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Eartha & Kitt: A Daughter's Love Story in Black and White
* 8 hours and 9 minutes *
In this unique combination of African American music and cultural history, we come to know one of the greatest stars the world has ever seen - Eartha Kitt - as revealed by the person who knew her best, her daughter.
In this audiobook, Eartha Kitt comes to life so vividly you'll feel as if you'd met her. Filled with love and poignant laughter, 'EARTH & KITT' captures the passion and energy of two remarkable women.
©2021 Kitt Shapiro (P)2021 Dreamscape Media, LLC
In this unique combination of African American music and cultural history, we come to know one of the greatest stars the world has ever seen - Eartha Kitt - as revealed by the person who knew her best, her daughter.
In this audiobook, Eartha Kitt comes to life so vividly you'll feel as if you'd met her. Filled with love and poignant laughter, 'EARTH & KITT' captures the passion and energy of two remarkable women.
©2021 Kitt Shapiro (P)2021 Dreamscape Media, LLC
8 pages, Audible Audio
First published May 4, 2021
82 people are currently reading
1056 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
March 29, 2021
Eartha's only child has written a biography of their life together. Her mother carried abandonment issues from childhood throughout her life, and made sure her daughter would never feel anything but unconditional love. She brought her young daughter with her as she traveled for work, but was a stickler for deportment, and Kitt was always held to a high standard for behavior. As an adult, Kitt was Eartha's manager, and they were best friends, too. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for this ARC.
August 25, 2021
Eartha & Kitt: A Daughter's Love Story in Black and White (audio CD) by Kitt Shapiro.
Adding this biography/memoir to my list of reading material was highly unusual for me as I tend to stay with mysteries as a rule. Then I noticed this book on a book lovers group on FB and remembered watching Eartha Kitt on TV during the 1950's. She certainly was unique in a special way and I started listening. To be quite frank about it I never thought I would last through it...but I'm so glad I did.
Eartha, as it turns out, was much more than an excellent entertainer. She was a loving mother to her daughter Kitt. Strange preference for a name-don't you think? Eartha and Kitt had a close and loving relationship throughout Eartha's life. Eartha made sure of that. In fact Kitt was her family. Eartha had a painful childhood scarred with abandonment and mockery. Scarring that stayed with her although in the background during her life. Kitt came into the picture during her marriage to a tall, blond German man. Kitt took on all of his characteristics and basically none of Eartha's.
There's no doubt about it Kitt idolized her mother and it becomes so apparent in her memoir. If you've had a loving relationship with your own mother you may relate. I didn't and enjoyed to it's fullest every written word about theirs.
I also learned so much I didn't know about Eartha. That she had toured all over the globe for decades. She lived a lavish lifestyle compared to many. All this and more was news to me.
A word of warning regarding Eartha's passing. I found it heart breaking. Don't let that deter you from reading this book or listening to it. Beautifully written by a loving daughter.
Adding this biography/memoir to my list of reading material was highly unusual for me as I tend to stay with mysteries as a rule. Then I noticed this book on a book lovers group on FB and remembered watching Eartha Kitt on TV during the 1950's. She certainly was unique in a special way and I started listening. To be quite frank about it I never thought I would last through it...but I'm so glad I did.
Eartha, as it turns out, was much more than an excellent entertainer. She was a loving mother to her daughter Kitt. Strange preference for a name-don't you think? Eartha and Kitt had a close and loving relationship throughout Eartha's life. Eartha made sure of that. In fact Kitt was her family. Eartha had a painful childhood scarred with abandonment and mockery. Scarring that stayed with her although in the background during her life. Kitt came into the picture during her marriage to a tall, blond German man. Kitt took on all of his characteristics and basically none of Eartha's.
There's no doubt about it Kitt idolized her mother and it becomes so apparent in her memoir. If you've had a loving relationship with your own mother you may relate. I didn't and enjoyed to it's fullest every written word about theirs.
I also learned so much I didn't know about Eartha. That she had toured all over the globe for decades. She lived a lavish lifestyle compared to many. All this and more was news to me.
