Customer Reviews

The Other Man: John F. Kennedy Jr., Carolyn Bessette, and Me

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(43)

 

 

I must admit I am a bit stunned at all the lashing out at Michael Bergin for telling his story. This memoir is actually thoughtful, honest, and very brave. Surely Mr. Bergin knew that he would receive a great deal of negative criticism for revealing the details of his relationship with Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, but he has every right to tell his story as he lived it. Some may find certain details hard to accept because of the "Cinderella and Prince Charming" scenario of the Kennedys they have in their minds, but let's not dispute a person's right to tell the truth as they believe it to be. The Michael Bergin that emerges in this book is a warm, likable, and passionate. He also emerges as genuinely hurt by the loss of someone he loved, and devastated by her swift, tragic departure from this world. This seems extraordinarily authentic and heartfelt. I commend Mr. Bergin for his bravery and humility.

I cannot believe the people who are giving this book one star and then announcing that they haven't read this book nor do they intend to. That is not what a review is. A review is what you express after you are done READING a book. If you read this book, you know that Michael has done exactly the opposite of what Edward Klein did in "The Kennedy Curse" which was to trash Carolyn Bessette. He especially goes out of his way to refute Klein's claim that Carolyn was addicted to coke. I can't understand the vitriol in some of these reviews; what has Michael Bergin done to earn such enmity?

Bergin offers up Carolyn as beautiful, funny, bright and I believe that he really loved her. He tries to explain away her flaws by calling them abandonment or commitment issues; nowhere in this book does he lambast Carolyn for hiding their relationship, refusing to commit or anything else a lesser man might have done.

I also found Michael to be self-effacing and possessed of a great sense of humor (his meeting with Jack Nicholson made me laugh out loud). I was also interested in reading about his life as a male model.

I, too, watched his interview on A&E and I thought he came across as honest and candid and felt that his grief was real. Of course, his detractors found it false - nothing this guy does is going to be correct in their minds

I see a lot of people who HAVE READ THIS BOOK are rightfully giving it good reviews. Don't listen to those with an unexplained ax to grind. If you are curious about the relationship between Michael Bergin and Carolyn Bessette, this is certainly the book to read and definitely better than "The Kennedy Curse."

I give this a thumbs-up and wish Michael and his family happpiness and peace.

I don't think Michael deserves all the bad press. He has a right to tell his story. I think so far, he is the only one who has portrayed Carolyn, in a good light despite her "flaws", flaws like the rest of us have. I think they really loved each other, (I don't get sleeping with another's wife) he probably loved more. He comes across as a genuine, down to earth guy. Did you see him on T.V with his son and at his daughter's birth? He is brave and lucky, becos despite all the hurt, he put his heart on the line each time becos he truly cared. It is better to have loved and lost than not to have loved at all. Carolyn had issues, lots of them, she was a user at times, but I guess she was torn and tormented in her heart. On some level, we have all had emotional battles.

Before reading this book I'd always had the impression that Carolyn B-K was a shallow, status-conscious golddigger. After all, the only guys she dated seemed to be models, tycoons, football-team captains, etc. Well, this book not only confirms all of the above, but also tells you that she was incredibly hard-hearted, cruel, dishonest and manipulative in her dealings with men! (Besides which, she didn't seem to understand the concept of contraception. I mean, THREE abortions in five years?)

I am absolutely shocked by the reviewer from NY who defended CBK by saying that she was "just like any other woman" -- GOD! *I* am certainly not like this shallow bitch, nor are any of my friends. She treated Michael Bergin like shit, using him as a sex toy when it was convenient for her and then dumping him when better prospects came along. But then, after she'd dumped him, she'd throw tantrums and trash his apartment if she discovered he was seeing other women. What's really sad is how long Bergin put up with this shit and believed her lies. It amazes me how many men find psycho-bitches attractive, and get bored with those of us who are reasonable, sane and nice. Bergin comes across as sweet, but a bit dim and naive. (I practically laughed out loud when he kept repeating how "classy" he thought CBK was -- after her incredibly slutty and obnoxious behavior, and let's not forget about wearing a thong in Hyannisport!) And apparently JFK Jr. was just as dumb as Bergin.

At least Bergin (or his editors) had the sense to stick to the interesting stuff and not try to pad the book with a lot of extraneous stuff about his childhood, his grandparents' childhood, etc. The book moves along at a very good clip, and the stuff he tells about life as a male model was interesting, too (though depressing).

This book is a quick read and full of interesting gossip, and frankly, I believe it more than other books or magazines because it came from the horse's mouth. Bergin has the guts to come forward with his story; frankly, I don't care if he makes money off of it because he kept his mouth shut for many years before coming forward. Why should others write about him and benefit? This book shows, once again, that Camelot was a myth. Carolyn was just as flawed as the rest of them, despite her angelic bleach blonde hair and perfect fashion sense.

