The biography of Alice B. Toklas Book

I bought this book because of Gertrude Stein's prominence in "Proust Was a Neuroscientist," which I enjoyed very much. In the end, I ditched this book. The references to artists and the culture of Paris in the early 1900s made zero sense to me and aren't really aligned with my interests. Her writing style is unique and I will try to read something else of her's in the near future. There were even great parts in this one, but it was just too difficult for me to get through.

“It was not what France gave you but what it did not take away from you that was important,”

Gertrude Stein died firmly in character on July 27, 1946, having delivered from her hospital bed a final illustration of her searching wit. “What is the answer?” she inquired of Alice, and getting no answer said, laughing, “In that case, what is the question?”

I myself have had no liking for violence and have always enjoyed pleasures of needlework and gardening. I am fond of paintings, furniture, tapestry, houses and flowers and even vegetables and fruit-trees. I like a view but I like to sit with my back turned to it.

One of his axioms I always remember, if you must do a thing do it graciously. He also told me that a hostess should never apologise for any failure in her household arrangements, if there is a hostess there is insofar as there is a hostess no failure.

Human nature is so permanent in France that they can afford to be as temporary as they like with their buildings.

Pablo once remarked, when you make a thing, it is so complicated making it that it is bound to be ugly, but those that do it after you they don’t have to worry about making it and they can make it pretty, and so everybody can like it when the others make it.

Max Jacob made his famous remark, it is wonderful to long for a woman for seven years and to possess her at last. Picasso made the more practical one, why should they marry simply in order to divorce. This was a prophecy.

It was Edwin Dodge who apropos of these said, the lives of great men oft remind us we should leave no sons behind us.