A word of warning regarding Eartha's passing. I found it heart breaking. Don't let that deter you from reading this book or listening to it. Beautifully written by a loving daughter.
August 20, 2024
Well done. Very fair to all parties and with so much information information I didn't know. A pleasure
May 14, 2021
“Eartha & Kitt” is a touching tribute from a daughter to her mother. Throughout the course of the book, Kitt focuses on the different sides of her mother: Eartha Mae (a poor cotton picker from North, South Carolina) and Eartha Kitt, the flirtatious sexy kitten and multitalented singer and actress.
Since Kitt was Eartha Kitt’s only child, she provides a unique perspective as both Eartha’s child as well as confidant and constant companion. Not only does Kitt provide insight on her mother’s life, she also provides insight on life as a biracial woman in a world that wants to put her in a racial box.
The book consists of thirty-seven chapters and presents a portrait of a woman who survived a traumatic childhood but used that trauma to reinvent herself as a independent, outspoken and resilient woman who is dependent on no one except herself.
The book is an honest and informative account of Eartha’s childhood, her life as a mother, and her life as a performer. I liked that the book can be hard to read at times especially when reading about her being blacklisted from the United States due to speaking out again young men being sent to fight in the Vietnam War from 1968-1977.
While reading this book, I was really surprised by how different Eartha was at home versus on the stage as well as how her childhood trauma colored her entire life. Due to Eartha being mistreated as a child, she was constantly on guard when it came to being around others. In addition, since Eartha often went hungry as a child, when she became an adult, she often carried Tupperware when going out to eat so she could have food for later.
Due to their deeply interwoven relationship, in Eartha’s later years, Kitt was entrusted with the responsibility of being her mother’s manager since she best understood her mother’s needs and dual personality.
I also found it interesting that although Eartha didn’t have a traditional childhood, when she became a mother, she patented using her instincts and used every experience as a teachable moment for her daughter. The two big themes in this book is that Eartha always had a deep relationship with the Earth and that the deepest bond Eartha had in her life was with her daughter.
Overall, this book was a great and insightful book that provided clarity on a well know celebrity. Through Sharpio’s book, she presents a well rounded book that acts as a legacy for a larger than life person.
Since Kitt was Eartha Kitt’s only child, she provides a unique perspective as both Eartha’s child as well as confidant and constant companion. Not only does Kitt provide insight on her mother’s life, she also provides insight on life as a biracial woman in a world that wants to put her in a racial box.
The book consists of thirty-seven chapters and presents a portrait of a woman who survived a traumatic childhood but used that trauma to reinvent herself as a independent, outspoken and resilient woman who is dependent on no one except herself.
The book is an honest and informative account of Eartha’s childhood, her life as a mother, and her life as a performer. I liked that the book can be hard to read at times especially when reading about her being blacklisted from the United States due to speaking out again young men being sent to fight in the Vietnam War from 1968-1977.
While reading this book, I was really surprised by how different Eartha was at home versus on the stage as well as how her childhood trauma colored her entire life. Due to Eartha being mistreated as a child, she was constantly on guard when it came to being around others. In addition, since Eartha often went hungry as a child, when she became an adult, she often carried Tupperware when going out to eat so she could have food for later.
Due to their deeply interwoven relationship, in Eartha’s later years, Kitt was entrusted with the responsibility of being her mother’s manager since she best understood her mother’s needs and dual personality.
I also found it interesting that although Eartha didn’t have a traditional childhood, when she became a mother, she patented using her instincts and used every experience as a teachable moment for her daughter. The two big themes in this book is that Eartha always had a deep relationship with the Earth and that the deepest bond Eartha had in her life was with her daughter.
Overall, this book was a great and insightful book that provided clarity on a well know celebrity. Through Sharpio’s book, she presents a well rounded book that acts as a legacy for a larger than life person.
November 2, 2021
This book was very flat for me. The daughter's story of her relationship with her and her mom seemed a bit unhealthy. Eartha seemed controlling and extremely clingy to her daughter and the storyline was based surrounding that consuming relationship. When Kitt went into detail about her mother's last days and moments alive was when the book evoked emotion from me, only 10 emotionally moving pages, and that was towards the very end of the book.
