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I'm Still Here: Confessions of a Sex Kitten
The dramatic life story of the entertainer-activist who captured Broadway in her debut in New Faces of 1952. She is still drawing crowds to her concerts and cabaret appearances. She is a familiar face on television and films and her voice is heard by taxi riders of N.Y.C. Ms. Kitt is forthright in talking about her relationships with the great and near-great personalities of the past half century.
280 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1989
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About the author
Eartha Kitt
24 books75 followersEartha Mae Kitt was an American actress, singer, and cabaret star. She was perhaps best known for her 1953 Christmas song "Santa Baby". Orson Welles once called her the "most exciting woman in the world." She took over the role of Catwoman for the third season of the 1960s Batman television series, replacing Julie Newmar, who was unavailable for the final season.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 9, 2014
I read Confessions of a Sex Kitten (published in 1993), immediately after reading Eartha Kitt's 1976 autobiography Alone With Me and was disappointed to find that Confessions of a Sex Kitten is actually a poorly reconstructed slightly expanded version of her autobiography, Alone With Me. Only a brief note on the Front Matters page warns the reader that much of this book was previously published.
Some new content was appended to several of the recycled chapters which cover about 45 years of Ms. Kitt's life, and only a few new chapters were added which weakly cover the next nearly 20 years of Ms. Kitt's personal and professional life. Sadly, some the new content added to the previously published chapters do not agree with the accounts of the same incidents, people and relationships from the 1976 autobiography.
The narrative rambles quite a bit and left me thinking that some trains of thought were just abandoned without arriving to the station.
Eartha Kitt was a fascinating personality and exciting performer who may remain an enigma if this book stands as part of her legacy.
Some new content was appended to several of the recycled chapters which cover about 45 years of Ms. Kitt's life, and only a few new chapters were added which weakly cover the next nearly 20 years of Ms. Kitt's personal and professional life. Sadly, some the new content added to the previously published chapters do not agree with the accounts of the same incidents, people and relationships from the 1976 autobiography.
The narrative rambles quite a bit and left me thinking that some trains of thought were just abandoned without arriving to the station.
Eartha Kitt was a fascinating personality and exciting performer who may remain an enigma if this book stands as part of her legacy.
June 16, 2022
I read an autobiography of Eartha Kitt. I'm guessing it was this one but I'm not positive. I enjoyed how Eartha was a feminist. She speaks of the Me Too movement before it had a name. I also loved that she printed all the scurrilous FBI reports right in the book. She wasn't afraid to air their nonsense.
I found Eartha Kitt to be a brave and cool lady. A real survivor.
I found Eartha Kitt to be a brave and cool lady. A real survivor.
January 6, 2024
I initially intended to rate this book a 3, but after finishing 'I'm still Here' I changed my opinion. I was initially disappointed because the beginning of the novel consisted of such riveting and insightful accounts of her earlier year in the country and transition to the city, but towards the middle most of the stories revolved around a relationship with a man, money, or a gig. During the middle chapters I found myself taking breaks for days or weeks and struggled to continue.
However, when Eartha Kitt begins to talk about her daughter and life after her brave an honest remark within the Whitehouse, the book begins to pick up speed again. Eartha Kitt has lived a captivating but lonely life. While she was surrounded by people that adored her very few loved her. Traumatic moments of her childhood and years to follow left a void within her that she attempted to find in other people.
I began this book purely as a vanity read because every time I post a video on Tik Tok there is at least one comment that says I look like Eartha Kitt. After reading this book and discovering that we not only look alike, but we're both capricorns, love to read, love experiences, and while often surrounded by people that adore us, there is often suppressed feelings of loneliness. I saw myself in various aspects of her story. In the end, the reader is brought back full circle and we see the extent of the battle between Eartha Mae the unloved country girl and Eatha Kitt the adored sex-kitten and mega-star.
Eartha Kitt is a genius with a big heart, and a larger than life personality. This book is worth the read. I almost gave up, but i'm glad that I stuck with it.
