Fairy Tale Interrupted: A Memoir of Life, Love, and Loss [Hardcover]

RoseMarie Terenzio (Author)

Book Description

Release date: January 24, 2012

To everyone else, John F. Kennedy Jr. may have been American royalty, but to RoseMarie Terenzio he was an entitled nuisance—and she wasn’t afraid to let him know it. RoseMarie was his personal assistant, his publicist, and one of his closest confidantes during the last five years of his life. In this, her first memoir, she bravely recounts her own Fairy Tale Interrupted, describing the unlikely friendship between a blue-collar girl from the Bronx and John F. Kennedy Jr.

Funny, moving, and fresh, her memoir is a unique account by the woman who was with him through dating, politics, the paparazzi, and his marriage to Carolyn Bessette. Her street smarts, paired with her loyalty, candor, and relentless work ethic, made her the trusted insider to America’s most famous man.

After John and Carolyn’s tragic, untimely deaths on July 16, 1999, RoseMarie’s whole world came crashing down around her, along with her hopes for the future. Only now does she feel she can tell her story in a book that is at once a moving tribute and a very real picture of her friend and employer.

Many books have sought to capture John F. Kennedy Jr.’s life. None has been as intimate or as honest as Fairy Tale Interrupted, a true portrait of the man behind the icon—patient, protective, surprisingly goofy, occasionally thoughtless and self-involved, yet capable of extraordinary generosity and kindness. She reveals what John really had in mind for his political future, how he handled media attention, and the reality of life behind the scenes at George magazine. She also shares how she dealt with the ultra-secretive planning of John and Carolyn’s wedding on Cumberland Island—and the heartbreak of their deaths.

Fairy Tale Interrupted is a deeply loving story and a fascinating adventure, filled with warmth, humor, insight, and five years’ worth of unforgettable memories.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A window into the time a president’s son tried to make it in New York publishing, in the final giddy years before the Internet changed everything.”

—The Washington Post

“Terenzio doesn’t dwell any longer than necessary on Kennedy’s death . . . but she was in his apartment that night and has a story to tell.”

—The Boston Globe

“Amazing revelations. . . . Working Girl meets What Remains in this behind-the-scenes story.”

—Good Reads

“No one is better at observing the affairs of a magazine than the boss’s assistant: with sprezzatura to spare, Terenzio delivers tantalizing accounts of staff cattiness and celebrity dealings. . . . A case study of the fascinating relationship between the often unsentimental executive who requests the impossible and the loyal, fiercely protective assistant.”

—Macleans

“Candid. . . . Terenzio deftly reconstructs the wonderfully addictive yet strange and high-pressure world in which she worked. . . . She chronicles her time with Kennedy within the glorious but often brutal bubble that encircled his world, and what he taught her about living.”

—Publishers Weekly

“A memoir of the late nineties, and an era gone by. . . . A suitably emotional ending, an up-close-and-personal account.”

—Celebrity Books

“Fairy Tale Interrupted joins a long list of books about one of America’s most tragic families. It’s probably one of the most personal and heartfelt narratives. . . . It makes Kennedy more human and shows a lovable side that should be regarded as sweet tribute to his memory.”

—Austin American-Statesman

“Captivating … told with style and grace.”

—Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

RoseMarie Terenzio was born in the Bronx and served as personal assistant, publicist, and confidante to John F. Kennedy, Jr.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Gallery Books; First Edition edition (January 24, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439187673
• ISBN-13: 978-1439187678
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.9 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (191 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #274,684 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #73 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( K ) > Kennedy, John F.

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 69 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars An Insider's Flattering View of JFK's Founding of George Mag January 30, 2012

By John Klimick Jr.

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Fairy Tale Interrupted is an interesting account of the day-to-day life of JFK Jr. while he was the editor-in-chief of George Magazine in the late 1990's. It is written by Rosemarie Terenzio who served as JFK Jr.'s personal assistant during that period and who still holds Mr. Kennedy in awe 10+ years after his death. If you buy this book in order to find out more inside dirt on JFK Jr. or his wife you will be disappointed. Ms. Terenzio's seat at any future Kennedy events is secured.