Kitt repeats her mom is of the earth because her name is Eartha, which became tiring throughout the book. I got it the first and second time, enough already. I have to say, this book just wasn't deep enough for me.
Kitt repeats her mom is of the earth because her name is Eartha, which became tiring throughout the book. I got it the first and second time, enough already. I have to say, this book just wasn't deep enough for me.
May 29, 2021
A somewhat interesting book as far as it goes, though it doesn't go far enough. This is a very personal look at Eartha Kitt from a very biased daughter who puts her mom on a pedestal. It's non-stop telling us how great Eartha was, and I guess it's nice that a daughter feels that way. But the whole thing goes way too long (322 pages!) due to the lack of solid content to fill the pages. All sorts of things are ignored or summarized in a sentence or two that should have had more depth, while the author is extremely repetitive trying to use the book to spin her mother as being always kind.
The most interesting part is that Eartha looked black (she's believed to be half black but she never found out who her father was) and her daughter Kitt looks white (her dad was white), which leads to an interesting discussion of race. At first the point is clearly made that, like Martin Luther King said, everyone should be treated the same no matter what the color of their skin. It was even nice to read the author making the point that Obama could just as much been called white as black, so skin color means nothing.
However, Kitt then takes a turn to speculate that Eartha would support Black Lives Matter and probably march in the streets with them. Nothing could be more different from what MLK taught than Black Lives Matter. The group is anti-white racist and is looking for equity, not equality--it bases it's agenda on the color of skin and demeans others that aren't black. Eartha's #1 rule was to "be kind," and no group is less kind than the radicals and criminals hiding behind BLM. She also was a big believer in independence and freedom, which stand against the basic socialist beliefs of Black Live Matter. So to say Eartha would support the group means she would have to contradict her beliefs, or she would just be like all the other black hypocrites that claim to be for racial equality but support a racist group to be politically correct.
On the other hand the fact that Eartha stood up in the White House to President Johnson and condemned the Vietnam War long before Jane Fonda did (costing Eartha her career) proves that the woman is a radical on her own. She seemed to want to defend the underdog, since she herself was one--given up by her mother who married a man that didn't want children.
So many parts of the book are interesting, probably one-third of it. But the sections about Kitt and her mom traveling or Kitt celebrating holidays or the two of them at home are pretty boring. Kitt doesn't really even tell enough about herself, rushing through her two marriages so fast that you might miss the fact that she divorced a first husband who she later asked to move close to her and her second husband.
If you're looking for any behind-the-scenes stories about any Eartha projects you won't find them here. Nothing about her famous Christmas song being made, nothing about the acting beyond basic credit mentions, a sentence about Batman cranking up her fame but no details about the show. There needed to be more specifics about all of it, not assuming we had read one of Eartha's memoirs.
The end of Eartha's life is well detailed and sad, but there's not much about Kitt after that. So the story is really about a mother and daughter who both adore each other, and puts a positive image on an entertainer whose persona became very catty, dark, and witchy. According to her daughter, Eartha Kitt was nothing like the Catwoman we saw on screen.
The most interesting part is that Eartha looked black (she's believed to be half black but she never found out who her father was) and her daughter Kitt looks white (her dad was white), which leads to an interesting discussion of race. At first the point is clearly made that, like Martin Luther King said, everyone should be treated the same no matter what the color of their skin. It was even nice to read the author making the point that Obama could just as much been called white as black, so skin color means nothing.
However, Kitt then takes a turn to speculate that Eartha would support Black Lives Matter and probably march in the streets with them. Nothing could be more different from what MLK taught than Black Lives Matter. The group is anti-white racist and is looking for equity, not equality--it bases it's agenda on the color of skin and demeans others that aren't black. Eartha's #1 rule was to "be kind," and no group is less kind than the radicals and criminals hiding behind BLM. She also was a big believer in independence and freedom, which stand against the basic socialist beliefs of Black Live Matter. So to say Eartha would support the group means she would have to contradict her beliefs, or she would just be like all the other black hypocrites that claim to be for racial equality but support a racist group to be politically correct.
On the other hand the fact that Eartha stood up in the White House to President Johnson and condemned the Vietnam War long before Jane Fonda did (costing Eartha her career) proves that the woman is a radical on her own. She seemed to want to defend the underdog, since she herself was one--given up by her mother who married a man that didn't want children.
So many parts of the book are interesting, probably one-third of it. But the sections about Kitt and her mom traveling or Kitt celebrating holidays or the two of them at home are pretty boring. Kitt doesn't really even tell enough about herself, rushing through her two marriages so fast that you might miss the fact that she divorced a first husband who she later asked to move close to her and her second husband.
If you're looking for any behind-the-scenes stories about any Eartha projects you won't find them here. Nothing about her famous Christmas song being made, nothing about the acting beyond basic credit mentions, a sentence about Batman cranking up her fame but no details about the show. There needed to be more specifics about all of it, not assuming we had read one of Eartha's memoirs.
The end of Eartha's life is well detailed and sad, but there's not much about Kitt after that. So the story is really about a mother and daughter who both adore each other, and puts a positive image on an entertainer whose persona became very catty, dark, and witchy. According to her daughter, Eartha Kitt was nothing like the Catwoman we saw on screen.
May 25, 2021
Loved reading Kitt Shapiro's stories about her amazing mother, Earth Kitt. Their special bond allowed for an incredible career and Kitt has shared many life lessons and rules learned from her mother. Full review to come on Book Nation by Jen.
June 22, 2021
I've known for many years that there was far, far more to Eartha than her public persona. She was far ahead of her time. She radiated something that's hard to put into words ... an essence that gave her a powerful presence that was amazing. Especially from such a tiny person! :-)
Kitt has that same essence, perhaps more than she even realizes. In person, she has a delightfully bright, matter-of-fact demeanor and an intelligence that shines as bright as her physical beauty. And this comes through in this book. Her story is extraordinary, but she tells it in a down-to-earth manner that holds your attention and makes you feel like you are a part of it. It's a tremendous gift Kitt gives us when she shares her personal story in such a candid and open manner. Reading this book is a huge treat for those who love Eartha because of the things we never knew about her. But we get something extra ... something as amazing and beautiful as Eartha. We get to know Kitt, too. And I bet you'll end up loving her as much as you do her mother.
Kitt has that same essence, perhaps more than she even realizes. In person, she has a delightfully bright, matter-of-fact demeanor and an intelligence that shines as bright as her physical beauty. And this comes through in this book. Her story is extraordinary, but she tells it in a down-to-earth manner that holds your attention and makes you feel like you are a part of it. It's a tremendous gift Kitt gives us when she shares her personal story in such a candid and open manner. Reading this book is a huge treat for those who love Eartha because of the things we never knew about her. But we get something extra ... something as amazing and beautiful as Eartha. We get to know Kitt, too. And I bet you'll end up loving her as much as you do her mother.
August 16, 2021
I have to admit my bias - no actress was a better 'cat woman' and no other singer should ever have been allowed to record 'Santa Baby'. This is a great behind the scenes look at a life that didn't start out looking like it would go anywhere. Eartha Kitt overcame a lack of education and shyness to become an entertainer and civil rights activist. Her daughter tells the good and the bad in a way that lets you feel Eartha's life for youself.
June 24, 2021
Kitt Shapiro writes a loving memoir about her mother Eartha Kitt. Named after her mother's last name. Kitt writes about what it was like to have the talented Eartha Kitt as her mother. Her mother was bi-racial. having a mother who was black and Cherokee and an unknown father who was white. Eartha Kitt married a white man and gave birth to her only child Kitt. Kitt writes about people not believing that they were mother and daughter since Kitt looked white and her mother black.
Kitt travelled all around the world with her mother while she toured. she has many stories to tell of her proud and strong willed mother. the ups and downs of having a famous person as a parent. but in it all this is a loving tribute to her mother.
