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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
Parts of this book I absolutely loved, because Katherine Hepburn was a hilarious woman and reading her thoughts could be quite entertaining. And I absolutely adored reading about the golden age of Hollywood and the behind-the-scenes aspects that not many people are privy too. However, some of the chapters were simply ramblings, and you have to remind yourself that a woman in her 80's was writing this. It felt a lot longer than it actually was. Overall I did enjoy it, and it was a good read, but I'm glad I got it on BookBub for $0.99 :)
A unrepentantly unedited retrospective of an extraordinary life. The structure is wandering, conversational, full of asides. It feels like getting to spend a good four days just getting to hear Hepburn spin yarns, but might make for a frustrating reading experience for some. And also in a way desperately sad. Hepburn was raised to push herself to the max, to tamp down any moaning or emotions other than fun and ambition, and it seems like that scarred her in a very deep way. Her upbringing may have enabled her success, but it seems to have exacerbated a lifelong feeling that she wasn't good enough and blinkered her to her own emotions and those of others. I presume some of the lack of gossip is because of Hepburn's class, or discomfort talking about her and Tracy's queerness, but it also seems connected to a Yankee tendency not to nose into other people's business. Or, in a more enlightened term, to connect with people on an emotional level and be interested in them even when they're not acting fun and happy and acceptable.
This is not a particularly good book. However, what makes it a mediocre book is also what lends it its charm. Hepburn is not a good writer. Large portions of it are little more than a stream of consciousness. Chapter titles serve as guideposts, but typically ramble, sometimes it is difficult to keep up with Katherine's mind. Yet at the same time there is something beautifully honest about the way that it is written and there are some poignant moments hidden within the text.
By the end, I had grown to really like her. What a lovely, strong, and unique individual.
Sure parts are hard to get through, and I wish she had given more detail about a lot of parts of her life, but, she obviously wanted to keep some things private, which has to be respected.
I still think it is worth the read.
By the end, I had grown to really like her. What a lovely, strong, and unique individual.
Sure parts are hard to get through, and I wish she had given more detail about a lot of parts of her life, but, she obviously wanted to keep some things private, which has to be respected.
I still think it is worth the read.
funny
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
I love my old films and like to dibble into a biography of one of the old Hollywood stars now and then. This time it is the turn of Katharine Hepburn, and this particular book is a little bit special. It's an autobiography and it's written like she's having a chat with you rather than a stuffy, formal account of her life and her career. It dots about a bit and blends the big stuff - films and career - with random little anecdotes. It makes her real, and I think she must have been such a fascinating woman to know. We read about her parents, who sound like very special people, her siblings, the career, the friends, the ex husband and the love of her life, Spencer Tracy. And random stories such as the time she and two other women were driving in a car and got a flat tyre. And Katharine's trying to get the wheel changed. It's also interesting to get into her head and to see that she wasn't always as confident and well rounded as she may have come across in her films. Sometimes she was terrified. Sometimes things went wrong. And as an old lady writing her memoirs, she can look back on her life and the things she did and say sometimes, she wasn't behaving so great. But regardless I think she would have been a fascinating person to know. Here is a person who has gone out and lived life and wherever possible done just what she wanted. There's something a bit wonderful about that.
I like bios and I've read several. This was the worst of all. The writing was boring. The whole book was impersonal. I never knew lot of things about her and I still don't. I understand that you don't overshare your life with Tracy but this story was totally absentbof the book.
And I've noticed someting else too. I've read recently Bacall's book and she had written a lot of things about Hepburn and there were words of love. Hepburn on the other hand didn't even mentioned her. I think that this says a lot for the two ladies.
And I've noticed someting else too. I've read recently Bacall's book and she had written a lot of things about Hepburn and there were words of love. Hepburn on the other hand didn't even mentioned her. I think that this says a lot for the two ladies.
I LOVE Katharine Hepburn and this book made me love her more! An excellent book.
Like many memoirs this book is written as the author speaks making it a challenge to read. Her life story is an interesting one and I found her reflections on her past actions to be interesting. You never know how you are going to look at your life in retrospect.
I've always loved Katharine Hepburn. In movies and in watching her give the few interviews she's done. In reading this book, I heard her voice speaking throughout. If you are expecting a book written like any other autobiography, you will be disappointed. This book is written as if you are sitting there having a long conversation with a friend about their life. It's jumbled and skips around a lot, but you get the gist of the story she's telling you. Some of the chapters were a bit boring, but then it would pick up again. The most touching story for me was her chapter on Spencer. Thank you Katharine for sharing a piece of your life with us.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced