Kennedy Wives

Since I'm young enough that I missed out on the Kennedy craze of the sixties and seventies, and even the second mini-craze of the late nineties, I was very excited to have an opportunity to read The Kennedy Wives: Triumph and Tragedy in American's Most Public Family. I honestly found the book to be fascinating--for multiple reasons.

First, I'll tell you what I thought about the writing. This book is broken into five parts, each one telling the tale of one of the women who married a famous Kennedy. The books begins with Rose, the Kennedy matriarch, and follows with Ethel, Jackie, Joan and Vickie. Before reading this book, I only knew the name of one of these women--Jacqueline Kennedy, of course. The first thing you should know about The Kennedy Wives is that it is absolutely a book about the women and not their famous husbands and/or sons. The stories of philandering, politics, campaigns, births, miscarriages, money and assassinations are only told as how they affected each woman. Obviously the Kennedy men play great roles in the stories, but these are the stories of the wives and how they reacted and responded to their husbands' time in the spotlight, both good and bad. The second thing you should understand is that even though this book could very easily be repetitive, it is not. Each woman's story is her own. Even though Rose, Ethel, Jackie and Joan were all affected by and involved in John F. Kennedy's assassination, the story of it is only told once, in Jackie's part of the book. Even though it is mentioned in each woman's story, (except Vickie) it is only used to describe each woman's reaction to the event. I was very impressed with the writers' ability to separate each woman into her own story. Another thing I admired about these authors' was how they just wrote what happened. People seem to have an idea that the Kennedys lived some kind of magical "Camelot" lifestyle, but Ms. Hunt and Mr. Bratcher have shattered that illusion in this book. Bu they did it with respect and dignity by simply saying, "They wanted you to believe it was all perfect, but this is how it really was..."

My disappointment in this book lies not with the authors, nor the writing, but with the characters themselves. I was appalled to read how they were forced to sit by while their husbands' had multiple, public affairs, and they were unable to do anything about it because the Kennedys were rich and powerful. I honestly could not imagine being treated that way by my husband. Although they weren't perfect, these were (and some still are) amazing women, but each of their husbands took for granted what they had.

All in all The Kennedy Wives is a great book. I really learned a lot while reading it, and found myself unable to put it down. It's not very often I can say that about a historical account. I would recommend this book to those who remember the events that happened in the sixties and seventies, but also to those who, like me, really have no idea who things were then. I think this will be a real eye-opener to both groups.

Happy Reading,

Lyndsie

I was given an advance copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own. Look for this book on sale on or around December 2, 2014.

This book gave an insight into the women that stood beside the Kennedy men! Having not been around during JFK's presidency but growing up learning about what he stood for, made this book an easy and definite read for me. *ARC complements of the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book, a very quick and easy read. Obviously very clearly researched and very informative without getting too distracted by the story of the husband's lives. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

This was a very detailed look into the lives of the women who married the famous Kennedy men. I found the women fascinating, and after learning what they each endured for their families, I found them to be equally strong and stoic.

A special thank you to Rowman & Littlefield and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A remarkable book and a captivating family of five distinct and inspiring women, The Kennedy Wives, "the woman behind each man". Each of these five special and unique women are an integral part of our US history. Kennedy Wives: Triumph and Tragedy in America's Most Public Family, is thought-provoking, well-researched, and elegantly portrayed with passion, honesty, and clarity – by talented authors, Amber Hunt and David Batcher.

Each of us may have a favorite(s) Kennedy wife or mother; one we respected, sympathized with, or possibly related to as part of a specific generation, or time. Since I grew up in the fifties/sixties, I have always been intrigued with Jackie Kennedy, the icon; as a wife, mother, and a woman. Her classic style and sophistication has always been timeless, and enjoy the Palm Beach connection, since I reside there. There are so many landmarks and spots which I see every day, reminding me of the history and photographs. The book provided some tidbits about her father and childhood, and teen years which was unaware of.

The book is broken down in parts by each woman: from the cradle, childhood, to marriage, motherhood and beyond; from politics, loves, losses, fears, successes, tragedies, addictions, sickness and health, to the grave.

Part I Rose 1890-1995 Part II Ethel 1928 Part III Jackie 1929-1994 Part IV Joan 1936 Part V Vicki 1954

The Kennedy family, of course is known for its politics, the public figure, the man, his intellect, and power behind the name. Jack Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963 (remember this like it was yesterday when the teacher came into the classroom crying); his brother Bobby, Jack’s Attorney General who would also be assassinated in 1968, and Senator Edward (Ted) Kennedy the youngest of the nine children who lived longer. Soon after Bobby's death, Ted received one of many ominous letters and threatening him not to run for President or VP.