Kitt travelled all around the world with her mother while she toured. she has many stories to tell of her proud and strong willed mother. the ups and downs of having a famous person as a parent. but in it all this is a loving tribute to her mother.
February 25, 2022
I was so close to giving this memoir five stars but I give only the best my highest rating. I admire Eartha Kitt So much!!! What an inspiring woman who also had an incredibly painful and abused childhood. In spite of that, she aspired to not being just a victim. She moved on up to enrich her own life and those around her. I love her views on race and her being adamant about not being categorized as being only a person who happened to be of mixed lineage. She was human (her reference). A wonderful memoir written by an admiring daughter. I can't say enough about this book.
February 27, 2024
truly cannot believe how repetitive and badly written this book is. the author repeats herself so many times and even makes completely ill informed statements about culture. also hella weird how she thinks race is an after thought. this is not what I wanted it to be.
February 23, 2025
DNF at 29%. I couldn’t deal with the redundant and repetitive nature of this book. I wanted to like it so deeply, as I am a fan of Eartha. But the writing felt incredibly juvenile and poorly done, so much so that I couldn’t push past it to try to enjoy whatever messages Kitt was trying to share.
July 18, 2024
Felt a bit repetitive in some ways and not convinced I was the target audience. 2.5 stars.
March 17, 2022
I loved Eartha Kitt before but now I'm utterly attached to her personhood, not just her iconic career. In this memoir, Eartha Kitt's daughter shares her perspective on the battle of existing with mixed racial identities in the 20th century and the intricacies of co-dependent parenthood. For such heavy topics, the intimate narrative makes it surprisingly digestible!
December 12, 2023
I have always had the utmost respect for Mrs. Eartha Kitt. She was a fascinating figure to me while I was growing up. I loved the way her daughter, Mrs. Kitt, provided details about who her mother was and how they lived. A few life lessons that Mrs. Eartha taught her daughter were very similar to the way I raised my daughter. For example, Ashley (my daughter), went to a private school, started learning a second language (Espanol) at two years old, and was sent to boarding schools and summer programs because I believed things she could learn could never be taught in a classroom.
The book about Mrs. Eartha Kitt was respectfully written.
Well done!
The book about Mrs. Eartha Kitt was respectfully written.
Well done!
April 16, 2022
I randomly stumbled upon this book in the library. I was drawn to the cover from the second I picked it up. So glad I did!
Such an incredible story to hear from a daughter's point of view. Deeply touching book! I highly recommend it! RIP to a beautiful Soul Eartha Kitt and special thanks to her daughter for sharing a part of their life with us.
Such an incredible story to hear from a daughter's point of view. Deeply touching book! I highly recommend it! RIP to a beautiful Soul Eartha Kitt and special thanks to her daughter for sharing a part of their life with us.
October 2, 2022
I am glad I took the time to read this biography/memoir written by Kitt Shapiro and Patricia Weiss Levy. Being the only child of Eartha Kitt was interesting enough. Learning about her mom Eartha Mae was intriguing since I didn't know much about this superstar. Didn't even know Eartha had a daughter and named her Kitt iho herself.
I would recommend this very good read. Enjoy.
10/3/2022.
I would recommend this very good read. Enjoy.
10/3/2022.
February 7, 2023
Two incredible women with their own individual stories, but far more stories of their lives intertwined. This feels like a very real look into a surreal life with powerful and unique relationship between mother and Daughter.
March 17, 2025
Reread this beautiful book this past week, and truly to this day such a powerful beautiful book about the love of a mother and all she had endured written by her daughter who felt that love everywhere.
April 16, 2023
Absolutely loved it! If you listen to the audiobook, you hear the love in Kitt's voice.
September 14, 2023
I really enjoyed this. It gave me a new appreciation of Eartha and showed so much of her vulnerability that was seldom shown. The love between her daughter and her inspires me to be more adventurous with mine. When I think back over this selection I am glad to have read it. I was almost sad it had to end, but that just means it was good.
