Reviews

The Nine of Us: Growing Up Kennedy by Jean Kennedy Smith

cauldronblade209's review against another edition

4.0

Educational and heartfelt

The book was not only educational about the Kennedy’s but Jean invited every reader into her child and adulthood. She has lost so much and but has all the wonderful memories to remember them.

hannahjsimpson's review against another edition

4.0

This is a light-hearted read filled mostly with tales from Jean Kennedy-Smith's childhood and the relationships she developed with her family. There is a rose-colored hue cast upon what we already know about the Kennedys. Certainly no deep cultural analysis. But it is delightful to hear family stories of these people Americans know so well from a distance.

gothamgal's review

3.0

This was a sweet memoir about living as one of nine children in a family where everyone was watching at all times. There are some very nice moments, and I feel like the lens of the memoir may have been a bit rose colored, however it turned out nicely.

clarabelle's review

informative reflective slow-paced

3.5

The book is only about their childhoods which were tbh only relatively interesting. The privilege shines through but she never denies it. Even when talking about what became of everyone she glosses over any controversial issues. 

celebrationofbooks's review against another edition

informative reflective slow-paced

3.25

Admittedly, I every Kennedy memoir and biography I’ve read, I do so looking for the Kennedy sibling that fascinates me most, Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy. I’ve read every bio of her that I’ve come across (all two of them), as well as a couple other Kennedy memoirs and biographies as well. They are, after all, (regardless of what anyone says about the Kardashians and Trumps) the closest we have to a royal family in America. JFK’s been gone almost sixty years and we still care about the extended family.

While every biography of the Kennedys I’ve read is full of gossip and salacious details (Marilyn Monroe always comes up), it was refreshing to read about the nine siblings as a close knit family. And Jean might be the writer and it is clearly from her perspective as one of the younger siblings, it’s not really her memoir, all of her siblings feature prominently throughout the book – it truly is a memoir of a family.

In addition to being family focused, the main siblings featured are those closer to Jean’s age – Bobby, Pat, Eunice and Teddy. Much has been written about Bobby, but not so much about Pat, Eunice and Teddy. It was neat to get a glimpse into the lives of the younger Kennedy siblings over Joe and Jack and to an extent, Rosemary and Kick. The antics the younger siblings would get up to was fun to read about, as well as how their lives changed during the time they spent as children in the UK.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read and the audiobook is also quite good. I recommend it for anyone who is interested in the Kennedys (obviously) but also those interested in reading about the American (and immigrant) experience.