Customer Reviews

Times to Remember

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(0)
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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I received this book as a present and it remains a treasured gift to this day. Rose Kennedy was clearly a very intelligent and literate woman from all accounts and this shows in her memoir.

My favorite parts of this book are the parts outlining the growth and development of Robert Kennedy. We watch him remain in character. His progress is tracked from the time he doggedly tried to teach himself to swim at age 4 to some 35 years later, in 1965 when the then Senator, an acrophobe, climbed a previously unscaled mountain in Canada out of love for his slain brother. Robert Kennedy was a stubborn, determined hardworking person and these traits showed up early in his life.

From all accounts, Rose and Robert Kennedy were close. In looking at pictures of the mother and the son the physical resemblance is quite strong. Robert Kennedy was the only one of the sons to have the "Fitzgerald" face. Like his maternal grandfather who, in Doris Kearns Goodwin's book, "the Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys," Mayor John Fitzgerald took up a rigorous physical regimen to develop himself into a runner and augment his physical strength. We see this same characteristic in Robert Kennedy, the boy who tried to teach himself to swim, the undergrad who was determined to show his mettle on the football field and the man who would, in 1965 climb that mountain. Both mother and son shared a deep devotion to Catholicism and both were consistently described as serious and committed to following their social consciences.

This book is such a treasure chest of memories and is well worth reading time and again.

This book shows that a family can stand together for century's. I enjoyed the history. I feel the infomation that I got in this book was the truth and not just someone telling it someway. It was real! Best book I'v read in long time. Your'v got to read it.

I loved this book, not just for the history and intimate details she reveals about the Kennedys but also I found her personally fascinating as she is one of those people who is truly a strong and unique person and is able to successfully convey this in her book, who has clear and forceful ideas about life and I found it very interesting to read.

Most people, even famous or successful, are not so very clear on their views in life. I didn't always agree on everything she said, somethings were almost laughable, her comments on being thin or attractive were a little too much nevertheless I think it's a great book.

I knew nothing about her and thought she was one of those woman who thru a fluke in fate, by marrying a man who was ultimately successful, and had successful childen, that she too came into the limelight, but I see now that she seems to be really the mastermind behind the kennnedy children and it's almost fascinating social experiment she practises on her children.

Discover the Kennedys viewed by Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, the matriach of the clan. First she tells about her familly and youth, and then you discover with her her children, her husband and all her life. You fell her pain when she lost her children. If you like the Kennedys, buy it.

When I heard that JFK Jr. was missing, I was overwhelmed by sadness. I retrieved an old edition of this book from a box and started reading. Unfortunately, after a couple hundred pages, I turned to my husband and said "Can you believe that neither these two people (Rose and Joe) and their family, nor their own parents and grand-parents, or the grand-children, ever had a single flaw? Not one? They are guilty of no wrongdoing whatsoever, none of them! Ever! It seems that Rose has a rational explanation for anything any member of her family ever did that may have seemed improper or unwise and excuses them systematically, thereby portraying them as demi-gods. She also virtually credits the Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys with singlehandedly molding America'a values and goals. You want to think of the Kennedys as human beings with their own victories and tragedies, but Rose somehow denies them most of their humanity and vulnerability. Makes you wonder what motivated her to publish such memoirs. It seems like it was intended more to restore some lost dignity than to present a family as it really was. Is remains a great read, but feels like one of fiction, which is a disapointment.

This book is well worth reading. Rose Kennedy's book is inspiring and there are many warm memories and stories of raising her children. Joe Kennedy, Sr comes across as much more human and understanding than he was portrayed in the media. Articles written have always implied that President Kennedy was pushed into politics and the presidency by his father. Not so, according to Rose Kennedy and she says that even if such a command had been given, she can imagine her son smiling and saying, "yes, Dad", as when she told him to wear a sweater and he said "yes, Mother" and then went off without it. There are lots of pictures of the Kennedys when they were children. When the whole family posed for a picture, the combination of their mega watt smile makes it hard to feel bad about anything. No matter what Rose Kennedy is writing about, even the worst of tragedies, there is never an ounce of self-pity or blaming but instead a strong faith and gratitude for the things she does have. I know there was mention that the book was sugar coated in parts but I saw it more as Rose Kennedy reserving parts of herself that she probably did not share with anyone and especially did not want to share with the public. Even so, no matter what the situation she dealt with it remarkably and I found the book quite uplifting.

Wonderful source materials. Unfortunately lost my copy. I am researching information about Rosemary.

I once read Maria Shriver's list of her top ten favorite books, and of course, this at the top. Found out is was out of print, so I picked it up at a second hand store. Rose was an amazing woman who did her best to instill values in her rambunctious brood of children inspite of many adversities surrounding her. How she did it is revealed in her own words in this favorite of mine. Discovered the book missing, when I went looking for it shortly after Ted Kennedys funeral. There it was on Amazon within seconds!! Although I do not agree with many of the Kennedy's political views, I am intrigued by how a mother's influence can instill in her children the desire to respect and give much to our country and its people. I myself have four almost grown wild boys, and married into a large, loud, active, strongly opinaited family. This book is inspiring to me as a mother, and future grandmother who will always hold her hear up high with dignity even through times of less than perfect children!

Rose Kennedy tells us about her wonderful children, so you can discover the Kennedys by their mother. In the beginning, she tells us about her and his youth and then with her children and her husband. You fell very sad when she lost her children, you can understand his pain. So If you like the Kennedys, buy it

I enjoyed ready this wonderfully written story about the Kennedy Family. Rose did a beautiful job of telling about her life and how she raised her children. Alough it might seem like a too perfect story, it is pleasant to read, very poetic and inspirational. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the entire Kennedy family.

P.S. The photographs are amazing.