What DONCHA KNOW? about HENRY MILLER

by Twinka Thiebaud

Henry Miller was a larger-than-life all-American writer. His work was ground-breaking and breath-taking. But he could also talk. Until the day he died, he had what he called the “gift of the gab.” At his own table, laden with the food he loved and surrounded by famous writers, actors, painters, musicians and fans, Henry held forth on every topic imaginable. What he said was rollicking, open, honest, revealing of himself and the fabulous assortment of huge personalities he’d met in his long life, as well as ultimately showing a side of Henry few outside his circle ever saw. In this warm and charming memoir of her years under Miller’s Pacific Palisades roof, artist and model Twinka Thiebaud captures his table talk with an unerring ear…as well as penning her own intimate impressions of one of America’s greatest writers.

Genres: Nonfiction

212 pages, Paperback

First published January 24, 2011

Reviews

[Meg - A Bookish Affair · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. While I have never read anything by Henry Miller, he is one of the most infamous American authors. Known for such works as the much discussed and debated "Tropic of Cancer," he is still remembered as one of the most larger than life American authors. The author of the book goes to live with Miller as a young woman and does a lot of work around the house for him. In the midst of doing all of the work, Ms. Thiebaud gains a lot of insight into what makes Miller tick.

The book is divided up into two sections. The first section is more personal to the author. It covers how she came to find herself in Miller's house. It also covers how she got to know him and many of her interactions with the author. It also covers many of her own observations of the author.

The second section is sort of a series of essays told from the point of view of Henry Miller. One thing that Ms. Thiebaud makes clear in the beginning of the book is that one of Miller's favorite pastimes was to talk anyone who would listen's ear off about a vast variety of subjects. It was interesting to see his perspective on so many different people and things.

Bottom line: Even if you are not a Henry Miller fan, this is still a great book for all those who love to read to enjoy.

[Rehan Qayoom]

'She [June Miller] was the kind of woman other women, strangers, would stop on the street just to tell her how beautiful they thought she was ... The type of woman men would kill for, die for ... I can't be sure if one or two didn't end up committing suicide because of their devotion to her. Devotion and obsession!

Once you're in the hands of a femme fatale you're begging for mercy, you're doomed to suffer. The other side to this is, of course, all the marvelous things that happen at the hands of such a woman. She's exquisite, mysterious, ephemeral, a once only, a miracle! Never a dull moment with a beauty like that. You suffer when you try to possess her, because eventually you rob her of her mystery-the very thing that attracted you in the first place!

When I finally found my voice, when I began to really feel my power as a writer, it drove her away from me. She couldn't bear the fact that I didn't need her help anymore. She demanded constant applause and gratitude; she wanted to be depended on. And anything less than complete and total obsession with her on my part, was not enough.

I knew it was useless to try to change her mind because a woman of her caliber, the kind of woman known as a femme fatale, knows exactly what she wants and will do anything and everything to ger it! And God help you if you try to stop her.

I've written about how I used to take a walk every evening after dinner to the house where Cora [Seward] lived. I'd walk by hoping to catch a glimpse of her in the window, and that was all! It took me an hour to get there, and then I'd walk all the way back home, and I did that every night for three years! I never even knocked at her door ... '

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book in Big Sur where Henry lived for a time, and where he and Twinka first met. Winding along hwy 1, I saw a sign that read, Henry Miller Memorial Library Books, Music, Art, and had to pull over. I'm so glad I did....such an intimate, big hearted work. I couldn't finish Tropic of Cancer (though I may go back to it now) but I'd give anything to be a guest at Henry Miller's dinner table. You can clearly see this was a work of love on Twinka's part. Tres bien, mademoiselle! My heart both aches and is full.

Favorite chapters:
-Spiritualism
-On Love
-For My Children
-Afterword

Quotes:
"True romantics are innocents; I am such a person. It never occurred to me that I was a sinful man-selfish, yes, but not sinful." -pg 171
""Beware of the man who always has God on his lips, he is the furthest from God." The truly enlightened teachers don't talk so much of finding God as developing the Self" -pg 168

[C. Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book about coming of age, about meaningful mentorship and its legacy, about the wisdom of elders, about crazy characters, about appreciating faults and yet still holding on to ideals, about engaging the world, about seeking adventure, about relishing fantasy while holding to truths, about cherishing relationships...

It's about life; passionate life. Ms. Thiebaud's story and Mr. Miller's table talk weave together into transcendent themes such that Thiebaud and Miller could be backdrops against which the greater truths of our relationships to one another play out. You would not even have to know anything about either one to grow as a person from reading this book, and love it all the same!

It is at once light and deep. It's the kind of book you go back to year after year for education, inspiration, and a healthy dose of entertainment. Well done!

[Frank Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was brought up in a literary household where one either read Henry Miller or one read Arthur Miller, but not both. So I stuck with Arthur. But lately I got interested in Henry Miller through the film "Henry and June" and also the diary extracts of Anais Nin on which it was based.

This little book of reminiscences is well worth reading just for Miller's remarks about contemporary figures like Germaine Greer and Ezra Pound alone. For a man whose own writings were so controversial and "off the wall", he comes over in his old age as a beacon of sanity.

[Myra Breckinridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful look into what it was like to spend time at Henry’s table. It is a joy to read because Thiebaud not only understands her charismatic subject, she also knows how to embody his spirit. It is a rare book that doesn’t sound weaker or less creative than the subject it’s extolling. Henry comes alive because the book not only recreates his voice, but also reflects on the impact of his influence and presence. It is a love letter to experiences and connections.

[Charliehb · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a huge fan of Henry Miller's, anything coming out about him, especially anything new and fresh and as yet unrevealed, has my immediate attention. So I grabbed this one as soon as I saw it on amazon, then read it in two sittings. And what a terrific book it is. Henry at home, at ease, old but so alive, telling tales on himself and on all the amazing people he'd met in his long life. Thiebaud seems (to me) to have captured to old boy's way of speaking really well. As for her own writing, it's chatty and easy and sometimes very funny and sometimes very sad. I was one of those who thought of hitchhiking across the US to pester him. I'm so glad I thought twice of it. I love this book. It's not a stuffy bio. It's Henry talking to us, to me. Great.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a good read and a nice insight into Henry's life.