Ted maintained a deferential attitude towards the older, seniority-laden Southern members when he first entered the Senate, avoiding publicity and focusing on committee work and local issues. Compared to his brothers in office, he lacked John's sophistication and Robert's intense, sometimes grating drive, but was more affable than either of them.

Amber Hunt and David Batcher delivers a “must read” classic account of the five brave women who married and stood behind these powerful men. Rose Kennedy the matriarch of the family and wife of Joe Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy, wife of Jack, Ethel, wife of Bobby and Joan and Vicki, the first and second wives of Teddy Kennedy.

By the time Jackie met John, he was one of the most sought-after men on the East Coast, a junior congressman with an eye on a Senate seat. She would fall for his many virtues, and in time come to learn about the darker components of his complex personality.

Jacqueline Kennedy the woman continued long after the death of Jack Kennedy. But the mythic figure we remember today was forged largely in that week in Nov, 1963, when though a disoriented and grief-stricken widow, she used her own brilliant alchemy to create, with simple words and stark imagery, an enduring, heroic, romantic picture of what our country could be.

John Jr. had the best Kennedy qualities—the looks, the smarts, the discipline, and the zest for life. Ted had stayed close with Jackie through the years and he had loved her dearly and after her death he felt even more protective of her two children. John Jr. had always been seen as heir to Jack’s throne, and thanks to Jackie’s grounding influence, not just by birthright. Though he never ran for office, he was an important behind the scenes player throwing his name and money behind the Democratic causes and candidates. Then another Kennedy had been taken in his prime and Ted was heartbroken.

Readers may sympathize with these women, married to powerful, dark, and not always the perfect nor faithful husband, with ongoing threats to their lives as well as their family, pressure and demands. As they each faced their demons, the press, and tragedies in different ways, as reiterated with Ted/Vicki’s mantra “One step at a time.”

There was always a time and place when each of these women had to be strong: a day in 1963 when Jackie Kennedy faced the world without Jack. A day in 1968 when Ethel had ten children, an eleventh on the way, and had to walk forward without Bobby by her side. The next year, Rose returned to an empty house in Hyannis Port after burying her husband near their first home in Brookline. Even Joan had to go about the task of inventing a new life in Boston after her marriage to Teddy ended. Now Vicki found herself where each of the others had stood; staring into the future, her husband gone, memories to fortify her, and their shared ideals to carry forward.

“Their experience of wealth and power, love, loss, and tragedy occurred at such a heightened level that is tempting to see them as mythic, almost archetypal creatures. But Rose, Ethel, Jackie, Joan and Vicki were and are stubbornly fleshy in their humanity, and they give all of us, men and women, powerful examples of what everyday strength, resilience, and grace can look like. It’s because of their refusal to ossify into sterile sainthood that they will always fascinate—and always inspire.”

The Kennedy Wives is well-organized and enjoyed the easy to read format and review of history, the writing style, and the well-researched material, making for an engaging and satisfying read. Highly recommend!

I have mixed feelings about Amber Hunt and David Batcher's The Kennedy Wives. A collected biography of one of America's most recognizable families, the book boasts obvious appeal and covers a lot of wonderful material, but the execution wasn't as even-handed as I envisioned going in and I must admit there were aspects of the book that left me wanting.

I appreciated the format in that each of the women had a section dedicated specifically to her, but I'm not sure I liked how the authors labeled Rose, Ethel, Jackie, Joan and Vicki. I feel the treatment pigeonholed their personalities into very specific roles, narrowed the authors' views during the writing process and resulted in a very simplistic portrait of each Kennedy spouse. As the jacket states, this is a complex and multifaceted group of women, individuals who are far too dynamic to stereotyped and I'm not convinced the presentation here does justice to that legacy.

The underlying favoritism of Jackie and the Camelot era also frustrated me as the figurative designation refers to the Kennedy administration rather than the extensive dynasty founded by Joseph Patrick Kennedy. Jackie's section is more rounded than those of the other spouses, her picture is more prominently displayed on the cover and, paired with the Camelot references in the description, I felt she was singled out. Were this the biography of an individual, I wouldn't take issue, but all of these women married Kennedy men and weathered the challenges of that association and at the end of the day, I don't think Hunt and Batcher's work displays Rose, Ethel, Jackie, Joan and Vicki on an even playing field.

