Oprah

A Biography

By: Kitty Kelley

Narrated by: Kitty Kelley

Length: 19 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

Based on three years of research and reporting, as well as 850 interviews with sources, many of whom have never before spoken for publication, Oprah is the first comprehensive biography of one of the most influential, powerful, and admired public figures of our time, by the most widely read biographer of our era.

Anyone who is a fan of Oprah Winfrey or who has followed her extraordinary life and career will be fascinated and newly informed by the closely observed, detailed, and well-rounded portrait of her provided by Kitty Kelley's exhaustively researched book. Listeners will come away with a greater appreciation of who Oprah really is beyond her public persona and a fuller understanding of her important place in American cultural history.

©2010 Kitty Kelley (P)2010 Random House

Absolutely do not waste your time.......

What a terrible book. Audible is there anyway I can bet my money back. I hated this book. I thought the author did a great job, it was the subject matter that was just terrible!

Our Stories Belong To Us Alone

I only made it through the prologue, first chapter, and the beginning of chapter two before turning it off, and am now going to delete it from my bookshelf. Why? The author makes it plain that Oprah does not want her story told in this way - she doesn't want other people telling her story, and yet here it is. The author sets the stage early on by sharing the horrific sexual abuse Oprah suffered beginning at the age of 9, and how the experience shaped the rest of her life. As a pastor, therapist, and a voice for women woman, I stand firmly in the knowledge and respect that our stories are our stories. We, and only we, are the authors of our stories, and unless we grant permission to someone else to share them, they are only ours to share, if and when we deem appropriate. I could say that I am sorry I wasted one Audible credit to purchase this book - but listening to this little bit did indeed remind me of my firm stance on the narratives of our life journeys - they belong to only us. I am now deleting the book.

WOW! The Big O

What a great book, the true side of Oprah! I do remember reading and hearing Oprah say many of the things that reviewed in the book, however it is easy to she that like all Actors Oprah is on stage playing to her audience, A big thank you to her aunt/cousin that came forward, her aunt/cousin is a hoot!

excellent read

This is a well written book avout a lovely person. She had to put a lot of research into it.

Biased

Would you ever listen to anything by Kitty Kelley again?

NEVER!

How did the narrator detract from the book?

She slurs.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

All of the bove

Any additional comments?

The tone of the book was biased and she repeatedly used racially charged words with a vocal tone that denoted racism and overall distaste for the subject.

Absolutely loved it

I have no problem with the narration, but following feedback of others- suggest speed it up by .1 -I thought the reporting was excellent, fair and balanced, and just dishy enough. Without an Oprah interview or Oprah permission, Kitty Kelly seamlessly weaves in her own words from thousands of interviews. Brilliantly structured. And really gave
me insight into this massive personality.

Boring Droning Voice

Perhaps I learned a little bit more about the subject than I had previously, but it was a great price to pay for slogging through this boring account of every dollar she spent, every person she is or was mad at, or every luxury item she has purchased for her friends. The author's own narration was awful.

I'll save you a lot of time. She might have had sex for money when she was 13. She has a lot of neer do well relatives, some of whom are religious fanatics who feel they haven't bled her enough. She likes luxurious things and she holds a grudge if somebody shows her disrespect. OK, that is all you need to know about Oprah.

I Feel Dirty After Listening to This

There are always at least two ways to tell a story... a recitation of the facts, not embellished with judgment... or the Kitty Kelley way, sensationalized to make things seem a whole lot more dramatic than they appear to be. If there is a way to ascribe ulterior motives to Oprah, then Kitty Kelley finds every single one of them. The one who comes out looking bad in this book is Kitty Kelley. Petty, mean-spirited, and judgmental. Her narration is abysmal as well. Wow. I actually like Oprah more after this book. And now I loathe Kitty Kelley.

Scathing but good!

Kitty Kelley has again accomplished another Scathing story. I could not put this book down! Many of the transcripts are from episodes that I remember and was shocked to hear how many of her stories have changed over the years.

What a sad portrait of this woman who is famous for touching the lives of so many women has lost touch with reality with the real world because of her fame and fortune.

I should have known better....

What would have made Oprah: A Biography better?

Different author for starters

What was most disappointing about Kitty Kelley’s story?

I have never read anything or listened to anything by this author before I purchased this book to listen to. And I never will purchase another one again. There is nothing balanced about this biography (if you can call it a biography)

Any additional comments?

I should have known better....I am just disgusted with myself for spending even $1 on this author.