e-Audio, 11:03:03
Narrated by: Julia Whelan
Release Date: April 25, 2023
Published by: Books on Tape
Read from: April 6-11, 2023
Stand-alone
Source: PRH App
TW: Death of a parent, Grief, Alcohol/Drug Use, Pregnancy
For Readers Interested In: Romance, Adult, Realistic Fiction, Historical FictionA multigenerational saga that traverses the glamour of old Hollywood and the seductive draw of modern-day showbiz.
When Kitty Karr Tate, a White icon of the silver screen, dies and bequeaths her multimillion-dollar estate to the St. John sisters, three young, wealthy Black women, it prompts questions. Lots of questions.
A celebrity in her own right, Elise St. John would rather focus on sorting out Kitty’s affairs than deal with the press. But what she discovers in one of Kitty’s journals rocks her world harder than any other brewing scandal could—and between a cheating fiancé and the fallout from a controversial social media post, there are plenty.
The truth behind Kitty’s ascent to stardom from her beginnings in the segregated South threatens to expose a web of unexpected family ties, debts owed, and debatable crimes that could, with one pull, unravel the all-American fabric of the St. John sisters and those closest to them.
As Elise digs deeper into Kitty’s past, she must also turn the lens upon herself, confronting the gifts and burdens of her own choices and the power that the secrets of the dead hold over the living. Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? is a sprawling page-turner set against the backdrop of the Hollywood machine, an insightful and nuanced look at the inheritances of family, race, and gender—and the choices some women make to break free of them.
*MY THOUGHTS*
Once I heard about this book I knew I needed to read it. I heard that it was a good book to read if you liked that one book about Old Hollywood from that one author. I got what they meant by that, but I also didn’t feel as connected to it. The pacing or something was off. But for a historical fiction book it was still good enough for me to read and finish. And if you know me, you know that’s no easy feat.
Ok so the pacing in this was what I had a little trouble with. It started strong, but then it got to be really slow in the middle. It wasn’t really slow, just repetitive. Especially since I knew what was coming from the beginning. Although I was hooked from the beginning chapters, the rest of it was basically her trying to pass. I knew that’s what it was, but I at the very least thought it would show her doing some of the acting? I think it was because there was just too many POV’s?
I normally don’t really care about too many POV’s, but this time was weird. I think it was because we had so many and because they were all in different times? Like the present was her granddaughter? And then the past was her and her mom? And her “maid” at some times? It was just too many and too many different ways. Because I was listening to the audio I was listening fast and I’m sure I missed some things.
The story itself could have also been better. Every time it was Kitty’s POV I was a little annoyed. It was really telly and not showy. I wanted more. Like when she was saying she was stealing from that one person to give to that cause, why didn’t the author show her in the act? And when she was in labor and was trying to figure out what she was going to do, it showed her when she had made the decision, not her wracking her brain and screaming and crying trying to figure out what it was. Idk, I just wanted more.
As far as the historical themes go, I thought it was ok. I’m probably not the best person to ask since I’m not a huge fan of historical fiction and I think I probably read 2 to 3 a year. (If that) So the accuracy of things wasn’t exactly important to me. But I think the way she was treated, the way she was always scared and looking over her shoulder was pretty accurate. I can definitely see it going that way anyway.
This book was good, but I did think there were a few small ways for it to be better. I went into this book blind, but it was totally worth it. I didn’t fall in love with it, but I did like it a lot. I do wish it wasn’t super hyped like it was because of the Reese Witherspoon. But that’s besides the point.
Overall, I give this