Finally, I had particular difficulty the chapters dedicated to Ethel. To be fair, this section sparked an interest that inspired me to learn more about Robert's widow, but it also highlighted a flaw that left me rather disappointed with the book. I liked what I read so much that I took time off to watch Rory Kennedy's Ethel, but in listening to the documentary, I realized how heavily Hunt and Batcher relied on the film and was ultimately disillusioned with their research. The story is there, but I don't feel the authors brought anything new to the table and that opinion openly colored my experience with subsequent sections of The Kennedy Wives.

Is it a bad biography? Certainly not. The intent here is nothing short of brilliant and generally speaking, I think the volume a great introduction to Rose, Ethel, Jackie, Joan and Vicki. Yes, I felt there was room to do more with the material and I'm not shy about saying so, but when all is said and done, I value the I spent with this book and would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in the Kennedy women.

For me this book didn't really contain much of new information when with it come to Ethel, Jackie or Joan since I have read Taraborrelli's Jackie, Ethel, Joan: Women of Camelot. I have also read part of Rose Kennedys autobiography (that I own and must finish some day) so I knew much about her also. Vicki Kennedy however was a women I hadn't read so much about and her relationship with Ted Kennedy actually made me soften up a bit to him. Ted Kennedy has never really been a Kennedy that I cared so much about. For me it has always been Bobby and Jack. Well mostly Bobby.

This book put the wives in focus, sure they are mostly known for their roles as wives, but I think it is nice to read about them, about what made them tick, and their influence on their husbands. They all all different characters but they have all had tragedies in their lives.
I think Amber Hurst and David Batcher has done a really good work, this book is informative and it never gets boring reading it. I admit that I didn't think the chapters about Joan and Vicki would interest me so much, but they were just as interesting to read as the other wives chapters.

A great book for people that are interested in the Kennedys or for those who want to know more about Rose, Ethel, Jackie, Joan and Vicki Kennedy!

Review will be posted on 12/15/14.

Is there a more intriguing American family? I don't think so; the Kennedys steal the show. The Kennedy Wives focuses on five Kennedy women and how their lives have been shaped by associating with the Kennedy family. First, there's Rose Kennedy, the matriarch of the Kennedy clan. Next is, Ethel Kennedy, Robert Kennedy's wife. Of course, the authors focus on Jackie Kennedy, the famous wife of John F. Kennedy. Lastly, there's Joan Kennedy and Vicki Kennedy, both wives of Ted Kennedy. Authors Amber Hunt and David Batcher did a wonderful job bringing to life each woman's tale of the many ups and downs that comes with the territory of being a Kennedy. Each woman's story was fascinating in her own right and I was thoroughly captivated by every heart-wrenching detail.

A few women stood out to me in this biography. First, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy was utterly captivating. I can't stress this enough. I had never read much about her and I am so glad Hunt and Batcher included her in The Kennedy Wives as her life was so, so fascinating. I loved learning more about how she ran her household, how she dealt with her husband's affairs, and how she raised her children. Everything from her discussion topics at the dinner table, her round-robin style of letter writing to the children, her commitment to stay fit, her campaigning for her son's till old age, her commitment to Catholicism, and her strong, innate drive were all inspirational to me. Her family was received at the royal court and learning more about that was also eye-opening. Rose Kennedy lived to be 104 years old and outlived four of her nine children. Her life was better than fiction in some spots and you couldn't pry my hands off this biography when I was reading her portion.

Another standout for me was Ethel Skakel Kennedy in The Kennedy Wives. I always knew her as the boyish, strong athlete of the family that didn't give a second thought to playing touch football with the guys and getting muddy, but there's so much more to her than that. She's gutsy, she's fun, and she had eleven children. Can you imagine? And one of her children was born after Robert Kennedy was assassinated! I loved reading about her eccentric childhood and learning more about her.

Of course, reading about Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, a favorite of mine, is always intriguing and inspirational. She dealt with so much and handled it with grace. Between her fertility issues, her husband's affairs, and the pressures of being the youngest first wife to the President of the United States, one can't deny the incredible story of Jackie Kennedy. The Kennedy Wives does a good job sharing her story.

While I didn't find Joan or Vicki's stories to be as captivating as Rose, Ethel or Jackie's, I still couldn't get over how much the members of the Kennedy family endured. The heartache, the trials and tribulations, and the extreme wealth all seemed fictional at times. Joan Bennett Kennedy dealt with alcoholism and the upsetting fact that two of their children had cancer. Ted's second wife, Vicki Reggie Kennedy is a lawyer and is highly educated. She did a lot to help Ted Kennedy and cared for him through his brain cancer. All in all, Joan and Vicky definitely had their ups and downs as well in The Kennedy Wives as well.