However, when Eartha Kitt begins to talk about her daughter and life after her brave an honest remark within the Whitehouse, the book begins to pick up speed again. Eartha Kitt has lived a captivating but lonely life. While she was surrounded by people that adored her very few loved her. Traumatic moments of her childhood and years to follow left a void within her that she attempted to find in other people.
I began this book purely as a vanity read because every time I post a video on Tik Tok there is at least one comment that says I look like Eartha Kitt. After reading this book and discovering that we not only look alike, but we're both capricorns, love to read, love experiences, and while often surrounded by people that adore us, there is often suppressed feelings of loneliness. I saw myself in various aspects of her story. In the end, the reader is brought back full circle and we see the extent of the battle between Eartha Mae the unloved country girl and Eatha Kitt the adored sex-kitten and mega-star.
Eartha Kitt is a genius with a big heart, and a larger than life personality. This book is worth the read. I almost gave up, but i'm glad that I stuck with it.
October 30, 2017
I love Eartha Kitt! The vignettes she shares here are beautiful - triumphant and heartbreaking.
July 31, 2013
This book lacks direction. It's pretty much an anthology of random musings. While interesting, I wonder what her overall goal was. Eartha Kitt tells her life little by little (can't you tell from the infinite amount of small chapters) but I wondered if she even made sense of it all for most of the book.
May 4, 2019
A beautiful memoir of pain and perseverance. It is written in her voice. She covers many topics related to her and to others, including the treatment of people of color and indigenous peoples. Wonderful read, and I look forward to reading more of her works. The first 3/4 of the book is her telling her career story, the last quarter delves more into other topics. I don’t have a great attention span and started to get bored of all of the mentions of her travels to be in different shows, but I think that is just me, not the book.
December 28, 2020
Loved this book! I confess I knew nothing about her before starting, except a few tunes. Her story is captivating from page one. Her insight into the culture and politics of her day are worth the read in itself, but contextualized by the intimate experience of a Black, female, self-made international super star prior to the civil rights movement; its worth cannot be overstated. Fun to get her inside take on other stars, kings, and presidents!
July 31, 2022
Interesting lifestory. Halfway through the book she becomes a diva, and I thought over opinionated, attention seeking and almost unlikeable, but this is understandable due to the rejection and abandonment she experienced since childhood - not getting the love, attention and guidance she deserved - very similar to Marilyn Monroe, and you can look past all that. She is a survivor and an example of someone who made something out of herself.
February 23, 2019
What a fascinating life! “I must use the manure that has been thrown on me to fertilize myself and grow from seed again.” The book does bounce around and maybe isn’t written the best, get past that and delve into this amazing woman.
April 15, 2024
What a gal! As a Black woman, the way she navigated life and her career through obstacles was inspiring. I like that her voice came through and although some parts feel unpolished, I think it really added something dazzling.
March 22, 2018
Somewhere between four and two stars.
October 15, 2019
Such an amazing woman, Eartha Kitt! Great story, personal and worldly insight offered. She remains a huge positive influence on me, because of this book
January 1, 2020
Great read, but frustrating as I’d like to know more
April 10, 2021
Honestly kinda sad.
October 27, 2021
I learned a lot from this book. I just didn’t like how the book just abruptly (in my opinion) ends.
December 17, 2025
Eartha Kitt was a truly remarkable woman and I am so glad I read this outstanding biography.
February 5, 2016
I am so happy that Laverne Cox recommend this book on buzzfeed. It's an interesting memoir of travel, race and show business. I don't know if Eartha is the most reliable narrator but her observations of the world around her are really incredible. In this day and age where we are having conversations about expanding roles in show business it is such an important book.
May 26, 2008
Eartha Kitt, top ten entertainer of all time.
June 27, 2011
One of the best books I've ever read!!! Eartha Kitt had some story.
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August 2, 2011An interesting story but not well told.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews