Kate Remembered by A. Scott Berg Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Kate Remembered
Book Review: Mixed feelings
Summary: 3 Stars
I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this book.
As several people have already stated, the book is often more about Berg and his reaction to Hepburn, rather than a biography of Hepburn herself. It is often very touching and humorous in certain places, and is well-written enough to sustain interest.
However -- something just didn't feel right about the book. Berg was hardly the first or only person to interview her, so how exactly how did this relationship develop? I couldn't help feeling that Berg was exaggerating the extent of their friendship.
Additionally, I found his description of Kate's final years both depressing and exploitative. Berg seems to believe that he's describing her with respect and dignity, but I just found myself thinking - oh, sure, Hepburn would be THRILLED that all this would be in print. I certainly hope my "friend" would not write about my death that way.
All in all, this book contains interesting tidbits, but you can't help feeling that Berg is either a bit phony or opportunistic.
Book Review: What he left out...
Summary: 5 Stars
I read most of the other reviews before starting the book, and I have to agree with most of the good ones. However, after finishing the book last night, and after staring at the ceiling when I went to bed, I began wondering about that poor woman who spent the last months (years?) tethered to an oxygen bottle. Why? Did she have emphysema? Did she have COPD? And why, if she was so physically active, would she be plagued with such problems. Those questions, and the tossing and turning, made my poor wife leave the bed and go into another room to read her book. Then I remembered. The author mentions that both Hepburn and Tracy were smokers, at least back in the 50's or 60's. Ah hah! A smoker. (Of course, it would be expected that a young woman seeking emancipation in the 20s would take to the habit.) But, then the questions came hammering through. If she was a smoker, she would have had her little rituals that would have been associated with the habit. "I hope you don't mind me smoking, darling." There would have had to have been such dialogue about this, and she would have been militantly defensive about the habit. What bothers me is that the author said absolutely nothing about this--maybe for a good reason, because she had quit by the time he knew her, but there is an unkinder thought lurking that he might have purposely avoided mentioning this filthy habit. (You now know my bias--reformed smokers are the worst.) Anyhow, this is no big deal, and I do not want to detract from this intimate look at a truly outstanding woman. But, I sure wish I knew if the smoking was what did her in.
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