Roxie's February Book Review

Yes, you biatches, Roxie reads!!! And sometimes I actually read more than People, Entertainment Weekly, Variety and Billboard, so there! Since the Academy Awards are in a couple of weeks I thought we'd dedicate Roxie's Review to Hepburn, Kate Hepburn. I just read an extremely interesting biography on the legend with the most Oscars titled "Kate: The Woman Who Was Hepburn" by William J. Mann. Now, as you may know, the Roxster absolutely loves Kate with a capital "L". Speaking of the "L Word" ... Mann, who has more research notes and attributions than a Harvard White Paper in this book, sets out to prove that Ms. Hepburn liked to dabble with men (yes, there were others besides "Spence") AND women. Ah, thus all of her pant-wearing and comfortable shoe-wearing becomes very clear, am I right? However, this is not a National Enquirer take on a legend who can't defend herself, may she rest on golden pond...it's really a look at the drive behind the talent and the personality of one of the most talked about and picked apart Hollywood legends in history. Mann oh man has he done his homework on this subject and quite a subject it is. If you're interested in the ups and downs of a long-term career in tinsel town or how a woman totally took charge of her image (a la Madonna) while always trying to expand and improve her craft (a la Madonna but with varying results -- PLEASE QUIT ACTING, MADGE!!) then this book is for you and it's a fascinating look at how important public opinion and the right PR strategy are to have made it in the golden era (and to make it now) Mr. Bush, perhaps, should read this and learn a thing or two about what it really means to wear the pants of the country?! I digress, but it also is a portrait of someone demanding that she always be different, unique and as much of herself as she really could be. Mann portrays Hepburn as someone that simply wants to be the best at her craft and simply wants to be able to be herself (but perhaps couldn't because of stereotypes or other non-sense). His version of the Hepburn and Tracy love affair is so touching that you realize they probably were madly in love and completely co-dependent on each other but simply didn't have it in them to have your typical heterosexual relationship (whatever "typical" is). After devouring the book I bought the DVD of "The Philadelphia Story" which arguably is one of her finest films (and Cary Grant is so H-O-T, it's unreal, my dears), and you can see the fire, passion and talent that burns through every one of her pores. It's a fascinating look at Hollywood, stereotypes of what makes men men and women women (or men women and women men, are you feelin' me?). Pick it up and learn about the woman who is Rox's knight in shining armor, and don't you forget it. TTGP gives "Kate" a 5-pack out of a six-pack of diet Pop.