Michael Bergin is a nice guy...I have had the pleasure of meeting him twice in the past and I agree with other reviewers he is not a mean spirited or deceitful person. Why is it acceptable for Ed Klein and others to write untruths about Carolyn and JFK, Jr. but it is considered disgraceful by someone who ACTUALLY knew her to tell his side of the story. All who say Carolyn is not alive to defend herself should save that comment for Ed Klein and Larry Leamer who always quote unnamed sources when they write about the Kennedy's. To me this makes Carolyn a more humane person whereas all of the other garbage written makes her out to be so cool and collected when she was just like everyone else out there living her life and making the same mistakes as others. I think Michael loved her immensely but now he has a new life and I do not see anything wrong with clearing the air once and for all regarding this bittersweet chapter of his life. So funny that most of the people posting quote unquote reviews didn't even bother to read it before lashing out. No doubt the media has alot to do with creating the venom that is being spewed here. Again Michael Bergin is a nice guy!

Love is something but when it has a foundation of lust and taboo, it is tragic and life shaking. That's the kind of love that Michael Bergin shared with the late Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. I would have done, or rather I would hope I have the tenacity and bravery to do what MB did and write down the true, honest and gripping story shared in "The Other Man." This book is a great read because it feels like a long conversation with your little brother who you love and want no harm to come to. When Michael Bergin met NYC and Carolyn Bessette, he experienced what only a few of us are gifted to experience: true love and passion and opportunities that are so much bigger and more powerful than ourselves. If we are sincere and human, we ride such episodes until they saturate our lives and every cell of ourselves to a point that we are both surviving and fighting within these dreams. I've been there, but I made it out. Michael Bergin's love was snatched out of his life and although we mourned the tragedy, fate did his heart a blessing. Carolyn Bessette was what we in the working class community call a PLAYA from the Himalayas. Because she had that "whippappeal" Michael Bergin couldn't pull away even after she broke his heart time and again. Needless to say, I could have continued to read this great story for a thousand more pages, but Michael Bergin has laid his last demon and dream to rest after 242 pages. By the way, if you are an aspiring model or actor, this book will show you the reality of that life: Michael Bergin only made $2000.00 when he was picked and featured as the Calvin Klein underwear guy. His Baywatch salary was only $30.000. Sobering, piercing and extremely satisfying. Thank you, Michael Bergin for sharing.

I always was fascinated with JFK, Jr. and his wife, Carolyn. There was something that was so intriguing about them and I always wanted to learn more. If either of their pictures were on the cover of a magazine, then I would buy it so I could learn more about them.

When I saw the interview of Michael Bergin with Paula Zahn on CNN, it was clearly obvious to me that it was going to be an honest book, whether or not any of the Kennedy/Bessette families liked it. It really bothered me that Paula Zahn was so ready to attack Michael Bergin for writing this book, as if he's the first person to ever expose a high-profile person's "other side".

Bottom line...I liked it. There is no doubt in my mind that it is all factual, especially because you can feel his emotions through his writing. He's not some up-and-coming author...this was cathartic for Mr. Bergin and for those of us who like to see that the super-stars are people too, it was a treat to read.

Being that I'm the same age as Michael, I was also able to relate to a lot of what was going on in his life. Some people may think he sold out Carolyn, but my opinion was that he got to share with us another side of Carolyn that was fascinating to read. I wish him the best.

I enjoyed this book. It was a love story, no more no less between two young people. Michael was her boyfriend, she meets JFK Jr. and is swept off her feet by the idea of being married to a rich gorgeous guy who is American royalty and the most eligible bachelor in the world! BUT, she retains feelings of lust or love for Michael. Ah, the classic triangle.

Whether he said "yes" or "no", I don't believe in the end Carolyn had the strength to leave JFK Jr. She probably belonged with Michael because he made her feel needed and special.

After watching a few interviews with Michael Bergin over the past few weeks and reading different articles in the press, I felt he was being treated unfarily by a lot of people - mainly the likes of Star Jones on ABC's "The View." I decided to buy the book and I'm glad I did!

With as many books out there already about the personal lives of Carolyn Bessette and John Kennedy, Jr (as well as the entire Kennedy family) I found it strange that the press would be so inclined to come down on him so hard over his decision to write this book. If other people write about Carolyn's life (which obviously also involves Michael) it's only fair that this man be given an opportunity to share his personal story - which I felt he did in a very classy way.

I've read a lot of autobiographies over the years and I have to say this one is among my all-time Top Ten. This heartfelt and sincere love story really touched me and I was moved to tears on several occassions. It was obvious that he loved and cared for Carolyn very much.

With all the pressure from the press over the years, I'm sure a heavy burden was lifted off Michael's shoulders by coming forth and sharing his story. Aside from the relationship angle with Carolyn, the stories about his rise to fame as the "first" male supermodel is very inspiring. With all that this incredible young man has accomplished, I'm sure there's more to Michael Bergin that will in time be revealed.

Thanks for writing such a classy book - it's a true reflection of the man your family and friends should be proud of.