Her depiction of JFK Jr. is not too different than the general public perception. He comes across as a basically nice guy who takes his life of wealth and privilege for granted. Although he does not want to be treated as anyone "special" on an ongoing basis, he still doesn't hesitate to use his name and prominence to gain access to the most prestigious people or events. The primary theme of Ms. Terenzio's story is about how she, a blue collar girl from the Bronx, was able to become a part of Mr. Kennedy's life which included access to the most exclusive events, both political and entertainment, at the mere mention of his name.

An interesting, but ultimately disappointing, portion of the story relates to JFK Jr's wife, Carolyn Bessette, who has often been depicted as a cold, aloof, self-centered, drug abuser who may or may not have been responsible for their ultimate demise by arriving late for their flight to Hyannis. In contrast to these negative descriptions, Ms. Terenzio describes Carolyn as being funny, friendly and extremely generous. According to Ms. Terenzio, it was Carolyn who took her under her wing and introduced her to the clothes; shoes; and grooming that she would need to succeed, and ultimately thrive, in JFK Jr.'s world.

What is disappointing is Ms. Terenzio's lack of description of the couples' final months together, particularly Carolyn's apparent break down resulting from the intense level of attention from the paparazzi. According to Ms. Terenzio, once the couples' marriage was announced, the paparazzi became relentless, accosting Carolyn on the street and calling her vile names in order to get a coveted "reaction shot" and ultimately causing her to retreat to the seclusion of her apartment. While Carolyn was at her most needy, the decline of George Magazine was requiring the increased attention of both JFK Jr. and Ms. Terenzio, denying Carolyn of her two most vital supporters.

All in all, Fairy Tale Interrupted is a good read, filled with some interesting insights into the people and events of those times. If you liked JFK Jr. and felt that he would eventually become an important person in history, this story will not change your mind.

117 of 133 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Insider's Account of a Tragic Event and a Touching Personal Memoir January 24, 2012

By Heather

Format:Hardcover

The Prologue to "Fairy Tale Interrupted" almost caused me to abandon the book before I even read it. It is poorly constructed and does not do the book justice. Some of the sentences are fractured and awkward to read. The sentences do not flow. I found myself rereading the paragraphs just to grasp their meaning, rather than rereading the paragraphs so that I could remember a poignant concept. Take for example this convoluted sentence from page 4 of the book: "And working for John opened doors to places I never imagined I'd ever enter, like the hottest clubs in town, the most coveted events, exclusive restaurants, even his house in Hyannis, which he lent me for a week every summer." (Try to outline that sentence!)
The fact that the author, Rosemarie Terenzio referred to John Kennedy, Jr. as a "Dick", even in her head, in the Prologue cheapened the narrative in its infancy.
I suspected that I would struggle though the book and did not really expect to finish it. I anticipated a fairly shallow account, probably somewhat salacious, not unlike leafing through a People magazine. Boy, was I proven wrong!
While Terenzio's relationship with John Kennedy Jr. is adeptly woven into every Chapter, the book remains a memoir. The reader is always aware of what else is going on in the author's life, especially her relationship with her Mother and her best friend, Frank. The book begins with Terenzio's first association with John Kennedy, Jr. in 1994 in a work environment and chronicles their relationship through his death in 1999. Terenzio became Kennedy's personal assistant as he developed "George" magazine.
The story also provides an in depth description of the author's relationship with Carolyn Bassette before and after Carolyn became Kennedy's wife. Nothing in this book ever comes across as gossipy or fabricated. I clearly understood that the "Fairy Tale" of the title not only applied to my perception of John and Carolyn's life but also to the life the author experienced during the time she knew John and Carolyn. Terenzio does not just describe a shopping spree with Carolyn, the reader is present with them in the store!
John Kennedy, Jr. however remains the book's focus. From his handling of the paparazzi to a staff retreat for "George" magazine, the author captures the heart and soul of John Kennedy, Jr.
Terenzio paces the narrative with perfect timing. I found myself relegating so much power to her, that I naively wished she might be able to produce a different ending to the one we all know. I was transported back to that Saturday in July in 1999 when I was glued to CNN with absolute disbelief.
Without giving away her involvement during that fateful weekend, I was incredulous at some of the circumstances that placed Terenzio so completely in the center of the action. I found it puzzling that the Kennedy and Bassette Family gave this young woman so much responsibility in the days immediately following the tragedy.
The reader cannot help but experience the emotional growth of this author. Terenzio allowed enough time to elapse from John and Carolyn's untimely death in order for her to gain a rich perspective on events and write about them. She captures every aspect of shock and grief. I was overwhelmed by her description of additional losses in her life during this same time period. Individuals have self-destructed under far less stressful conditions and yet Terenzio seems to have remained intact.
Terenzio seems to possess an emotional maturity beyond her years and I appreciated that she credited John Kennedy, Jr. and her Mother for giving her backbone and strength of character. I can whole heartedly recommend this book!

