Pamela Clarke Keogh

This book is a basically a lifestyle and looks guide, with Audrey Hepburn as inspiration (and really, who better?). There are also several stories from Audrey’s life (although, as is stated in the introduction, this is not a biography). Split into sections such as clothes, home, romance, etc., the book tells us what Audrey would do (hmm…) and gives advice on how readers can be more like Audrey. At this point, it seems fair to point out that I am a big fan of Audrey Hepburn, both as an actress, and a person.

What I liked about it: This book is adorably pretty, if unashamedly girly (but it is aimed squarely at women); it’s about Audrey, who is so adored by many, including myself; there is quite a lot of biographical info in here; some of the tips are do-able.

What I didn’t like about it: You need money (lots) to do some of the things suggested, although by no means all of them; the book encourages people to find their own style while also telling readers how to adopt Audrey’s style (!?); there is quite a lot of ‘filler’ – for example, a list on how to tell the differences between Audrey and that other great actress named Hepburn, Kate. It’s a fair bet that anyone reading this already knows which one is which, after all; it assumes a lot about what Audrey would have liked or things she would have done, were she still with us.

Overall, it’s a nice book for fans, if for no other reason than it will look lovely on a bookshelf. However, I think the time spent reading it would be better spent on reading a good biography of Miss Hepburn, or watching some of her films.… (mehr)

This sexpot versus good girl competing for the attention of the most powerful man in the world dichotomy has sparked intrigue for more than a generation.

Ms. Keogh does not attempt to fuel the speculation of a torrid affair between Ms. Monroe and President Kennedy, she instead just compares the traits of the two women and evaluates how they handle different situations. What I like about this book is that it is well researched – their respective childhoods, their marriages, their education and careers, their philosophies, their styles, their values, their friendships - but the material is presented in a light, playful way as is appropriate for the subject matter and the target audience.

The book begins with a quiz to see how much you know about the subjects and which one of them you are most like. It doesn’t judge which is better, and without giving it away, it’s hard to imagine that anyone isn’t a little bit of both.

Bottom Line: I found it to be a nice reprieve from the heavily lifting I was doing at the office at the time. It was cute, yet heady enough to display the effort the author put into the work.… (mehr)