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babyruth510's review
4.0
This was a touching tribute to his late wife, Alice. I felt as if she was someone who I would have liked to have known. Its a very quick read...I read it one sitting.
rampaginglibrarian's review
4.0
About Alice is Calvin Trillin's beautiful, loving tribute to his late wife, Alice. After over forty years together he still speaks of her with that true-love light in his voice, as if she could have done no wrong~and those things she did do which differed from him, which perhaps annoyed him, which perhaps they argued about were just those darling little eccentricities that endeared her to him ever the more.
I don't recall reading any of Trillin's New Yorker pieces before though i'm sure i must have; i do know i haven't read any of his other books. I picked this one up after hearing him on the Diane Rehm Show, and aside from sounding somewhat familiar it sounded very appealing.
Many of my serious relationships have ended just as those lust/infatuation chemicals/hormones are beginning to die out and other feelings of true love, or friendship, or whatever are supposed to be kicking in (or so i've been told). I used to fear that friendship stage, now i can sympathize/commiserate with the girl who wrote to Trillin "that she sometimes looked at her boyfriend and thought 'But will he love me like Calvin loves Alice?'"
Or maybe that's all just a bit too mushy/ooggy for me~i do love the sturm und drang just a touch.
Still and all, this is a lovely, quick read~i might just pick up a few more of his books.
I don't recall reading any of Trillin's New Yorker pieces before though i'm sure i must have; i do know i haven't read any of his other books. I picked this one up after hearing him on the Diane Rehm Show, and aside from sounding somewhat familiar it sounded very appealing.
Many of my serious relationships have ended just as those lust/infatuation chemicals/hormones are beginning to die out and other feelings of true love, or friendship, or whatever are supposed to be kicking in (or so i've been told). I used to fear that friendship stage, now i can sympathize/commiserate with the girl who wrote to Trillin "that she sometimes looked at her boyfriend and thought 'But will he love me like Calvin loves Alice?'"
Or maybe that's all just a bit too mushy/ooggy for me~i do love the sturm und drang just a touch.
Still and all, this is a lovely, quick read~i might just pick up a few more of his books.
meme_too2's review
4.0
It isn't often we see a high society couple truly devoted to one another.
My most favorite part of the book is while they are volunteering at the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. They meet a little girl who is severely disabled with two genetic diseases: one stunts her growth, the other prevents her from digesting her food. She has to be fed every night by a feeding tube. But this little girl is always happy.
While playing Duck Duck Goose, the little girl was "it", and ran off dropping a letter from her parents. Alice reads the letter--"If God had given us all of the children in the world to choose from, we would only have chosen you." She passed it on to her husband, saying, "Quick, read this, It's the secret of life."
I think it's perfectly fine to document someone's life by writing only the good they thought and did.
My most favorite part of the book is while they are volunteering at the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. They meet a little girl who is severely disabled with two genetic diseases: one stunts her growth, the other prevents her from digesting her food. She has to be fed every night by a feeding tube. But this little girl is always happy.
While playing Duck Duck Goose, the little girl was "it", and ran off dropping a letter from her parents. Alice reads the letter--"If God had given us all of the children in the world to choose from, we would only have chosen you." She passed it on to her husband, saying, "Quick, read this, It's the secret of life."
I think it's perfectly fine to document someone's life by writing only the good they thought and did.
sujuv's review
4.0
A sweet, very short book (a somewhat longer version of an essay Trillin wrote for the New Yorker), about the life and death of Alice Trillin. It seems that she was a woman who was deeply engaged in life and living which is something I aspire to!
lurdesabruscato's review
3.0
At 78 pages, this was a sweet little tribute from a devoted husband to his deceased wife. Nothing earth shattering or enlightening, but endearing nonetheless.
schray32's review
5.0
This is book written by the author about his wife after she died. It is a true love story and a touching account of her life.
meghan111's review
4.0
Sad, very slender book of reflections on Alice's death and their life together.
juliebcooper's review
4.0
Wow - we should all be so lucky to be loved as much as Calvin Trillin loved his late wife Alice. This is a beautiful set of essays.
amyappy's review
5.0
devoured this book in a single day. it's a beautiful portrait of a woman dearly loved and sorely missed. i would want someone to write a book like this about me when i've passed.