After many months' hiatus, our book group finally met last night to discuss About Alice, Calvin Trillin's beautiful, touching homage to his late wife. It's the book-length version of the New Yorker essay Trillin wrote a couple of years ago—supposedly expanded, although I don't think I came across a single sentence that I didn't recall from the original essay.
It's a slim volume, maybe 75 pages of double-spaced text, but it's something I had to own just so I could have the photo on the back cover, which also appeared in the New Yorker. It shows "Alice and Calvin Trillin leaving the London registry where they were married, August 13, 1965." All the love and respect and joy he expresses in the book comes shining through in this photo; I could gaze at it all day. So while I could suggest you read the entire book while standing in the aisle at your favorite local independent bookseller (it will take you less than an hour, I promise), then you won't get to have the photo to keep forever.
We talked briefly about what our husbands might write about us if they were amazingly talented writers who were in touch with their feelings. Then we just gabbed. There's not much to talk about with this book, but I can't really imagine anyone not feeling glad they'd read it.
Next up is Sara Gruen's novel Water for Elephants
That really is a gorgeous photograph. Man, and look at her: look at how perfect she looks. Perfect, and perfect for that time.
Posted by: Debra Hamel | January 08, 2008 at 11:51 AM
I loved that essay, although I had the same problem with the book -- it was just the same thing again, I think. Such a love letter, in any event.
Posted by: Wendy | January 08, 2008 at 08:30 PM
What a beautiful photo! My Book Club read The Zookeeper's Wife for January. It was a fascinating story, but marred by her convoluted and poetic writing. Her flights of literary fancy obfuscated much of the dynamics of this true account. However, I did learn a lot, thus it wasn't a total waste of my time.
Posted by: Margaret | January 08, 2008 at 08:58 PM
I LOVED Water for Elephants. After you read it, you might want to check out my review:
http://dibookblogetc.typepad.com/my_weblog/2006/08/water_for_eleph.html
Posted by: Di | January 09, 2008 at 07:13 AM