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About Alice
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About Alice
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About Alice
Audiobook1 hour

About Alice

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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About this audiobook

In Calvin Trillin’s antic tales of family life, she was portrayed as the wife who had “a weird predilection for limiting our family to three meals a day” and the mother who thought that if you didn’t go to every performance of your child’s school play, “the county would come and take the child.” Now, five years after her death, her husband offers this loving portrait of Alice Trillin off the page–an educator who was equally at home teaching at a university or a drug treatment center, a gifted writer, a stunningly beautiful and thoroughly engaged woman who, in the words of a friend, “managed to navigate the tricky waters between living a life you could be proud of and still delighting in the many things there are to take pleasure in.”

Though it deals with devastating loss, About Alice is also a love story, chronicling a romance that began at a Manhattan party when Calvin Trillin desperately tried to impress a young woman who “seemed to glow.”

“You have never again been as funny as you were that night,” Alice would say, twenty or thirty years later.

“You mean I peaked in December of 1963?”

“I’m afraid so.”

But he never quit trying to impress her. In his writing, she was sometimes his subject and always his muse. The dedication of the first book he published after her death read, “I wrote this for Alice. Actually, I wrote everything for Alice.”

In that spirit, Calvin Trillin has, with About Alice, created a gift to the wife he adored and to his readers.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateDec 26, 2006
ISBN9780739342176
Unavailable
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Reviews for About Alice

Rating: 4.045307475728156 out of 5 stars
4/5

309 ratings30 reviews

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is a very short book and it is basically a very long love letter to the love of his life, his wife Alice, who was everything to him.

    Would that every woman could have such a love in their lives, someone who always looked after you, cared for you and inspired all your work

    I am 55, and I have not even gotten close.

    RIP Alice
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Very, very sweet.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    A short, sweet memoir about the author's wife and their life together.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    All good----Alice knew what she was about and Calvin did too, and loved her all the more.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Funny, honest, and heartbreaking tribute from one of my favorite writers to his late wife. Alice Trillin starred in many of Calvin's essays about food and family, but this book reveals much about her personal and professional background I didn't know, and provides a fuller portrait of her intelligent, thoughtful character. Alas, this book is too short, but at least I know now to look for articles and books written by Alice, and I may revisit Calvin's pieces about her and his daughters as well.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A beautiful tribute by her husband, author Calvin Trillin, after Alice Trillin’s death in 2001. Alice contracted lung cancer in 1976 never having been a smoker and lived another 25 years before hearth disease brought on by radiation treatment for her cancer led to her death. This book is fewer than 100 pages, and if you’re listening to it as I did, is about an hour long. The writing is what you expect from Calvin Trillin—eloquent and witty at the same time. His love for Alice permeates every word of the story. Although I’m sure Alice Trillin knew how much her husband loved her, it’s too bad she wasn’t around to read his adoring tribute to her. If you need a benchmark on which to judge your own marriage, this is it.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A beautiful tribute by her husband, author Calvin Trillin, after Alice Trillin’s death in 2001. Alice contracted lung cancer in 1976 never having been a smoker and lived another 25 years before hearth disease brought on by radiation treatment for her cancer led to her death. This book is fewer than 100 pages, and if you’re listening to it as I did, is about an hour long. The writing is what you expect from Calvin Trillin—eloquent and witty at the same time. His love for Alice permeates every word of the story. Although I’m sure Alice Trillin knew how much her husband loved her, it’s too bad she wasn’t around to read his adoring tribute to her. If you need a benchmark on which to judge your own marriage, this is it.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    "We are so lucky."
    This is a heartwarming paean of love and gratitude to his wife, who had died five years earlier.
    It's not sad or depressing, it is an uplifting and inspirational celebration of her as wife, mother, and very much as her own wonderful self.
    Count your blessings and enjoy everything, I think that's the message.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Read by the author and made my eyes brim with tears. I'd like to read the print version as well, as there are parts to linger over. The audio was brief and sweet, on one disc.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Funny, honest, and heartbreaking tribute from one of my favorite writers to his late wife. Alice Trillin starred in many of Calvin's essays about food and family, but this book reveals much about her personal and professional background I didn't know, and provides a fuller portrait of her intelligent, thoughtful character. Alas, this book is too short, but at least I know now to look for articles and books written by Alice, and I may revisit Calvin's pieces about her and his daughters as well.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Honest, thoughtful, sad. I listened the audio book which was read by the author.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I wasn't sure how Trillin's tribute to his beloved late wife Alice would be. I listened to the unabridged audio, read by Trillin. It was, in a word, extraordinary. There's something magical about writers who can distill their pain into words which give if not meaning then explication to the exigencies of grief. Brief, bereft and brave, this little gem lingers.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Calvin Trillin always writes well, but this book is one of his very best, as well it should be. It is his tribute to his late wife, and will make you laugh and cry in equal measure.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Calvin Trillin narrates his own book about his wife. About their life together and her death. Trillin's turn of phrase is more than just witty and insightful, by hearing him read you realize that you are listening to the family jargon. The shorthand that he and Alice have had for years. Their lives are so intertwined that you realize why so many people told him when Alice died that they felt like they knew her.