March 27, 2022
Read hard copy, not Kindle edition.
April 3, 2025
God May Not Come When You Want Him, But He Is Always On Time.
I have used all the manure that has been thrown on me as fertilizer
to make me stronger.
Never pass up the opportunity to not say anything.
These are a few “Kittisms” that Eartha liked to say.
She was a remarkable woman.
I enjoyed the “Goodread”.
I have used all the manure that has been thrown on me as fertilizer
to make me stronger.
Never pass up the opportunity to not say anything.
These are a few “Kittisms” that Eartha liked to say.
She was a remarkable woman.
I enjoyed the “Goodread”.
August 2, 2021
Excellent book. The feelings and some of the experiences Kitt shared were very relatable. In fact, I would love to meet her.
August 24, 2024
An interesting look at the lives of Eartha and her beloved only child, Kitt, as told by her daughter. I can only assume this provides a different lens through which to view Eartha than her own autobiography, which I admit I haven't read yet. While I didn't think Shapiro was the most enticing storyteller, I do believe Kitt had a very interesting story and enjoyed hearing about her life from her daughter's perspective.
October 10, 2024
I discovered Eartha Kitt's daughter, Kitt Shapiro, on TikTok and decided to read her book. It was interesting to see the daughter's perspective on her mother and some of the newsworthy events involving Eartha.
I particularly enjoyed the photos at the end of the book and the chapter called, "Curtain Call," was heart wrenching.
However, some parts of the book felt repetitive. For instance, Shapiro repeatedly mentioned her mother’s ability to speak multiple languages, Eartha’s love for nature and animals, and how poor and mistreated she was as a child. At times, I thought, “Okay, we get it—we didn’t forget; it was mentioned just a few chapters ago.”
Despite this, I'm glad I read the book. I would like to read one of the autobiographies Eartha wrote herself. Still, this memoir provides a great introduction to who Eartha Kitt was for those who may not have heard of her or don’t know much about her.
I particularly enjoyed the photos at the end of the book and the chapter called, "Curtain Call," was heart wrenching.
However, some parts of the book felt repetitive. For instance, Shapiro repeatedly mentioned her mother’s ability to speak multiple languages, Eartha’s love for nature and animals, and how poor and mistreated she was as a child. At times, I thought, “Okay, we get it—we didn’t forget; it was mentioned just a few chapters ago.”
Despite this, I'm glad I read the book. I would like to read one of the autobiographies Eartha wrote herself. Still, this memoir provides a great introduction to who Eartha Kitt was for those who may not have heard of her or don’t know much about her.
June 27, 2021
Before reading this book, I knew and admired Eartha Kitt as a truly great entertainer and highly interesting person. (I remember being fascinated by her discussions when she appeared on talk shows.). But after reading this book I admire her even more as a loving mother who showed by word and example how much she cared for her daughter Kitt. Their relationship is beautifully described in this book, and it shows how Eartha wholeheartedly assumed her role as a parent by being assertive when needed, leading by doing, and at all times showing in many ways how much she truly loved her daughter. She is a role model as a parent, a person and an American.
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April 25, 2022I don’t know what I expected from this book, but it left me wanting. I don’t feel the writer went deep enough If that makes sense. Her daughter shared loving memories, but somehow avoided vulnerability or the emotion one would expect.
The last chapters felt the most real and inviting to me. Sharing the final moments of her time with her mama definitely made my throat burn, but that was it—out of all those pages that was the first time I really felt their bond.
I wouldn’t recommend this one. Books gotta stir something up inside us. Unfortunately this one does not.
The last chapters felt the most real and inviting to me. Sharing the final moments of her time with her mama definitely made my throat burn, but that was it—out of all those pages that was the first time I really felt their bond.
I wouldn’t recommend this one. Books gotta stir something up inside us. Unfortunately this one does not.
August 31, 2021
" Oh my God! What a excellent book. I've always had a love affair with Eartha Kitt,there is no one in this planet earth like her, she was truly unique and her very,very beautiful daughter did a wonderful job. "
Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews