Customer Reviews

American Legacy: The Story of John and Caroline Kennedy

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I have to respectfully disagree with the reviewer who urges those who have previously read about the Kennedys to purchase this book. I have read several Kennedy biographies, and I'm not sure this was a worthwhile purchase. For me most of this book was a rehash of earlier material. In fact, much of it is a retread of Heymann's previous book, "A Woman Named Jackie".

The book attempts to grab readers by promising an explosive revelation from the autopsy report of John Jr., which turns out to be a suggestion that John may have been under the influence of alcohol at the time he crashed his plane. Yet Heymann admits that the toxicology reports do not indicate whether the alcohol found in his system was the result of premortem or postmortem events. And although one man who encountered John at a convenience store near the airport noticed a bottle of wine under his arm, Heymann offers no witnesses who actually observed Kennedy consuming alcohol. So in my opinion that allegation falls a bit flat.

As for Caroline, she apparently has a very protective and discreet circle of friends, and I have yet to read a biography of Caroline that really fleshed out who she is beyond the woman who appears in the news handing out Profiles in Courage awards. This book is no exception. And if you are looking for shocking revelations about Caroline, the best Heymann can come up with is that she may have smoked some pot as a college student in the 1970s. And her forever appearances-conscious mother gave her a hard time about her weight.

Heymann in fact seems less than fond of Caroline and spends about two pages accusing her of exploitation in her publishing ventures, particularly the book of her mother's favorite poems. Personally I found that book to be quite tastefully done, but in any event, are we to believe that Heymann's Kennedy tell-alls were written for charitable purposes? Seems a bit hypocritical to me.

All in all, if you've never read a Kennedy biography, this could be an interesting read. The material on John could be fascinating to those new to the subject, and compared to other John Jr. biographers, Heymann's treatment of Carolyn Bessette is quite sympathetic. On the other hand, if you have read any of the previous books about Jackie and/or John Jr., you may find yourself a bit bored with this one, as I was. For those in that group, I'd find a used copy, or wait for the cheaper paperback version.

I think I've read nearly every book ever written on the Kennedy family but this is my favorite, by far. I received it two days ago and am already done--because it's hard to put down once you've started. Heymann has managed to interview people who've never talked much before about Jacqueline, John and Caroline and the result is a compilation of stories and anecdotes never revealed before. It's a fair, well-balanced account of the lives of two of the most famous offspring in American history, providing insights into the relationship between the two siblings, as well as some of the feelings each had about the other's spouse. Without "bashing" either Ed Schlossberg or Carolyn Bessette, it helps the reader better understand their personalities and the complications of life within the Kennedy clan. All in all, I would rank it an excellent summer read and certainly one of the best accounts, to date, of the choices made and lives lived by Caroline and John. While one can never know completely what makes people "tick," readers will come away with the most in-depth view thus far revealed about two children raised in the spotlight and the values, experiences, and inherent personalities which shaped their respective lives.

How could David Heymann report that mourning dignitaries from around the world for JFK's funeral walked from the US Capitol to St Matthew's Cathedral, a two mile walk? Everyone alive at the time saw the dignitaries walk from the White House to the cathedral, a distance of a few blocks. This error in the sequence of events along with a fuzzy date about Lee Radziwill's divorce made me question many of Heymann's outlandish and incredible assertions that followed in the book, many of them salacious and mean-spirited. I "googled" the guy and discovered that his credibility as a biographer and reporter is questionable. Though his writing and storytelling was a compelling distraction, I am not so sure about the accuracy of his revelations. The documentation of his book seems impressive.

I'm answering my own question by saying, "I don't know." I certainly enjoyed the time I spent on this book. I admired Jackie's dedication to her children, and to teaching them how to deal with their with their legacy. It was neat to see each sibling's unique personality unfold. But I'm not sure if I enjoyed it because John and Caroline are such compelling figures, or because Heyman did a good job. He waffles so much -- in the Schlossberg marriage, either Ed or Caroline is aloof, and either Ed or Caroline is friendly. Carolyn Bessette was either highly demonstrative, or she wasn't. And the passages about JFK Jr's sexual experimentation (which either did or didn't happen) seemed to come out of left field. So while I enjoyed this book, I can't honestly recommend it.

Writer lacking in charm elegance and style has compiled a great deal of gossip serving it with no evaluation of sources used. Faults in several details adds to impression of a bored writer. Nothing new to what you knew already. Poor photos.
Was there no editor available?

Heymann continues to be the #1 Kennedy biographer. This book on both Caroline and John Jr. is filled with great anedotes and new information not found anywhere else. AMERICAN LEGACY is a great,entertaining and quick summer read. I felt like I was an "insider" into the lives of both subjects. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

I personally loved this book. I couldn't put it down. It made me feel like weeping on the tragic loss of John. It made me understand Caroline much more fully and to feel her pain and agony in the loss of those close to her, especially her beloved brother. It also made me realize what a strong, independent, woman of the world her mother was. I have read many books about this family, and others by this same author. I rate this right up there with the best. He captures their essence like no other. I will read it again. If you enjoy reading about John and Jacqueline Kennedy, this is a must read. It will move you.

It was interesting, but not compelling, and some of the material I strongly question. But then, I'm a big Kennedy fan, just not a fan of their politics.

This is the first full-length biography of our nation's first family's children: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg. They were both affected by the assassination of their father and both handled it in very different ways. JFK Jr. was outgoing, adventure seeking, the sexiest man alive; Caroline is private, a wonderful mother and wife. They both were instilled with the Kennedy sense of public service and JFK Jr. would have probably been president -- and no doubt done a far better job than Bush! I really enjoyed finally reading all about these two heroes, which shows them to be human but also heroic.

the Billy Way interview about John & Carolyn's marriage let me

question everything. Billy Way died eleven years ago.