for the arts grant. After all, do huu phuong was offering them the best asian. A good scent from a strange mountain, won the 1993 pulitzer prize for fiction. But i cannot imagine these things because i lived them, and to remember them with the vividness i know they should have is impossible. Each story in the collection is narrated by a different vietnamese immigrant living in the u.
Robert olen butlers vietnam south dakota humanities council. A good scent from a strange mountain by robert olen butler my rating. The question and answer section for a good scent from a strange mountain is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. But i cannot imagine these things because i lived them, and to remember them with the vividness i. A good scent from a strange mountain grove atlantic.
The book a good scent from a strange mountain written by robert olen butler, a famous modern american fiction writer, consists of several short stories which are narrated by the vietnamese who live in the united states of america. A good scent from a strange mountain discussion questions robert olen butler this study guide consists of approximately 44 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of a good scent from a strange mountain. The title of both the story and the book, the image of a good scent from a strange mountain, illustrates butlers method. Use the prefilled links below to find the market value of a good scent from a strange mountain. This study guide consists of approximately 44 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of a good scent from a strange mountain. Robert olen butlers lyrical and poignant collection of stories about the aftermath of the vietnam war and its impact on the vietnamese was acclaimed by critics across the nation and won the pulitzer prize in 1993. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. A good scent from a strange mountain on amazon robert olen butler now grove press is proud to reissue this contemporary classic by one of americas most important living writers, in a new edition of a good scent from a strange mountain that includes two subsequently published stories salem and missing that brilliantly complete the. They have been living in the new orleans area for more than a decade, arriving in america after the fall of south vietnam. Fiction, short stories, social life and customs, vietnamese americans, vietnamese conflict, 19611975.
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