Superb book. I wondered if a look at a film critic's life could be interesting but Kael mattered, I guess - not massively but she helped people get reputations (she helped Altman, maybe not Lamont Johnson or Irving Kershner).
Kael has an interesting personal narrative. Really interesting. Younger daughter of large Jewish immigrant family who... raised chickens! Moved to San Francisco. Super smart. Never really found the right place in the world. Had a daughter out of wedlock to a bisexual man who was never in the picture. Had a short marriage. Found her place working in a cinema and writing about movies. Financially struggled until got the New Yorker gig. Even then it wasn't super well paid and only six months of the year (she shared with Penelope Gilliat) - she had to supplement with her books and lecture tours. (I'm surprised she didn't do more full length pieces like the one she did on Cary Grant).
Kael comes across exactly as you'd expect. Demanding, mean, brilliant, kind at times, a mini tyrant, an overpowering mother, a devoted grandmother. Her daughter comes across a little vague - I'm sympathetic to Kellow.
He does heaps of research, does excellent analysis of the writing and reviews. The tales of the petty feuds with other critics (John Simon, the boozy Penelope Gilliat, Andrew Sarris, etc) are hilarious. Directors would send her mean letters and/or suck up. Actors did the same - even Streisand! No wonder they had egos.
Some touching moments too like her final days and also when she and George Roy Hill ran into each other both suffering Parkinsons and swapped notes.
Great book.
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