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Me: Stories of My Life
Admired and beloved by movie audiences for over sixty years, four-time Academy Award-winner Katharine Hepburn is an American classic. Now Miss Hepburn breaks her long-kept silence about her private life in this absorbing and provocative memoir.
A NEW YORK TIMES Notable Book of the Year
A Book-of-the-Month-Club Main Selection
NOTE: This edition does not include photographs.
A NEW YORK TIMES Notable Book of the Year
A Book-of-the-Month-Club Main Selection
NOTE: This edition does not include photographs.
Paperback, 432 pages
Published
October 12th 2011
by Ballantine Books
(first published January 1st 1991)
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I've always admired Katherine Hepburn for being ahead of her time and unconventional in many ways. Thought surely this book would focus on her nearly 30 year love affair with Spencer Tracy. However, I barely managed to get through it. Mostly about mundane things, her growing up years, how much she loved and admired her parents and siblings, etc. Spencer only came in at the very end and there was no new ground covered. Lots of tidbits about making of various movies and the people she worked w...more
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This is my favorite actress so I will try not to be too biased lol. One of my favorite autobiographies. It isn't a chapter book. It contains different stories of Kate's life as she remembers them. A must have book if you are a Kate fan.
I am forever fascinated by this icon of filmdom, from her personal trials and survival skills, to her trailblazing fashion style, her yankee engenuity,flawless talent, and her ability to just be who she is through it all. I really feel that her words always ring far truer than any bio done on her. She has an uncanny almost dry wit about her, that can be at times self deprecating, and at times an assessment of her opinion of others. Many think her a snob, for her judgements of people and life, ...more
Katharine Hepburn is someone I admire greatly and I fully admit to reading this to figure out a little bit more of just what it was that made her tick. She has a very odd and very unique writing style - it's as if she's in conversation with herself. She occasionally doesn't include all of the details, name-drops without meaning to, and frequently interrupts herself. However, it is very much her. It is absolutely her voice and I could almost hear her talking to me as I read.
The parts that I ...more
The parts that I ...more
When I "write" the story of my life, I will also title it ME. This was a gem of a good/bad book.
Chuckle worthy Passages:
Oh, I meant to tell you. I was standing on my head the other day and I got to thinking how probably unusual it is for someone of my age to do this.
Everyone came and we made seventy-five dollars to buy a Victrola for the Navajo Indians.
Putnam was a poet. He was sort of medium-sized and had a very handsome head.
...more
Chuckle worthy Passages:
Oh, I meant to tell you. I was standing on my head the other day and I got to thinking how probably unusual it is for someone of my age to do this.
Everyone came and we made seventy-five dollars to buy a Victrola for the Navajo Indians.
Putnam was a poet. He was sort of medium-sized and had a very handsome head.
...more
Like listening to your grandma (your crazy, crazy grandma) tell you stories. Except that your grandma is Katharine Hepburn. Except that the stories are replete with digressions about that candy shop she used to visit as a child(of course, it's been torn down now), and that time she went to Italy with that writer and drove his Maserati, except she didn't drive and she needs glasses, and anyway, they almost had sex, but didn't, probably because he was eleven years younger, and also, she's decided ...more
Katharine Hepburn on Katharine Hepburn.
In her stream of consciousness style writing you can almost hear her voice saying the words, even if there were a couple of times in the book where I had no idea what she was talking about. Great photos and a wonderful insight into her life from the woman herself. Aptly named, she admits that most of her life she was all about herself. Until, it seems, she fell in love with Spencer Tracy. There is less there about their relationship than people int...more
In her stream of consciousness style writing you can almost hear her voice saying the words, even if there were a couple of times in the book where I had no idea what she was talking about. Great photos and a wonderful insight into her life from the woman herself. Aptly named, she admits that most of her life she was all about herself. Until, it seems, she fell in love with Spencer Tracy. There is less there about their relationship than people int...more
4-stars for the delightful good time spent with Ms Hepburn chatting about this, that, and the other thing, an occasional gem of wisdom popping out now and then almost just by accident. The best stories are the little ones, such as the one about the only guy who stopped to help her and a friend change a tire by the side of the road, and was so busy shitting bricks over his dumb luck that he refused to believe she really was who he thought she was, even after she showed him a piece of mail with he...more
Katharine Hepburn: Glamorous? Beautiful? Sophisticated? Great actress? Yes, yes, yes, and yes. Writer? NO.
I know one reviewer inserted a bunch of silly quotes from the book. I'm just going to put in one: "Oh, I meant to tell you. I was standing on my head the other day and I got to thinking how probably unusual it is for someone of my age to do this." I think she spent too much time standing on her head - it made her a little dizzy, or should I say ditzy.
...more
I know one reviewer inserted a bunch of silly quotes from the book. I'm just going to put in one: "Oh, I meant to tell you. I was standing on my head the other day and I got to thinking how probably unusual it is for someone of my age to do this." I think she spent too much time standing on her head - it made her a little dizzy, or should I say ditzy.
