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There are currently 29 member reviews
for Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis
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Bette K. (Beverly, WV)
Daunting Task.
Writing about such an icon as Jackie Kennedy has to be a thankless job. So many opinions and an almost religious adoration of the Kennedys -- writing about them takes a lot of guts.. I'm sure anyone who reads the book (and it's a really interesting read) will find it worthwhile.
For me, I could not find anyone in the book likable. That includes Jack, Jackie, their friends, acquaintances, family…
Of course there is no argument that her situation was horrendous. But her elitist, self-entitled attitude deflated my opinion of her. Her cheating husband and her own relationships with everyone seemed always self-serving and devoid of anything except self interest.
If the book is accurate, it is not the post-traumatic stress syndrome that grabs me (although I don't feel that is proven ) but the lifestyle that these people lived. I am a Kennedy lover and am disappointed to know these things about them.
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Mary H. (Phoenix, AZ)
Looking Back on a Personal History
Truth be told, I didn't believe that I could finish this story. What I wanted to remember of Jackie Kennedy is not portrayed in real events. It is difficult to imagine the grief experienced by someone as she did in witnessing the murder, assassination of her husband as Jackie witnessed on that November day in 1963. How do you remain resolute and strong for your children, the extended family, the people of the US, the world and yourself? This is a sorrowful story, yet insightful. The political ramifications of the main event were as tragic as Jackie's personal issues. As the years progressed it was evident that the personal tragedy never quite eluded the daily events of her life, as politics continued to play out in some manner. Staying with the story, I learned more about depression, PTSD and life altering events to empathize with those who find themselves unable to cope without support.
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Jane H. (Prospect, KY)
Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis: The Untold Story
I have read quite a few books about various Kennedy family members, including several specifically about John and Jackie Kennedy. Reading this book intrigued me as I couldn't imagine what else could be written about this former First Lady. I was a little put off that the first 1/3 of the book focused so much on John Kennedy's view of who Jackie should be but as the book progressed I realized that view was integral to appreciating what she became.
The story was a brutally honest look at Jackie's life .... she wasn't perfect, even though that is what she thought American wanted her to be .... and what none of us are. I thought the writer did a wonderful job of researching thoughts and feelings through interviews and letters in order to compose this book about the very reclusive Jackie Kennedy. I was a bit curious about the lack of detail about her relationships with her children, but realized at the end of the book that was probably by design. The author wanted the focus to be on Jackie herself, her thoughts, feelings and motivations through various stages in her personal development. I thought she did an excellent job. This book did add to my knowledge of the Kennedy clan ... or at least gave me another window through which to view their historical value. I would recommend.
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Pam L. (Melbourne Beach, FL)
The Untold Story
The amount of research, the well chosen words and the smart writing style of Barbara Leaming at times made this book superb. However, it got bogged down with politics and name dropping a bit too often for me. I loved the pieces about Jackie that were personal and about her everyday life and struggles.This biography was at times fascinating, absolutely full of information and served to educate the reader on PTSD. It has given me better insight into what is PTSD and the daunting task it is to lead a life free of terror after a traumatic event. I felt uncomfortable with some of the very private details, like I was privy to secrets that perhaps no one should know. I was looking for more simply about Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. Even with her demons, she displayed a class of her own and continued to reinvent herself until she found peace. Bravo to a woman who at a young age stated that her ambition was "not to be a housewife."
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Betty T. (Warner Robins, GA)
Psychological Look at Jackie
I was highly anticipating the receipt of this book. Having worked quite a bit in the field of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) debriefings, I wanted to read about how Jackie Kennedy Onassis dealt with her trauma in a time when PTSD was not even recognized. This book took a totally different slant on her life than any other book written about her.
However, I must say that the first 100 pages were so full of detailed minutiae that I found it extremely boring. I probably would not have continued reading the book except that I felt it a duty to write a review since I was given the book by the publishers. I finally just started skimming pages. The parts where Leaming writes about Jackie's behavior was very interesting. Now that so much is known about PTSD it is clear that Jackie was definitely suffering from it. The book is raw in telling some not very likeable aspects of John and Jackie Kennedy's personalities. I think much of the minutiae could have been left out. But I did grow to respect her in a way I never had before. She fought a disorder that can be totally devastating and have resulted in many suicides. She had to fight this on her own which takes a lot of strength.
I did not find the book very emotional as some did. I suspect this was because I wasn't so sure of her love for John. For those who love anything about the Kennedys, you will like it. For others, probably not so much.
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MN book lover
the "untold story" about Jackie?
This biography, which claims to be the "untold story", is fairly cynical about Jackie as she pursues the perfect husband. After that husband is killed, it becomes overly sympathetic and interprets everything in terms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Although she certainly fits the mold of that syndrome, it suddenly becomes the lens through which the author sees everything, including her choice of second husband. Not until she has been widowed again and has a "real" job does she start to actually recover and gain some control of her life. Interesting, with flaws. One wonders about the credibility of some statements (e.g., a quote that is not flattering to JFK, supposedly made in a conversation with her son -- how did the author find that?).
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Lynn W. (Calabash, NC)
Jackie O
So much of what is in this book has been told before and what is new I am not so sure we need to know. I came away with more sympathy for Mrs. Onassis and her surviving family because in the 60s and 70s none of us had heard to PTSD or would have connected it to anyone other than a soldier. Do we really need to know that Jackie consumed a lot of vodka after 11/22 and who among us wouldn't have turned to something for some self medication. In the end she got what she had always wanted in life, control.
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