How to be Lovely

June 1, 2004
A breezy but sometimes insightful read, this hybrid mini-biography/female empowerment manual goes down like a soothing tonic for the 21st-century woman attempting to juggle life, career, family and, if there's time, fashion. The waifish star and muse of Givenchy, Audrey could be quite the sage as well, turning out insightful phrases about working hard, living well and aging gracefully. Her simple, cautiously optimistic approach to life came as a result of her childhood in occupied Holland during World War II. The daughter of Baroness Ella van Heemstra Hepburn-Ruston, Audrey left Amsterdam for London as a teen to study ballet. Her dance aspirations, however, morphed into a Hollywood career. Hellstern arranges each chapter as instructive vignettes, with headings like"Be genuine,""Live without regret""Listen well" and even"Get plenty of vitamin C"; these are followed by stories, anecdotes and quotes from Audrey and her admirers, and punctuated with b&w photos, both enchanting candid shots and glamorous stills. Enduring the challenges of womanhood--miscarriages, divorce and the balancing act of career and family--Audrey Hepburn exuded dignity and humility through her successes and failures. As Hellstern styles it, she ate what she wanted but still watched her figure, and devoted herself to global causes without becoming political."I could never be cynical," Hepburn claimed."I wouldn't dare. I'd roll over and die before that." 68 b/w photos.

June 28, 2004
A breezy but sometimes insightful read, this hybrid mini-biography/female empowerment manual goes down like a soothing tonic for the 21st-century woman attempting to juggle life, career, family and, if there's time, fashion. The waifish star and muse of Givenchy, Audrey could be quite the sage as well, turning out insightful phrases about working hard, living well and aging gracefully. Her simple, cautiously optimistic approach to life came as a result of her childhood in occupied Holland during World War II. The daughter of Baroness Ella van Heemstra Hepburn-Ruston, Audrey left Amsterdam for London as a teen to study ballet. Her dance aspirations, however, morphed into a Hollywood career. Hellstern arranges each chapter as instructive vignettes, with headings like"Be genuine,""Live without regret""Listen well" and even"Get plenty of vitamin C"; these are followed by stories, anecdotes and quotes from Audrey and her admirers, and punctuated with b&w photos, both enchanting candid shots and glamorous stills. Enduring the challenges of womanhood--miscarriages, divorce and the balancing act of career and family--Audrey Hepburn exuded dignity and humility through her successes and failures. As Hellstern styles it, she ate what she wanted but still watched her figure, and devoted herself to global causes without becoming political."I could never be cynical," Hepburn claimed."I wouldn't dare. I'd roll over and die before that." 68 b/w photos.

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.