It was cloudy, and the only light was from the spokes of the Ferris wheel. It sat low on the fourth tier of their property, so only half of it was visible from the house. It was a gift, given to her mother more than two decades ago by a French director courting her for a film she ultimately declined. Her mother thought it was an eyesore but kept it for the sake of good conversation. Visitors likened it to a giant dream catcher, fitting considering that what and who lay behind its presence mirrored the collected, albeit programmed, wants of many. It was a symbol of celebrity, a club into which everyone wanted entry—a partition between gods and mortals. From the Perch, Elise did feel somewhat godly.

Kitty gets somewhat settled into her job at the Hollywood studio and she eventually meets a makeup artist who is also passing. This introduces her to a network of women, both passing and not, who are working to help those suffering through the Jim Crow South. Let’s talk about our thoughts about the sections dedicated to this work by the women. Delia Sweeney has always been unlike her older sister–fair and delicate compared to tall, statuesque Nora, whose hair is as dark as Donegal turf. In other ways too, the sisters are leagues apart. Nora is her mother’s darling, favored at every turn, and expected to marry into wealth. Delia, constantly slighted, finds a measure of happiness helping her da on the farm. The rest of the time, she reads about far-off places that seem sure to remain a fantasy. Until the day a letter arrives from America . . . Too Many Side Characters: There are so many characters and names mentioned in this book, and a lot of them are easily forgotten and it causes certain plot points to not hit as hard as it could.Crystal Smith Paul attended Spelman College and UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television and received her master's in journalism from NYU. Her nonfiction writing has appeared in Salon, Jezebel, and HuffPost. She currently works in digital marketing for wellness and beauty brands. Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? is her first novel. Underdeveloped and/or Boring Main Characters: Elise, the older sister and our main point of view, seemed miserable in her life yet also unwilling to do anything about it until Kitty's gift which made for a chore to read. I feel like we didn't get enough about Elise, her mother, her father, or her sisters, or any of the people at the memorial. We didn't realize anyone's importance or struggles until the end and by then, it was hard to feel or empathize with anyone. Plus Elise's epiphany and desire to good by the end of this felt superficial at best and egotistical at worse with her exposition dump of newly acquired social justice knowledge felt rushed and forced. Discuss the theme of inheritance and its various forms in the novel. How do the characters navigate the legacies they have been given, whether it’s wealth, fame, or family ties? In what ways does inheritance shape their identities and choices? Reflect on the book’s ending and its implications. Did it leave you with any lingering questions or unresolved ideas? How did the conclusion tie together the various narrative threads and themes, and did it satisfy your expectations as a reader?

That’s the crux of the story, told through different timelines and perspectives —mainly Kitty in the past and the eldest St. John sister, Elise, in the present. A distant relative has provided the means for Delia and Nora to go to New York. Delia will be a lowly maid in a modest household, while Nora will be governess for a well-to-do family. In Queenstown, Cork, they board the Titanic, a majestic new ocean liner making its maiden voyage. Any hope Delia carried that she and her sister might become closer during the trip soon vanishes. For there are far greater perils to contend with as the ship makes its way across the Atlantic . . . Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? is an intoxicating and seductive debut, drawing you into an underground Hollywood world that is as glamorous as it is dangerous. Kitty Karr is an iconoclastic, complicated, and fascinating woman, whose legacy is as relevant as ever today. Crystal Smith Paul is a thrilling new voice in fiction and I cannot wait to see what she does next.”I felt Kitty’s storyline overall was very strong and engaging. This is truly the heartbeat of the novel. Kitty’s Choices Kitty’s storyline is really the heartbeat of the novel, though. It shines a light on a dark facet of American history. Reflecting on the book as a whole, what do you think Crystal Smith Paul is trying to convey about the human experience, particularly in relation to family, race, and gender? How does the book prompt us to examine our own choices and the inheritances we carry? Discuss the potential for personal growth, reconciliation, and breaking free from societal constraints as depicted in the book. What kept me from loving the book were the present day/Elise chapters. For the most part, I found these chapters confusing. Everyone but Elise and a couple others seem terrified of letting Kitty's secret out, but it's not clearly explained why. It kind of dulls the impact of the final moments because their hesitation is just confusing. There are other parts that confused me, but I'll leave those out to avoid spoilers. The chapters aren't particularly strong compared to the past chapters. With the past, there's a strong, driving voice, and each moment is clear, emotional, and powerful. That same drive isn't there in the present chapters. While the storyline is one that's been overdone, it was still an interesting and intense story. The decisions that Kitty and her mom had to make, the historical aspects of this book, were thought provoking and heart breaking. The book does deliver on an interesting twist of who Kitty Karr was and why she left her inheritance to the St. John sisters, even if some of it was predictable.

Paul’s debut is a riveting, often heartbreaking tale that explores race, privilege, and celebrity in America through the eyes of a one-of-a-kind character. Readers of Taylor Jenkins Reid and Piper Huguley will be enthralled.” This is a very well done novel. An impressive debut that covers a wide range of topics from racism, family, fame, motherhood and more. I did not want to put this book down.

Chapters in the Past: The past and the lead up to the present were chapters that held my attention and kept me reading. Super readable and easy to binge as I wanted to know more! Though Paul crowds the narrative with far too many underdeveloped characters and makes a few too many implausible plot leaps, she ably describes Kitty's transformation and unflinchingly details the racism, misogyny, and exploitation Kitty faced as a young woman. Though a bit clunky, the dramatic story and hefty subject matter would make a fine adaptation to the silver screen." ― Publishers Weekly Sequestered for a week already, Elise found her stress now was compounded by her sisters’ pending arrival. Physical proximity would force the closeness that only a shared childhood could bring. Everything had changed overnight, and she didn’t know how to pretend with them that it hadn’t. Elise could mimic emotions she didn’t feel on command but had no ability to express the ones that were true.