    This is a slim volume. The Audiobook was only 1hr 17mins long. A quick read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Mr. Trillin writes a small powerful book about a beautiful woman, his wife. She was intelligent, kind, helpful, ernest, loving - so many great qualities. They had 25 years together before she died. She was a Welsley grad and close to hostile to religion. For me that made me sad for her. My faith and relationships with others who participate in public religious life is only one small way to say thank you to God for this wonderful life, which includes people like Alice. I hope her optimism will prove more true than she realized.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A touching remembrance of Trillin's wife. Trillin's clear, distinct voice brings Alice and the geat partnership they shared to life. It's a slim little book, readable in a few hours, that will stay with you for a long time.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    What a beautiful, readable, funny, emotional, touching book. I always loved Calvin Trillin. Over the years, he never ever wore thin, writing about family, growing up, food and the quirks of society. Always, ALWAYS, with humor.About Alice has all those elements but it is, at heart, a profound love story. He is remarkably open and lucid about all the ways that he loved Alice. Without ever being grim, or maudlin, despite the fact that he lost Alice to a persistent cancer, he shares, in a very forthright way, what a delightful wife, mother, friend & intellect was Alice.One of my favorite parts is when he talks about what it is like to be with an extremely attractive woman, to watch the way other men react to her. I have plenty of personal experience with this and he helped me see things that I "knew" but had never been able to articulate.Any man interested in really knowing about love ought take this book to heart.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Sad, funny, touching--I loved this. I listened to it on CD, read by the author.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Calvin Trillin's memoir for his beloved wife, Alice. A slim little book, but moving, loving and humorous, it portrays a woman of strong personality and compassion who was never boring or bored with life. He writes in this book that he always wrote his books for her; if he could impress her (as he never stopped striving for), he had it made. After reading this memoir, I too was impressed. She must have been quite a woman to know.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A charming sweet tribute by Calvin Trillin about his wife Alice. I had not read much by Trillin but apparently Alice was the subject or part of many of his articles. What makes this book nice is that it portrays Alice as a person you would love to have as a friend. She has the perfect blend of amazingly down to earth qualities. Unfortunately, as seems to happen to the nicest people the evil of cancer hit her. And as you would expect she met it head on. It's no doubt that Trillian loved his wife dearly. It's nice to read a tribute about someone other than a famous actor, celebrity or politician. The book is short but well worth the read and it will leave you feeling better for having read it.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    My Rating: 3.5 starsBrief Summary: Trillin's wife Alice made frequent appearances in his writing, and it was obvious he loved her fully and deeply. This little book, written five years after her death from cancer, chronicles their love story, paints a portrait of a talented and generous woman, and pays tribute to the woman of whom Trillin wrote: "I wrote this for Alice. Actually, I wrote everything for Alice."Brief Thoughts: Touching and often amusing (as Trillin often is), this book is a lovely tribute to a special woman and a tender look at a strong marriage between soul mates. If only all of us could be so lucky to be loved and adored like Alice obviously was.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Beautiful essays about Calvin's wonderful wife, Alice who died at the age of 63, after her long struggle (although she wouldn't have described it that way). Written with humor and grace, never overly maudlin, Alice comes alive on these pages. Lovely.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I loved this because it was a long and beautiful love letter to his wife. Gives you faith in marriage!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A touching in memorium to the author's wife, who recently died of lung cancer. The couple's relationship is tenderly depicted, but I found myself not liking Alice all that much. She is definitely a complex person, but she also seems a bit superficial and showy at times.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I have never been in true, deep love. And I suppose what Trillin had with his wife Alice is a glimpse, a small glimpse of true, deep love. Art least I hope it is. In Calvin Trillin's inimitable hand, his life with and his love for Alice shines through the pages brilliantly. He described Alice early on aas having a glow about her, her feelings for her also has a glow about it too. The book isn't very long. It clocks in at a mere 78 pages but he said all he had to say in that period. The book is in kind of a free form format, where Trillin goes into how they met, how they came to be married and what their lives were like in the early days. He also plays amateur psychologist and tries to analyze Alice's personality via her father's business failings etc. But he also skips around raising specifics about Alice, her deeds, her love of her kids, and her personality. It is at once touching and warm. It makes me yearn for a love like this between two people who have the intelligence and warmth to realize that this relationship of theirs is uncommon and to appreciate each other as seemingly no other has before.