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lunarxcross's review against another edition
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, and Toxic friendship
sevenlefts's review against another edition
Had to bail on this. While I find these sister fascinating, the author's writing style was a bit "breezy" for my taste. Topics popped in and out, were repeated several times, and a lot of what was revealed read as gossipy rather than factual. Kind of like a book-length article in People. I'm not this book's reader.
carmenx9's review against another edition
emotional
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
3.25
A wonderful breezy overview of charmed and cursed lives, loses some stars due to the repetition of quotes and information in the first 40 pages but the style gets better as the book goes on (wonder if this one was rushed out? I'm also reading the authors' Liz Taylor/Richard Burton book and so far it's much better constructed). Definitely did not read this with 'The Last Great American Dynasty' in my head at all times... (jk I did)
kayleajayne's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.5
It was a beautiful and sad history of two sisters in an extraordinary time. It captures the nature of sisterhood in bittersweet love and resentment, competition and struggle for independence. It was sad, though I enjoy this time period where their lives played out.
book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
Digital Audio narrated by Bernadette Dunne.
The subtitle is all the synopsis anyone needs: The Tragic and Glamorous lives of Jackie and Lee
The book jacket notes that when Jackie Kennedy Onassis died she left numerous bequests to friends and family, but nothing to her sister. Jackie’s will stated: I have made no provision in this my Will for my sister, lee B Radziwill, for whom I have great affection, because I have already done so during my lifetime.” Ouch.
Based on interviews with Lee Radziwill and various friends of both Lee and Jackie, the authors have crafted a mini biography and exploration of their complicated and tight relationship, from children of divorced parents, to women married to powerful and/or wealthy men. Like any siblings there were disagreements, rivalries, jealousy, fierce loyalty, affection, and competition. Living so much of their adult lives in the spotlight certainly contributed to some of these feelings.
All told I found it fascinating and full of the kind of gossip that enthralls me. It’s an interesting look at the dynamic between these two sisters and their claims to fame.
Bernadette Dunne did a marvelous job of reading the audio version. She set a good pace, and her narration held my attention.
The subtitle is all the synopsis anyone needs: The Tragic and Glamorous lives of Jackie and Lee
The book jacket notes that when Jackie Kennedy Onassis died she left numerous bequests to friends and family, but nothing to her sister. Jackie’s will stated: I have made no provision in this my Will for my sister, lee B Radziwill, for whom I have great affection, because I have already done so during my lifetime.” Ouch.
Based on interviews with Lee Radziwill and various friends of both Lee and Jackie, the authors have crafted a mini biography and exploration of their complicated and tight relationship, from children of divorced parents, to women married to powerful and/or wealthy men. Like any siblings there were disagreements, rivalries, jealousy, fierce loyalty, affection, and competition. Living so much of their adult lives in the spotlight certainly contributed to some of these feelings.
All told I found it fascinating and full of the kind of gossip that enthralls me. It’s an interesting look at the dynamic between these two sisters and their claims to fame.
Bernadette Dunne did a marvelous job of reading the audio version. She set a good pace, and her narration held my attention.
kimbermoose's review against another edition
4.0
The audio book was lovely! I felt like I was listening to my grandmother telling the story. Both sister’s lives reminded me of my Nana so it was lovely. I loved learning more about historical figures. Makes me both sad to hear about the peaks of people’s lives and the aftermath of their downfalls. To realize how human these historical figures are is always humbling.
mihaela_jerkic's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
henrymarlene's review against another edition
3.0
The Fabulous Bouvier Sisters was the story of Jackie Onassis and Lee Radziwill. A fabulous story of two lives in the spotlight of the world, with a perspective largely swayed to the life of Lee. I do not read a lot of books that remind me of an issue of Vanity Fair, but something about this book caught my eye. To me it was the story of the younger sister wanting to make it on her own as her own person. It was a "search for identity, longing to be recognised for style, beauty intelligence, social acumen and poise". Whilst I will never know the riches and opulence of a Hollywood life, the yearning to be known and accepted was her one wish. So much sadness and tragedy in all aspects of the lives of Lee and Jackie. But I sensed there was competition, unconscious sometimes, even in memory of their lives lived.