About Women

August 3, 2015
American novelist Alther (Kinflicks) and French artist Gilot (Life with Picasso) converse on an array of topics including their vocations, cultural differences, fashion, and family histories. Gilot recalls a girlhood living in turmoil in France in between the World Wars; Alther grew up in a southern Appalachian factory town during the Cold War era. Family stories are woven into a larger conversation; comments on feminism and the different relationships between the sexes in France and North America lead to a discussion on women as vessels of oral history and Alther’s suffragette great-grandmother. The two find fertile ground for agreement when discussing the creative process, both noting the importance of the oral tradition. Alther suggests that the American South produces so many fiction writers because it is “the only part of the country where people can sit still long enough.” Lighter topics include the progression of women’s undergarments, the little black dress, and the formalities of wedding ceremonies. In this tribute to the length and quality of their friendship, the authors adeptly draw one another out, challenge each other, and build on each other’s ideas. The conversation is consistently funny, interesting, and thoughtful.

August 1, 2015
Two longtime friends discuss their lives and the world around them. American writer Alther (Stormy Weather & Other Stories, 2012, etc.) and French artist Gilot, born nearly 25 years apart, have been friends for more than two decades. In this dialogue, the two women reminisce about their grandparents, life before and after World War II, the influence their mothers had on them, the nature of fashion, and a host of other topics. Like any exchange between two people who have known each other for years, the chats ebb and flow, swirling in and around the subject at hand, with frequent digressions into the past. Through their dialogue, readers will sense the differences between a woman raised in Tennessee and a woman raised in Paris, understanding how these vastly different backgrounds have affected and influenced these two artists in their respective careers. Their conversations also show the various ways women are perceived in the U.S. and France. For example, they discuss how French men whistle and make comments to women they don't know in the street. In America, this kind of behavior is perceived as vulgar, even harassment, but in France, it is accepted and often treated as a compliment. The narrative is loose and fluid, giving readers an inside look into the personal lives of these two women as they converse about religion, sex, or child-rearing over cups of tea or glasses of wine. For those familiar with Alther and Gilot (who was part of the School of Paris movement and had a decadelong relationship with Pablo Picasso), the book is a bonus look at vivid lives; for those unfamiliar with these artists, it provides rare insight into the large and small details that have composed their lives. Entertaining, informative conversations between two women friends.

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October 1, 2015

This book offers a glimpse at intimate pieces of conversations between American author and novelist Alther (Blood Feud) and French painter and author Gilot (Matisse and Picasso), whose enduring 25-year friendship has managed to survive despite differences in cultural backgrounds and generations. Their discussion topics range from stories of childhood to opinions on gender roles and feminist theory. Bits of history are thrown in along the way, including the women's memories of the World Wars. The authors also include various personal photographs, such as images of their childhood homes and individual weddings. VERDICT Though the dialog moves along at a steady pace, the exchange sometimes appears scripted. The most influential talks include the women's inspirations for their careers and the meanings of gender roles in two separate cultures. Readers who enjoy the authors' work and seek to examine their writing styles will also welcome Alther's Kinflicks (1975) and Gilot's Life With Picasso (1964).--Marian Mays, Butte-Silver Bow P.L., MT

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 15, 2015

Writer Alther (e.g., Kinflicks), born in 1944 in Tennessee, and artist Gilot (Life with Picasso), born in 1921 in Paris, are longtime friends. Their answers to questions large and small--How does one manage self-invention? Should one dress to be distinctive or to fit in?--reflect intriguing cultural differences as they seek to define what it means to be a woman.

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.