Customer Reviews

The Other Mrs. Kennedy : An Intimate and Revealing Look at the Hidden Life of Ethel Skakel Kennedy

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Ethel Kennedy's shining exterior as the sainted widow is systematically tarnished with every passing page in this revealing look at her life. For those of us who remember that era, Mrs. Kennedy was nothing short of a saint in the face of tragedy. And the images of the pregnant widow with all those children made us feel deep sympathy for her situation. After reading Mr. Oppenheimer's book, it would seem that Ethel was not only a fiercely jealous, overly competitive barracuda, but also a terrible cheapskate. The Kennedy version of Leona Helmsly, with one exception, Leona was at least intelligent. It was obvious that the only person capable of controlling Ethel's behavior was Bobby Kennedy. Her treatment of staff and family after his death (including her own children) will leave the reader's mouth hanging open. When I was finished, I wondered why no one sent this woman for therapy!

This is a great book about the Skakel and Kennedy families. The Skakel's were far wealthier and a much more livelier and crazy family than the Kennedy clan. One gets the feeling you would have more fun and laughs hanging out with a Skakel than a Kennedy. Provides insights to people who believe they do not have to follow the rules of the rest of society in this country.

I think Mr. Oppenheimer was very through in his research. Unfortunately, it doesn't reflect very well on Mrs. Kennedy. Course her children (well some of them including my esteemed Congressman, Joe ) don't reflect very well on her anyway. Mr. Oppenheimer must have ate, drank and slept the Kennedy/Skakels for a long time to come up with everything in this book. If you like the Kennedy's and biographies, you'll like this book. Well, maybe not like Ethel, but appreciate how thorough the background and research was in The Other Mrs. Kennedy.

I first became interested in the Skakel family in 1999 when I first heard of the Martha Moxley case. (I'm actually about 3+ years late reviewing this book)

I can see how some Kennedy-philes would be ultra shocked and not want to believe some of the things in this book but just because something is shocking doesn't mean it's not true. As for the genius that said that she'd never believe anything in a book that completely changed her opinion of a person or told things that they'd never heard about a person...I'm speechless. I thought you were *supposed* LEARN new things by reading!

ANYWAY, it's a fun and fairly well researched read. As well as an interesting view into a more unknown and less publicized part of the Kennedy/Skakel families.

THE OTHER MRS. KENNEDY is not a flattering biography, but this seems more reflective of its subject than it does of the author. Certainly, Ethel Skakel Kennedy's reputation as a difficult woman pre-dated the publication of this book; all that author Jerry Opppenheimer seems guilty of is of fashioning a coherent report.

Insofar as little has been written about Ethel, widow of Senator Robert Kennedy, THE OTHER MRS. KENNEDY fills a void, and fills it well.

Well-written and researched, this biography on Ethel Kennedy depicts her as abusive, unforgiving, penny pinching, cold, and a neglectful parent. The truth? I wasn't there, but stories of Ethel being "difficult" aren't exactly new. Despite her uneasy relationships with sisters-in-law Jackie and Joan, she was fiercely devoted to Bobby and the Kennedys. Like the Kennedys, the Skakels have had their share of tragedies and "incidents", such as plane crashes and untimely deaths - and two of the family were involved in the deaths of two young girls. A definite page turner, and a fascinating read.

i don't think the author means to portray mrs. kennedy as good or bad,i just feel he put all of the facts out there and lets the reader take it all in...i was amazed by this woman and i still am! what she endured is incredible! i ask you,if you were left alone with 11 children would you not suffer? having lost your parents,brother,husband and later two children-wouldn't you lose your faith? well,she never did and if you ask me,she is 100 more times interesting than jackie 0. her devotion to her husbands memory is testament to who she is!!!!

This portrait of Ethel Kennedy is a true jewel. I think it is worth reading about a woman who was so strong and unique. Entertaining. FOR QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSIONS ON JACKIE ONASSIS, PLEASE E-MAIL ME AT MellissaLD@aol.com. HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I ORDERED THIS BOOK NOT EXPECTING TO FIND OUT HOW HORRIBLE SOME OF THESE WEALTHY AN INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE CAN BE.IF WHAT I READ IS TO BE BELIEVED THEN THE TABLOID HEADLINES THAT THIS FAMILY GETS IS WELL DESERVED. I FOUND THE BOOK TO BE WELL WRITTEN,VERY DETAILED, AND FUNNY BY SOME OF THE STORIES TOLD.IT WAS VERY INTERESTING TO INCLUDE STORIES ABOUT THE SKAKEL SIDE OF THE FAMILY SO THAT READERS CAN SEE THE FULL PICTURE.

This book has a lot of information about the Skakel family and Ethel's relationship with the Kennedys, but the gratuitous sniping and mean, judgmental tone wholly undermine it. It is mostly readable although some of the paragraphs seem to be collections of random sentences that don't have much to do with each other. Jerry Oppenheimer is quick to condemn and slow to praise; while some of the background and information is enlightening, I would caution the reader to use his or her own judgment rather than Mr. Oppenheimer's as to how how the anecdotes reflect on Ethel Kennedy's life. By the end, one has the feeling that Mr. Oppenheimer is working entirely from sour-grapes rather, and instead of any insight into the complicated life of Ethel Kennedy, we're left with a bunch of old news headlines from the scandal sheets. If you're interested in the Kennedys, there are better authorized and unauthorized biographies; if you're interested in the Skakels, stop reading when Ethel marries Bobby, because the book slides terrifyingly downhill from there.