359. The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas

The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas
Gertrude Stein
1933
Around 310 pages

Gertrude Stein is in love, and now we all must suffer. I think Stein is a very dull writer, and the jig was up pretty early that this was Gertrude writing, not Alice. Alice herself is not a very fascinating subject. She hung on the arm of Gertrude and was privy to the salons of the 1920s. Big deal, who wasn't?

"Alice" tells stories of the artists of the period, including Henri Matisse, Guillaume Apollinaire, and Pablo Picasso. Unfortunately, she does not delve into the juicier aspects of her relationship with Stein. I guess every book can't be a Sarah Waters' novel.

She also discusses The Making of the Americans which is one of the worst novels the List has made me read. So despite my Pittsburgh bond with Gertie, I would label this skippable.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

Ernest Hemingway called it "a damn pitiful book."

Alice never thought it would be a success. That's so Alice.

UP NEXT: Murder Must Advertise by Dorothy Sayers. She's been mentioned in several List books lately. Now we get to see what all the fuss was about.