Miss D and Me: Life with the Invincible Bette Davis

by Kathryn Sermak

Hardcover, 2017

Status

Available

Publication

Hachette Books (2017), Edition: 1st, 288 pages

Description

Biography & Autobiography. Performing Arts. Nonfiction. HTML:For ten years Kathryn Sermak was at Bette Davis's side�??first as an employee, and then as her closest friend�??and in Miss D and Me she tells the story of the great star's harrowing but inspiring final years, a story fans have been waiting decades to hear. Miss D and Me is a story of two powerful women, one at the end of her life and the other at the beginning. As Bette Davis aged she was looking for an assistant, but she found something more than that in Kathryn: a loyal and loving buddy, a co-conspirator in her jokes and schemes, and a competent assistant whom she trained never to miss a detail. But Miss D had strict rules for Kathryn about everything from how to eat a salad to how to wear her hair...even the spelling of Kathryn's name was changed (adding the "y") per Miss D's request. Throughout their time together, the two grew incredibly close, and Kathryn had a front-row seat to the larger-than-life Davis's career renaissance in her later years, as well as to the humiliating public betrayal that nearly killed Miss D. The frame of this story is a four-day road trip Kathryn and Davis took from Biarritz to Paris, during which they disentangled their ferocious dependency. Miss D and Me is a window into the world of the unique and formidable Bette Davis, told by the person who perhaps knew her best o… (more)

Rating

½ (11 ratings; 4.6)

User reviews

LibraryThing member debkrenzer
After having loved "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane" and watching "Feud" on TV, I was very excited to get the chance to read this book. I have always loved that movie and the ensuing "feud" behind the scenes.

This book was perhaps one of the more interesting memoirs that I have read written by
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someone who knew the star and spent time with them.

I loved the technique and style that was used in writing this book and certainly enjoyed reading it. A person could tell that the author truly felt a lot for the star. And, of course, seeing the personal side of Bette Davis, a true coup.

Thanks to Hatchett Books and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
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LibraryThing member caanderson
Loved the book. I’m a huge Bette Davis fan and to hear about the last years of her life described by someone close to her is a gift. It’s well written with insides into her personal life and how she passed on.
LibraryThing member knahs
A great look at Bette Davis by her assistant who was with her the last 10 years of her life. Sermak was young and just out of college when hired by Davis who had a "hunch" they would work well together While it was difficult for Sermak at first, Davis took her in hand and became a mentor to her,
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teaching her how to dress and do all the things a personal assistant would do. While there were times Davis might have wanted to fire Sermak or Sermak wanted to quit, they eventually developed a good relationship which really comes through in this book. The description of their trip driving around in France in priceless and shows a different side of Davis Davis' courage in facing several health problems - breast cancer, mastectomy, stroke, broken hip, and recurrence of cancer shows want a strong woman Davis was. Sermak took good care of Davis and fulfilled her final wishes. I only wish Sermak would have mentioned if she knew she had been included in Davis' will since she ended up getting almost half the estate.
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LibraryThing member Pat_Bunk_Malecki
I purchased this book because I love Bette Davis. I enjoyed reading about her life after the red carpet. It is well written and an interesting read.

Awards

Language

Original language

English

Physical description

288 p.; 6.3 inches

ISBN

0316507849 / 9780316507844

UPC

842988125883
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