...more
I'll be upfront in saying I never watched many Hepburn movies even though the woman is a legend. Me is a book of stories and I was interested in hearing those stories (read by Kate herself in her unique way). This isn't her biography per se, it's just personal stories from her life. She lived to be 96 so you know she had some stories to tell.
This books covers some of her childhood, Fenwick and growing up in Connecticut. She dearly loved her parents and siblings. In 1921, she found he...more
This books covers some of her childhood, Fenwick and growing up in Connecticut. She dearly loved her parents and siblings. In 1921, she found he...more
Buku ini aku idam-idamkan sejak aku membaca memoir Barbara Walters yang kumulai tahun lalu dan berakhir tahun ini :D. Untunglah, buku ini tidak bernasib sama walaupun dari segi penulisan, cara menulis Barbara Walters jauh lebih baik menurutku.
Tulisan Katharine tidak terlalu enak dibaca namun semangatnya terasa menyala-nyala di sepanjang buku. Energik, berkemauan keras, berjuang keras, wajar saja jika dia menjadi pemegang rekor Best Actress Oscar dengan memenangkan 4 dari 12 kali nominasi. ...more
Tulisan Katharine tidak terlalu enak dibaca namun semangatnya terasa menyala-nyala di sepanjang buku. Energik, berkemauan keras, berjuang keras, wajar saja jika dia menjadi pemegang rekor Best Actress Oscar dengan memenangkan 4 dari 12 kali nominasi. ...more
This is Katharine Hepburn's autobiography, and it left me thinking she had a rather dull life or she just isn't a very good writer. I think it is the latter--she skims over her brother's death very quickly (which I guess is understandable) and devotes a very slim part of the book to her thirty year affair with the married Spencer Tracy. (And this slim part also left me feeling like I would NOT like her! She doesn't come across as a girl's best friend kind of person.)
Editted to add...more
Editted to add...more
I love Katherine Hepburn. Grew up watching her films, and hearing wonderfully audacious quotes that always had an air of independence and empowerment. I expected to love this from the first page, and I did. The overriding thing that I took away was just how wonderful Her family was and how much they played a role in her life. If I ever have children I want to reread this frequently as a parent to remember how a positive parent can spur a child on to great things. The one thing I hoped to get tha...more
Terrfic autobiography of one of my favorite actresses ever. Katharine tells the story of her life beginning in childhood- the daughter of politically active and very intelligent parents to her early days in summer stock to her very successful and lengthy Hollywood career. Interspersed throughout details her love stories of Spencer Tracy, Howard Hughes, and her first husband Luddy. She writes likes she speaks and for me, a true fan, I miss her more. The multi-Academy Award winner will always ...more
Allyson
rated it
Recommends it for:
those who really enjoy Katharine Hepburn and her work (not casual fans)
Shelves:
subc
I enjoyed reading about Katharine Hepburn's experiences, but I struggled with her writing style. Overall, the book was worth reading because I gleaned some new insights into Katharine Hepburn's life and especially her outlook on life. However, if I didn't find her very interesting to begin with, I doubt I would've made it past the first few chapters.
You're probably familiar with Hepburn's distinctive speech pattern. The book is written the same way, as if she dictated her memories...more
You're probably familiar with Hepburn's distinctive speech pattern. The book is written the same way, as if she dictated her memories...more
Only Katharine Hepburn could deliver such a delicious, in-your-face biography. There was so much about her to love and so much of her to question. She delivered the goods here, taking you along in a wonderful way as she candidly tells of her life beginning to end. Like it or not, she wouldn't care...she just was who she was and lived a long, full life in just THAT way. What can you say about a woman who lived into her 90's, swimming in the ocean in the winter EVERY day, wearing clothes and shoes...more
This book has become one of my fav reads. Katharine Hepburn in life appeared to be direct, well put together, and always interesting,her autobiography is the same. From her very beginning growing up in Hartford, to her early days in Hollywood then back to New York, its all here. The story are often humourous, very enjoyable and filled with a Hollywood who's who. Lots of surprises along thwe way. The book is smart, easy reading, direct, and at times a wild ride. Reading this book has sparked my l...more
Although this is written as if it were a play or script, it only took about 20 or so pages to get used to the short, choppy, out-of-order sentences and themes and truly delve into the stories.
Katharine obviously worked ridiculously hard to become so successful, but I found this memoir to be sad, the way she recounts her life's stories and how self conscious and "average" she always felt. I have no idea if it really is, but the writing in this memoir seems SO honest. I loved that.
Very quick r...more
Katharine obviously worked ridiculously hard to become so successful, but I found this memoir to be sad, the way she recounts her life's stories and how self conscious and "average" she always felt. I have no idea if it really is, but the writing in this memoir seems SO honest. I loved that.
Very quick r...more
The reviews I read on this book did not at all prepare me. Many of them said that it was "like reading a conversation Katherine Hepburn was having with herself." Not so.
