Customer Reviews

Me : Stories of My Life

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I'd had this book sitting on the shelf for several years, and (sadly) had never read it. Then, Kate the Great died, and I was looking for some means of remembering her fondly. Me eyes fell on "Me," and the connectio was perfect.

Me is clearly not ghostwritten like so many other autobiographies. Kate is rather jumpy in places and uses a lot of fragments. Sometimes it's hard to follow, especially at the beginning, but after a few chapters, it's like talking with an old friend--the abrupy subjects changes enhance, not detract, from the book.

If you're looking for insight on her movies, this isn't the book for you. She gives snippets of several of them, but only goes indepth when it really matters to her overall career (such as A Bill of Divorcement and The Philadelphia Story). She spends a lot of the book on her childhood, college years, and early Broadway stage experiences. She talks a lot about her leading men: Cary Grant, John Wayne, Henry Fonda. She mentions Spencer Tracy throughout the book, but only goes in-depth toward the end when she leaves the house they had shared together for years.
While this isn't a juicy exposee of her life, it's really more enjoyable because it isn't tabloid fare. It's high-brow, down-to-earth, and, above all, classy, the exact memoir you would expect from Katharine Hepburn.

Ms. Hepburn writes in a casual tone that draws the reader into her unique life and presents herself in the most open way possible. Being an actress, she writes surprisingly well. Her recent death has made her life all the more poignant. Her stinging rhetoric that wons the hearts of America shines through her writing and convinces the reader that he or she is merely sitting in Kate's living room, having tea and a nice chat. Of course, there are some sentimental moments that are truly touching. Her last letter to Spencer Tracy moved me to tears.

This books provides deep insight into Ms. Hepburn the person, but she only briefly touches on her historical career. If you're looking for a chronology of her work, choose a different biography. "ME" lets the reader get to know Katharine the Human Being.

As distant and unapproachable as Katharine Hepburn may seem, her autobiography gives an aura of almost frailty and dependence. Certainly, Hepburn was one of the most independent role models modern women could hope for, but her life through her own eyes was a hard journey, something she couldn't've accomplished very easily.

On the whole, an excellent page-turner that kept me up 'till past 3 in the morning. Highly recommended for anyone fascinated with Hepburn's persona.

"Kit! Kathy is in the top of the hemlock!
"Yes, I know. Don't scare her. She doesn't know that it's dangerous."

That exchange between a concerned neighbor and a small girl's mother offers a telling glimpse into the childhood Katharine Hepburn's parents gave her. Being adventurous - physically as well as intellectually - was simply expected.

No one should pick this book up expecting a conventionally structured, conventionally worded autobiography. Miss Hepburn tells her life's stories as if her readers were sitting down for a visit. She moves through her long life in approximately linear fashion, but she never sticks to a timeline when doing that would keep her thoughts from flowing freely. She's frank without being vulgar, and she describes her own behavior - including those times when it was less than admirable - in forthright, honest terms.

An interesting look into the mind and heart of one very interesting person.

Her life and her stories are so interesting and the way she tells them makes you almost hear her voice while reading the words. Her phrasing is almost like stream of consciousness (not like Virginia Woolf-stream of consciousness, just very fragment-y, incorrect grammar, etc.) I got the feeling that what she allows the reader to learn about is only a small fraction of what she really knows and has experienced in her life, not to mention that the stories are more than likely a little one-sided at times, as if the other person in the story, if you could talk to them, would have a completely different version of the same event. But that's part of the attraction of the book for me.
Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot on Spencer Tracy, and leaves a bunch to the reader's imagination in that department (Spencer was married to someone else the entire time they were a "couple" and she alludes to the fact that they spent time living together; how did this work?). But you definitely pick up on her absolute reverence for the man and their relationship, which is why she doesn't reveal much.
Overall it's a fascinating glimpse inside the workings of one of America's most famous, most talented, most enigmatic actresses with SO many quirks and interesting ideas and beliefs about life.

In her own words, in her own style, Katharine proves, with this book, that no matter what she is doing, she always remains true to herself.
Sometimes the train of thought gets a bit off-track, but it only adds to the charm of the book, and gives me the same feeling as I had when I was a child listening to my grandparents telling me the stories of their lives.
I've always loved Hepburn's characters. They are so independent, fiesty, and fun. Now I know why. She makes no excuses, or apologies, for a life that was, at the time, scandalous.
It is a must-have for anyone who loves Hepburn, loves old Hollywood, or just appreciates prose with an authentic voice.
This book is one of the old friends that I invite to coffee for a leisurely Sunday morning read-a-thon.

This book is just like Katharine Hepburn herself. Uniquely funny, unconventional, different and beautiful. I found the last three chapters to be especially the one simply titled 'Love', about her unique relationship with Spencer Tracy. Any fan of Hepburn, or of Hollywood's golden era must read this book. It was amazing.

Yea so she wanders back and forth and speaks in her own way. The way an autobiograpy should be wrote. I found the book to be WONDERFUL. One of the best books I have ever read. Katharine Hepburn in her own words!!! She is the most amazing person I know and the best actress there has every or will every be!! For those of you that did not like it. You have got alot to learn about life! I especially loved the part about Spencer it came from the heart not a typewritter.

I am an avid fan of Miss Hepburn's work and admire her life. She was a true American original. Therefore, I looked forward with great anticipation to a memoir penned by an intelligent person who experienced a full life and worked along side many notables of the 20th Century. Unfortunately, I am also a writer and an editor by trade so I was extremely dissappointed to find, as many have noted here in these comments, that the narrative is rambling and fragmented ... terribly so. I guess I was expecting a more coherent and well organized set of stories. The only thing I can figure out is that Miss Hepburn's editors were so mesmerized and besotted by her star quality that they completely forgot what they were being paid to do. Simply organizing it into some sort of chronological or subject order would have helped! A really good editor can make the writer's words sing without losing the individuality of the voice. I gave the book 3 stars because of Miss Hepburn's life and some great photos. I give the book a "zero" as a work of non-fiction.

I felt like this book reflected Katharine Hepburn perfectly, it was honest, interesting and extremely funny(sometimes accidently). This would have to be the best biography I have ever read. What an exciting life she lead!

This book was just FUN! After seeing Katharine Hepburn interviewed for years this book was like sitting down with her. It's as though you have been invited for a nice visit. Ms. Hepburn spins the tails of her life without over the top exaggeration and in her very matter-a-fact-style that her fans have come to love. If you are a Katharine Hepburn aficionado or you love the glamour of Hollywood golden age I HIGHLY recommend this book.