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Their marriage gave us all hope.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Every woman should be blessed with a man who is able - and willing - to write such a loving, poignant tribute to her. Trillin's love for Alice shines through every page. I think it says less about Alice than it does about him. He says he was lucky to have her. I say she was lucky to have him!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is a delightful book. Reading about Alice gives me something to strive for as a person. I thought it might be depressing, but it's not at all. It's a lovely story about an amazing woman.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    About Alice is a very touching (and very brief) book by Calvin Trillin on the life, personality, and more aptly put - spirit - of his deceased wife Alice. Apparently Alice has been the subject of several of Mr. Trillin's works and his loyal readers have gotten to know her quite well over the years. Personally, I picked up About Alice so that I could get a glimpse into the grieving and the love of the author for his wife. While that may sound a bit macabre, or conversely, even a bit mushy, I've always found that I enjoy movies, books, music, and art most when I'm moved by them. I want goose pimples, a strong laugh, heart-wrenching, and a fear of the dark. I want to be affected. While I also read to learn, I want my non-educational reading to allow me some escapism. About Alice delivered.**SPOILER ALERT (Highlight)**Alice is described in light detail and across the spectrum of their marriage. Calvin exposes some of Alice's flaws but of course, he focuses on her many positive traits. There was one characteristic that really struck a chord for me - Alice was passionate. She was quick to bring up a topic in which she held a firm belief if given the opportunity. She liked to engage in friendly debate regardless of the location or the stature of the person with whom she was conversing. She showed passion for her beliefs in this regard. She also showed passion for her family and friends. As Trillin puts it, "When it came to trying to decide which theories of child-rearing were highly beneficial and which were absolutely ruinous to the future of your child - a subject of considerable discussion among some parents we knew - we agreed on a simple notion: your children are either the center of your life or they're not, and the rest is commentary."My favorite quote from the book was:"At camp, Alice had a tendency to gravitate toward the child who needed the most help, and L. was one of those. 'Last summer, the camper I got closest to, L., was a magical child who was severly disabled,' Alice wrote. 'She had two genetic diseases, one which kept her from growing and one which kept her from digesting any food. She had to be fed through at tube at night and she had so much difficulty walking that I drove her around in a golf cart a lot. We both liked that. One day, when we were plaing duck-duck-goose, I was sitting behind her and she asked me to hold her mail for her while she took her turn to be chased around the circle. It took her a while to make the circuit and I had time to see that on top of the pile was a note from her mom. Then I did something truly awful, which I'm reluctant now to reveal. I decided to read the note. I simply had to know what this child's parents could have done to make her so spectacular, to make her the most optimistic, most enthusiastic, most hopeful human being I had ever encountered. I snuck a quick look at the note, and my eyes fell onto this sentence: 'If God had given us all of the children in the world to choose from, L., we would only have chosen you.' Before L. got back to her place in the circle, I showed the note to Bud, who was sitting next to me. 'Quick. Read this,' I whispered. 'It's the secret of life.'"I think that quote sums up Alice quite well.***** END OF SPOILERS *****With regards to Mr. Trillin himself, I commend him on this lovely little piece of work. My only deduction in the rating was due to the brevity of the book. I wanted more. Perhaps that's my shortcoming having not read his other Alice works. Nonetheless, it's a book that should be handed to all couples before they get married with a note in it that states - "This is what love really looks like. Make it your goal in life to get here."When compared with many other friends, family, and acquaintances, I would suggest (and this has been suggested by others) that my wife and I have a very special relationship. I believe it is similar in many ways, albeit shorter in duration, to the Trillin's marriage. This book was a great reminder of how fortunate I have been in this regard.Highly recommended.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Such a disappointment. CT's love for his wife comes through clearly - so why did he focus so relentlessly on her physical good looks as her distinguishing characteristic?