It was ACTUALLY reading a conversation she was having with herself and with me. I'm pretty sure she didn't write this book--she dictated it, and then did not cut out the parts where she self-corrected. In any other writer, this would be super annoying. In this book, it was charming and perfect. I am bias...more
It was ACTUALLY reading a conversation she was having with herself and with me. I'm pretty sure she didn't write this book--she dictated it, and then did not cut out the parts where she self-corrected. In any other writer, this would be super annoying. In this book, it was charming and perfect. I am bias...more
I started reading this book in October 2009 and didn't finish it until the absolute end of the year. It's not that it wasn't good - it was. It was actually like sitting down with Kate Hepburn, having tea, and letting her talk. I couldn't read much at one sitting without getting a little irritated.
I don't have many older relatives, but I remember my grandmother as she aged rattling off the things she did like it was a grocery list. That's this book, but with more interesting stories. ...more
I don't have many older relatives, but I remember my grandmother as she aged rattling off the things she did like it was a grocery list. That's this book, but with more interesting stories. ...more
3.5 really... This was certainly interesting. Not only all the quirky stories she told... but how she told them. It is written as a conversation... Kate is sitting around with a cup of coffee telling you the stories she accumulated along the way. Lots of "But I was telling you about..." and "Oh where was I". Lots of fragments. Turns out this is endearing and I felt that I was able to hear the stories in that warbley voice of hers like she was speaking to me. It was fun. I gav...more
I hate giving lots of stars to a book about a celebrity, it seems so cliche, but...I can't help it! What a fascinating woman/life. Still, at the end of the day, I'm glad I'm me and satisfied with my hum-drum life. At least it's fairly uncomplicated. Although, K.H. had an ideal growing up, full of adventure, mischief and playful exercise...perhaps with a childhood like that it was hard for her to grow up. She had tid-bits of wisdom that I could truly appreciate. Interesting writing style.
It's some years back I read this book, but I clearly remember how dissapointed I was with it. I've always admired Miss Hepburn, so really looking forward to it. I'm sorry, for me this book wasn't worth it. It didn't tell me anything, and only scratched the surface and not even in a really nice way. Of course it has its good moments, but they're far and few between. I'm sure there must be other books out there telling the story of Miss Hepburn better - unfortunately!
Me: Stories of My Life provides a detailed glimpse into the private and not so private life of Katherine Hepburn. The book is written by Hepburn herself and she writes just like she speaks. Kind of rambling, lots of "sentence fragments"...If you are a fan and familiar with the unique cadence of her voice you will find youself hearing her voice in your head as you read which is quite an interesting phenomenom. Ms. Hepburn is very candid and honest in her story telling. She openly ad...more
Katharine's outlook seems to have been to always look forward. This book is a look back, and it is very stream of consciousness. She admits that there is a lot she does not remember about the experiences she had making movies. More of the book is about her family and stage work.
It's interesting, but not arrestingly so. It's more like what you would get if you stuck a tape recorder in front of your grandmother and asked her to narrate her life for you. Part of it would be fascinating...more
It's interesting, but not arrestingly so. It's more like what you would get if you stuck a tape recorder in front of your grandmother and asked her to narrate her life for you. Part of it would be fascinating...more
While on vacation, it was the book at hand. It reveals Katharine Hepburn's life from the inside out. Insights into many of her roles, great and small, as well as the movie world of the early 20th century. I was surprised to learn that though strong willed and independent, she was docile and willing to settle for uncertainty in her life with Spencer Tracy. An interesting life though the uneven story line made it a challenge to get through in places.
Finished this over the weekend - an interesting autobiography - I learned a lot about Katharine Hepburn that I didn't know. I would not call her a writer - she tells her life story in kind of a folksy way like she's talking with you (and sometimes goes off on tangents). I liked hearing about her childhood and family - gives you a more balanced view of a person. Found it interesting what she said and didn't say about Spencer Tracy.
She was more wild and free spirited than I had imagined her; and her parents were more progressive than I would have thought for that time. I really enjoyed reading about her younger year and her devotion to swimming--no matter what the water temp.
I thought this was well-written and amusing. There was one chapter that was a little hard to follow because it was a giant dialogue and it was hard to follow exactly what was going on.
I thought this was well-written and amusing. There was one chapter that was a little hard to follow because it was a giant dialogue and it was hard to follow exactly what was going on.
One of my favorite books of all time. It is the text that sucked me into biographies, and I haven't looked back.
Reading this book is like talking directly with Ms. Hepburn, who had not yet passed away when I had read it the first time. If you have ever listened to her speak, she has a distinct pacing to her diction. This book reflects that. She lived a fascinating life that is very interesting to read about.
Reading this book is like talking directly with Ms. Hepburn, who had not yet passed away when I had read it the first time. If you have ever listened to her speak, she has a distinct pacing to her diction. This book reflects that. She lived a fascinating life that is very interesting to read about.
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