Customer Reviews

Just Jackie: Her Private Years

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

 

 

I started reading "Just Jackie" with some trepidation. I was afraid it would be a typically trashy tabloid reliving of the later life of Jackie Kennedy. But I was somewhat impressed with Klein's credentials - and actually, I was so taken with the beautiful photo of Jackie on the cover, i wanted to give it a try. But I was so offended by this book, I never finished it. Without grossly offending innocent readers of this review, i will say only that Klein includes a mind-bogglingly detailed description of the disinterment of the bodies of Jackie's two stillborn children. Yes, you read that right. I never thought I'd feel sorry for jackie Kennedy, who always seemed strong enough to deal with her life. But I am now desperately sorry for her, and for her two surviving children. This is outrageous, and Klein and his publishers should be ashamed of themselves. (Too bad there is no provision for "no stars.")

If you're interested in reading about Mrs. Onassis' menstrual cycle, which parts of President Kennedy's body she massaged after his death, the disinterrment of her dead children's bodies, well...get your kicks from reading the Starr report instead...

This book is based on gossip, attributing stories and quotes to people who are dead and can neither refute nor verify them and is an insidious attempt to cash in on Mrs. Onassis' life.

Shame on you Ed Klein.

I have been a lifelong follower of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and thought I knew a great deal about the facts of her life. But like everyone else I was on a quest to understand what was under the facade. This book didn't bring more insight about the ever elusive "Jackie", but it did provide a fleshed out version of many of the extraordinary circumstances of her incredible life. With so much of the history of her life presented like "visual" soundbites, it was engrossing to read this book's details which to a great extent humanized Jackie to me as never before. The image may have seemed effortless, but the cost of her public persona was more than anyone should have to pay. It is strangely comforting that she was so very human, and such a woman of her time -- at first looking for her purpose through a man, and finally finding her identity and happiness from within. I thought when I was a child at the time of JFK's assassination that I would never have been able to do what Jackie did during the time of his death and funeral. It is reassuring to know that no one, not even Jackie, could possibly behave the way she did without a tidal wave of emotional pain that nearly spanned the remainder of her time on earth.

I HATE this book. I have been a reader of books on the Kennedy's for almost 20 years. I've waded through a lot of smut. This book ranks right up there with the major, unreliable smut. Klein may have met Jackie, but much like Ted Bundy, Klein manipulates that encounter to rape her in this book, disclosing information no one would ever want published.

There are glaring factual errors. Jackie was not at Patrick's funeral. Caroline was not married at age 25. Klein neither knew nor understood anything about Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

I was very disappointed in this book. I have read books about the Kennedy family since I was a child, and I am familiar with a lot of the historical incidents. Some of the book was not historically accurate - I don't believe Jackie was at the funeral of Patrick, and the author skipped her job at Viking Press. Also, the writing was choppy, and the chapters seemed to end abruptly. In fact, the book ended with her death, and it seems as if he forgot to finish it. The book appeared to be written in a hurry, with very little continuity or accuracy. I was very disappointed that I wasted my time reading this book.

Jackie O., like Diana Princess of Wales and Marilyn Monroe are all females who are interest never wanes in. Sadly, they all had tragedy in their lives, and none were particularly lucky in love, although they had tremendous fame and adulation... I don't think we needed to know about Jackie's touching the intimate body parts of her deceased husband. That did seem quite a violation of confidence on the author's part, IF it was true. It is a shame she cannot rest in peace without us digging up every fact, yet I confess to curiosity. None of us know what we might have done in her position. It is a thought provoking book about the former first lady, and the stresses she had to cope with.

I have been a lifelong follower of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and thought I knew a great deal about the facts of her life. But like everyone else I was on a quest to understand what was under the facade. This book didn't bring more insight about the ever elusive "Jackie", but it did provide a fleshed out version of many of the extraordinary circumstances of her incredible life. With so much of the history of her life presented like "visual" soundbites, it was engrossing to read this book's details which to a great extent humanized Jackie to me as never before. The image may have seemed effortless, but the cost of her public persona was more than anyone should have to pay. It is strangely comforting that she was so very human, and such a woman of her time -- at first looking for her purpose through a man, and finally finding her identity and happiness from within. I thought when I was a child at the time of JFK's assassination that I would never have been able to do what Jackie did during the time of his death and funeral. It is reassuring to know that no one, not even Jackie, could possibly behave the way she did without a tidal wave of emotional pain that nearly spanned the remainder of her time on earth.

Never have I read a biography of anyone who was trashed so much as Jackie was in this book. I've only read 6 chapters, and I doubt I'll pick it up to attempt the 7th, but what I read was hearsay, quotes from people who probably weren't her friends (wannabees, maybe from years ago) and I'll bet a lot of speculation. Sure some of what he wrote may be true, but does it have to be detailed to titilate us just enough to let our imaginations go down the wrong road?

About the only positive thing I got out of this book was the way he was able to get me to really feel Jackie's pain -- from her husband's death, her fear of the future and shabby treatment from "friends" and peers. I hurt for her 36 years later for this pain and for continued shabby treatment by this author.

This book is a complete waste of paper and of time to read. I only got through the first 50 pages and i could already see the horirble writing on the wall. THe book is like two books shoved into one everyother sentences conflics with the previoius and most of it is heresay and taken out of context at that. Edward Klein should be ashamed of himself as anyone who allowed such a book to be published, i am glad i didn't read further on because it would have probably jsut made my stomach turn. IF you want to read pure trash, out of text qoutes, false allegations, etc. then this is the book for you but if you want accurate, in text quotes/conversations,real accounts then there are those books out there are worth your time and day and i would happily recommend them to you but this not one of them. This book should only be used to start a fire or to sit on and nothing more. Refuse to recommend this book to any living soul

Edward Klein spoke to Ham Brown, executive director of the Association of Former Secret Service Agents, and former U.S.S.S. agents Larry Newman, Paul Landis, Bill Livingood,and Frank Yeager, as have I. That said, much of Klein's work, in this book and others, has a tabloid journalism feel. Still, there are nuggets of value...just read with a skeptical eye, here and there.

vince palamara