72 of 83 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Book Worth the Digital Price January 26, 2012

By Ryan Field

Format:Kindle Edition

When I read excerpts of "Fairytale Interrupted," in People Magazine last week I made a note to check it out. But when I went to Amazon earlier this week and read the only six reviews left so far I wasn't too thrilled with what I saw. Almost half were one star reviews, with reasons why the readers didn't like the book. The rest were rave reviews that sounded way to trite for my taste in memoir.

So I almost went against all the advice I give to readers about vetting reviews and books and passed on "Fairytale Interrupted." I usually check out the information on amazon, but then go to Kobo to order the digital version because I have two Kobo reading devices and a Nextbook tablet. Part of the reason I almost passed was because of the questionable reviews, and part was because of the price...$11.99...which crossed my line when it comes to digital books.

I stopped short and decided to read the free digital excerpt on Amazon. The reviews kept bothering me; they didn't sound right compared to the great excerpts I'd read in People Magazine. I also figured that I'd never pay that price for an erotic anthology edited by someone who isn't an editor and written by people who are new authors. But I would pay full digital price for memoirs that revolved around names like John Kennedy Jr., depending on what I find while vetting the book.

So I opened the Amazon excerpt and started reading the prologue. I should also admit that I'm not a huge fan of prologues...anywhere...and usually skip right over them. This time, however, the minute I started reading I couldn't stop. After the prologue, I read part of the first chapter. And after that, I went over to Kobo and bought the book. (I shop a lot on Amazon, love Amazon, wouldn't know how to live without Amazon, and I'm not recommending any web site in particular in this review. I just don't know how to dowloand e-books to a Kobo e-reader on Amazon.) I wound up reading it in almost one sitting.

One reason the book resonated with me is because I felt close to the author in more than one way. I'm a writer who worked in publishing in the 1990's as an associate editor, I lived in a small studio, and I remember the feeling of excitement within the publishing industry regarding the Internet. This was also pre-911 and Manhattan...and the world...was a different place.

Another reason the book resonated with me is because of John Kennedy. While I was still in college, I went into New York to visit my brother for the weekend. At the time, he lived on Manhattan's Upper West Side, which was very trendy at the time. I'm not sure if Kennedy still lived there then, but a lot of celebs did and it was an exciting place to be for a few years. This is one of the reasons why I set my own book, The Virgin Billionaire, on the Upper West Side. We went to a small out of the way restaurant that weekend and I actually met John Kennedy for a split second. It wasn't even an actually "meeting." I was talking to someone about whether or not it was faster to go through the park to get downtown and he bumped into me and said he was sorry. I didn't even know it was him, until my brother told me a minute later.

The book is not one of those tell-all, gossipy works that talks about things most people consider far too personal to discuss. But there are a great deal of intimate scenes between the author and John Kennedy that sound real enough to be absolute truth. The author is honest and you know she didn't make anything up to sell a book. The integrity is there, and you can almost feel the loyalty and respect Rosemarie Terenzio felt for John.

It's also very well written. As a writer it often bothers me when I see too many common mistakes...even in non-fiction. This book doesn't do that. It flows with an even pace, it's not too wordy or over-written, and I didn't find as many mistakes in the digital version as I often find in other digital books. This alone is refreshing.

The title of the book is bittersweet. John's life, and the author's life, were fairytales interrupted. I could feel how devastated Ms. Terenzio was when everything changed so fast. And, even before I read this book, I always felt it was such a shame John didn't get a chance to fulfill his goal with his Magazine, George. I used to read it from cover to cover. And if John hadn't died so suddenly I believe George would have been what The Huffington Post is today on the Internet. Unfortunately, this never happened.

If you are looking for something dishy and trashy and gossipy, this is not the non-fiction book for you. If you are looking for something well-written and smart, you won't be disappointed. The one thing that still bothers me about the one star reviews I read is that this book, even if you don't like it, deserves nothing less than two stars just for the quality of the writing alone. I'm giving it five.