Kate Remembered

[Cate]

Since no one has a thread on this bio, I thought I would start one. I read it for the second time a couple weeks ago (as I have said before). What does everyone else think of this book? I know a lot of critics think it's vanilla because he was a close friend and probably omitted a lot of the dirt in her life but I think that is what makes it such a great biography. It's an account of a woman's life by someone who spent the last 20 years of her life in close connection with her. Spending every weekend together almost. I don't need to know the dirt (we have other -- rather boring -- biographies for that).

I love that Berg asked her the capital of Kansas and she said "Wichita" lol But then.. of course... she remembered Topeka, which is where I live now. Awesome. Topeka's definitely not awesome... but the fact that Kate knew of this dreary, conservative town is awesome. ;D

[Richard]

I love this book. It was the first I've read when I started to become a fan, and I'll have to consider reading it again one day.

[karina]

Have to admit, I enjoyed this one too, although I can see where the critics are coming from - it is a bit sugary-sweet..... To be fair though, Berg does say he's writing as a devoted fan rather than giving an objective assessment of Kate's life & career.

I don't mind the forays into scenes with Irene Selznick etc either, but I can't help wondering whether everything Berg says about Kate is strictly true? And of course I'm sure there's lots he left out.

[Cate]

I wondered the same thing about everything being true -- that perhaps he embellished his stories a bit to make it more interesting or maybe to make us think their relationship was more intimate than it was. As for leaving things out, that is probably a given.

[gypsygem81]

I loved this book. It was really beautifully written, even though Berg is obviously biased, he doesn't really try to hide the fact. I didn't want to put it down, but at the same time I didn't want to finish it, partly because it was such a lovely account and partly because I knew how it was going to end. I was in floods of tears when I finally finished it!

Love Gem

[Cate]

You had the same problem as I did! You want to keep reading but as soon as you realize there's only a few pages left, you know the end is near. I've read it twice now and was in tears both times. I can't imagine how I would have been if I was fanatical about her two years ago and found out she died. I don't think I've heard Judy's or Kerrie's stories about the day they found out... Should I ask?

[smith]

I was getting ready for a job interview and I of course pulled out my trouser suit and thought of Katharine- it was very sad .

Early this year I almost burst into tears when I saw Katharine's grave and I probably would have started blubbering except the guide was pretty insensitive and I managed to control myself

[Judy]

It was (still is) very hard.....I was going about my business on that Sunday when around 6 o'clock or so I got home and there were three messages on my answering machine. From friends. Wondering if I'd heard. It's like they were making condolence calls. I couldn't believe it. Turned on the news and thought: No, this is what they do for OTHER famous people when they die; it's not possible that they are now doing it for her.

As I wrote to a friend recently (my fellow Taurean on this board!) for me, she was NEVER out of the picture. I know that for many people - even for those who liked her - she had been out of the limelight for some time, having made her last film nine years before her death and having retired to Fenwick and taken herself out of the public consciousness.

But for me - and many others, I'm sure - she was always a presence. In my mind, she was always around. Over those years in the mid-90's when she retreated from the spotllight, she was never really out of my awareness. I still reread books about her/by her. Still watched her movies every chance I got. I have posters from her films hanging all over my apartment. So, like someone once said, I thought for sure she'd live forever.

But as I watched all the news tributes that day, it slowly hit me and then there was this overwhelming sadness that I couldn't shake. And back then, I really did not have anyone to talk to about it, so it was doubly wierd cause here I was grieving over a person I didn't know but couldn't share it with anyone who felt remotely as I did. The sadness was genuine and there was no one I could talk to about it for fear of them thinking I was a nut case.

That's when I started surfing around and coming across other fans who have now become friends. We could relate to the feeling of loss without having to apologize for it or sweep it under the rug.

In one of the obits, there was this line and it sums up what I felt and feel:

Katharine Hepburn died yesterday; I don't have to believe it if I don't want to.

Judy

[Richard]

I love that line.

You know Judy, sometimes you put me in tears.

[gypsygem81]

Wow, Judy, that was really moving. You almost had me blubbing again. It definately is an odd situation to be in, for a fan. There are a lot of famous people that I really admire, and I know that I am in a generation in which I am probably going to live through the deaths of most of my idols. I just can't think about it because I know it's going to be devastating. In a way, I'm glad I wasn't a fan of Kate back then, I don't know how I would have handled it. Thank you for your post, it was very touching.

Love Gem

[Cate]

Judy, thank you for sharing. That was really touching... You almost had me in tears, too! At very random moments I will suddenly think to myself, Katharine Hepburn is dead... she's no longer a living and breathing body on this planet. That captivating woman on the TV and in my books no longer exists! She's GONE... ashes. And it really brings me down. Then I'll have to remember that line "Katharine Hepburn died yesterday; I don't have to believe it if I don't want to."
I was trying to think of any other celebrities that I'll probably outlive and I couldn't really think of any that might have the impact that hearing about Kate's death would have had. I was watching Paul McCartney performing on TV a few nights ago and thought "That is going to be a sad day when he dies. He's already what? 63? And I watch him and think... he's kind of like a male Kate. He totally enjoys life. AND he's still singing (and still sounds amazing). Of course there's also Madonna... who is the same age as my mother which is hard to believe (actually a day older lol). Eh, this is rather depressing.

[Cate]

PS Smith, you visited her grave this year? I really want to do that but I'm sure I won't want a guide taking me there (for that reason!). I'd like to blubber in private

[gypsygem81]

catherine said:

At very random moments I will suddenly think to myself, Katharine Hepburn is dead... she's no longer a living and breathing body on this planet. That captivating woman on the TV and in my books no longer exists! She's GONE... ashes. And it really brings me down. Then I'll have to remember that line "Katharine Hepburn died yesterday; I don't have to believe it if I don't want to.

I know exactly how you mean Catherine. I often feel the same way. I suppose it's best not to think about it too much.

Cool avatar! Did you do it yourself? That is Madonna, isn't it? I really like her new song.

Love Gem

[Cate]

Thanks ;D Yeah it is Madonna and... No, I didn't make it (I WISH)... I love her new song! I've listened to the album pretty much every time I get in my car since it came out a week ago. Great workout (and singing at the top of your lungs in the car) music.

[Shaun]

That was a very touching story Judy...thanks for sharing.