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awestruck's review
3.0
I actually rather liked this. My first foray into reading about the Kennedy clan (as an adult) had to be about Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. I've had both the Jackie and Teddy biographies lying about for a while, but decided to start with the matriarch.
I realize that it is very different what we prefer in biographies, but for me, this was a good read. It did go into the details around things, though not to the nitty gritty on everything. Also, it didn't spend ages looking at what the individual Kennedys were doing; the children and husband were almost only mentioned as they pertained to Rose and her reactions to their antics.
But apart from that, with this method of doing it, it also means that when I read the next Kennedy biography, I won't have heard everything before.
At the same time, it was rather neutral, not painting anyone with an overly rosy picture - not even Rose.
I could have done without the emphasis on all her traveling, though, as at one point it just got to be enough to read about even if she did do all the traveling.
I feel I got a good read through of the book, and it whet my appetite for reading more about the rest of them.
I realize that it is very different what we prefer in biographies, but for me, this was a good read. It did go into the details around things, though not to the nitty gritty on everything. Also, it didn't spend ages looking at what the individual Kennedys were doing; the children and husband were almost only mentioned as they pertained to Rose and her reactions to their antics.
But apart from that, with this method of doing it, it also means that when I read the next Kennedy biography, I won't have heard everything before.
At the same time, it was rather neutral, not painting anyone with an overly rosy picture - not even Rose.
I could have done without the emphasis on all her traveling, though, as at one point it just got to be enough to read about even if she did do all the traveling.
I feel I got a good read through of the book, and it whet my appetite for reading more about the rest of them.
taylakaye's review
4.0
This is a fascinating glimpse into the life and times of a political matriarch. Perry sifts through an incredible amount of material, distilling it down to a well curated selection of anecdotes, excerpts from letters and interviews with family and friends. The result is a revealing portrait that serves as a sort of Rorschach test for the reader based on what they bring to the table as Perry is very measured in her approach and doesn't tell you what to think of her subject.
A must read for anyone interested in the Kennedy family.
A must read for anyone interested in the Kennedy family.
khoerner7's review
3.0
I didn't learn anything new in this book but it was an opportunity to focus on someone in the family other than the famous men. It is really amazing what this woman endured. She had fabulous things happen in her life but also some of the worst with not just her children but also her grandchildren. It seems a lot to bear.
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