Customer Reviews

Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis: A Life

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

At age 31 Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy became the First Lady and thus the most recognized woman in the world. Three years later, at age 34, she witnessed the bloody murder of her husband on that dreadful day in Dallas. For the next four days this young woman shared her private loss in a very public way, as she "showed the country how to grieve." If she did nothing else with her life Jackie Kennedy would still be remembered as a very remarkable person. But, thanks to Donald Spoto's serious, yet warm and sympathetic biography we have a fuller picture of Jacquelie Bouvier Kennedy-Onassis long before Dallas and for the remaining thirty years of her significant life.

This book is not for those interested in the dirt and dish that so mistakenly is perceived as fact when writing about the Kennedys. There is none of that here. Rather, Spoto approaches his subject with a desire to understand the person by searching for the purpose and meaning she gave to her experiences, as recounted by those who knew her best. He writes in a style that is gaceful and respectful, mirroring his life as a monk, as well as the way Mrs. Kennedy-Onassis tried to live her life.

With all her wealth, opportunity, and experiences, Spoto emphasizes that her greatest accopmlishement in this extraordinary life was simply that she was a devoted and loving mother to her two children. A complex task for us all, made more difficult by having to parent under the constant glare of public curiosity.

Perhaps the most telling passage of the book, one that speaks to the truer character of JBKO, is when she was asked why she never chose to respond to the tabliods, the critics, or myriad of others who fed off her celebrity status. In other words, to just give her side of the story! Her reply was that the dirt and gossip would continue, she could not control that, but she faithfully believed that "they can never steal my soul." Therefore, no explaination, clarification or defense was necessary.

Those who admire Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis and seek to explore the depth of her life beyond the myths, you will find this book worth reading. For those looking for something else -- keep searching.

There wasn't a whole lot of real news in this book, but it's always nice to read about Jackie Kennedy. This book is a little bit slow going, and dull, but once I got into it I had to keep reading. I only wish the writer had gone into more detail about her relationship with her children and the Kennedy family. It always seemed to me that Jackie tried to shield her children from the influence of the Kennedy men, and I was curious to see if that was true. However, not much detail was given there. All in all, it was no earth-shattering work.

This exhaustively researched book is very kind and extremely flattering to JBKO. So much so that is strained credibility. While the writer's approach is refreshing when compared to the hatchet jobs that have appeared over the years (one ludricous book even accuses Jackie of being an accomplice to JFK's murder!), it lacks the objectivity that a good biographer would bring to his subject. Still, I enjoyed the time I spent reading about this gallant lady.

If Jacqueline Kennedy's life was as much of a yawn as this book makes it seem, it didn't deserve to have a book written about it. I have read many past accounts of this fantastic and mysterious woman's life, and this is by far the least intriguing. Spoto treats his subject with the arms-length fawning that the tabloids gave Jackie during her life, and never digs deep enough to engage the reader. It appears that this author was rushing to finish this book, and never stopped to realize that he didn't tell much of a story along the way. The only thing that led me to purchase this book was hearing that Spoto explains that JFK and Marilyn Monroe never had an affair. But this subject is just barely covered, and frankly, the fact that so much evidence exists that the two WERE involved, left me searching for Spoto's explanation as to why there were so many witnesses to this affair that 'never happened'-- but he doesn't explain this. Do yourself a favor, and keep looking, if you're after a good biography of Jackie Kennedy, because this one is just awful.

I'm a new fan of Jackie Onassis in fact this is the first biography I've read about her. It seemed that the author really cared about his subject and wanted to bring honor to the life that Jackie lived and not to tabloid rumors. If you want a book about Jackie's rumored steamy romances with various men this book is not for you, but if you want a book that focuses on Jackie's many accomplishments than I highly recommend it.

In January 1964, a little less than two months after an assassin ended her husband's life, the widowed former First Lady appeared on TV to thank the world's mourners for their sympathy. "That broadcast," the author notes in this biography which deftly examines Jackie Kennedy Onassis, "was the last time she spoke of herself and her feelings to the world at large." In the chronology of her life, the event fell roughly at the midpoint: Jackie was 34 and would have another 30 years.

In the chronology of this book, the event occurs a little more than two-thirds of the way through and divides a work clearly stronger when Jackie had a consensual, if still guarded, relationship with the public and the press, on whose copious coverage the book heavily relies. Spoto, who has made a reputation with biographies of Alfred Hitchcock and Laurence Olivier, is nonetheless not averse to speculation when the information simply does not exist, as when he writes,"Whether Jackie returned from Europe as a virgo intacta may never be known: On this matter, she kept her counsel."

While Spoto admits that Jackie and JFK "took to the grave the details of their private moments," he does tell us she called the President "Bunny" as a rib on his insatiable sexual appetite. Such tidbits keep a reader engaged.

This is one of the best biographies I have read. I believe it is a well-researched, well-written book about our former first lady. It is very fair and not at all gossipy like so many books about public figures. This is not for the tabloid crowd, but for people looking for an honest account of Jackie's life. Her childhood years and years as an editor were most interesting. There were a lot of things I did not know about her and learned by reading this book.

The life of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis can be accurately told as one of wealth, power, struggle, and heartache. Born into a life of status, Jackie, in essence, never had the trouble of wandering far from it; she was well-educated, and intelligent; and for the most part knew both her role and place in society. Spoto paints the story of a strong woman, who despite her travails is able to keep on. True, this account does lean toward a more sympathetic view of Jackie; her faults are not as obvious. However unbalanced, this biography is still one of note for its fairly accurate portrayals and the insights of her life through her eyes. Her marriage to an American President and later the richest man in the world during her time, will forever establish and endear her as an American icon. Her story, indeed, is very remarkable.
Reading this book made me realize that there was something beyond her image. Jackie was an intensely private person; so by catching a glimpse of her life and the way she might have thought, clarified somewhat her public persona. As for her legion of adoring fans, history is made up of more than one person. No matter, this books makes a highly interesting summer read.

I had always wanted to find out more about the famous 'Mrs. Kennedy'. I picked this one and found it hard to put it down. From her chilhood to the time she died, Spoto writes in a delightful fashion that is easy to read and understand. After reading this touching and heartwarming portrayal of America's Royal, she became one of my favorite people. It includes quotes from her close friends and indulges you in her charity projects and her relationship with Caroline and John Jr. It tells of her deep love for JFK and the loyalty she had to her family. The only thing I disliked about the book was the beginning, which was like reading the beginning of the Bible. It told all about her ancestors history and was quite boring in my opinion. Aside from that though, this is a great book which helped spawn my interest in Jackie.

This book read like all the others written about JBKO. There was nothing new here. The same old, tired facts about her life with JFK and Aristotle Onassis, and her life after the death of both men. She obviously achieved what she had always hoped to - privacy, because no has managed to write a book about this incredible woman with any new or unknown information about her. Bravo Jackie! A very dull book. Don't waste your time with this one!