One thing that really stood out to me was the fact that each woman dealt with death and hard times, but it never stopped them from picking up themselves up, dusting themselves off, and moving on with courage. I was completely dumfounded when I started thinking about how many Kennedy lives were taken whether it be from an airplane accident, illness, or violence. When you start adding it up, it was astounding. My heart broke with every family member lost; it seemed like there was a dark cloud hung over their heads.

Nonetheless, I absolutely loved The Kennedy Wives. Reading about their lives was a gentle reminder to live courageously and never give up. If you are fascinated by these important people in history and want to learn more about the women behind the men, I highly recommend The Kennedy Wives. It would be the perfect holiday gift.

Thank you to Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to review this engrossing book about the Kennedy wives. I have lived my adult life in Boston and Ted Kennedy was my Senator for most of it. I have fairly extensive knowledge of the Kennedy's histories and impact on the world and local stage. Most of this narrative was not new to me. What did seem fresh was my understanding of how Jackie Kennedy suffered through President Kennedy's distance and infidelities and the choices she made after his death. I also came to understand more about Robert and Ethel Kennedy's marriage and that although Robert Kennedy was also unfaithful there was love and friendship and mutual belief at its core. For those wives that did not have that type of reciprocity life was hard and the suffering was deep. This was also the first time that I read about Vicky and Senator Kennedy's marriage and the redemption story that lays at the heart of it. Although there was not enough new material in the book overall Kennedy Wives was an engrossing read.

A well-crafted book that examines the charm of the Kennedy men and their womanizing...and the women who imagined--each one did--that she would be the one to change the Kennedy mens' cheating ways. Well done.

Once upon a time, five beautiful and strong women married charismatic Kennedy men. They were called Rose, Ethel, Jackie, Joan and Vickie. Rose, the matriarch of the dynasty, had a steely inner-strength and toughness that helped her through her husband's infidelities, the loss of his reputation in the UK and terrible tragedy. She has often been thought of as fanatically religious and rather cruel to her daughter Kathleen, who fell in love with two Protestant men. However, she is more likeable and softer in this account. Ethel, raucous and a tomboy, also clung to her faith through much tragedy. She was a supportive wife to Bobby, managed to raise 11 children, and devoted much of her time to charity work, but she also loved a good time, and she was famous for her parties. She also held educational seminars. Jackie restored the White House to its former glory, charmed crowds everywhere she went with her elegance and facility for languages and became a symbol of the nation's strength and fortitude when her husband died. Kind-hearted, gorgeous Joan fell victim to her husband's philandering and found it more difficult to cope with suffering than the other wives. She became an alcoholic but she bravely attempted to overcome it. Vickie, clever and wise, was exactly the wife that the aged Ted needed in his last years.

This is a fascinating and sympathetic account of these wonderful women by Amber Hunt and David Batcher, and an excellent analysis of their characters. I didn't find anything new in it, but I didn't know much about Joan or Vickie, so I was extremely interested in the last part of the book.

This is a great book for anyone who loves to read about this great American family.

A very readable and entertaining biography of 5 Kennedy women - Rose, Ethel, Jackie, Joan and Vicki - whose lives were closely entwined with the wider Kennedy clan and as a result lived in a world of glamour, wealth and tragedy. Jackie Kennedy is the one we perhaps most readily recognise, but each of these women has an interesting story to learn about and the authors have done an excellent job of making their subjects come alive. Meticulously researched and narrated in a succinct and accessible style, it’s a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of this iconic family and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I have long been fascinated by the Kennedys, which I realize does not make me unique. Many of us are. I was born shortly after JFK was assassinated, was too young to remember Bobby, but recall Teddy's presidential runs and Jackie's marriage to Aristotle Onassis. And, of course, I remember John Kennedy, Jr., who was the object of a serious crush.

This book, focused on the wives of the Kennedy men - Joe senior, Jack, Bobby, and Teddy - brings nothing new to the conversation, but it is nonetheless interesting for the curious amongst us. The authors don't go terribly in-depth with their profiles, offering instead a bit more substance than a cursory examination, culling their research from previously published articles and texts.

Whenever I read about the Kennedys, I find myself hoping that history will be rewritten. Joe Jr. will not die, nor will Kick, and JFK and Bobby will not be the victims of assassins. The image the book presents of Rosemary sobbing with a stroke-ridden Joe after learning of Bobby's death is striking in its sadness, just as the vision of Jack and Jackie holding hands - a rare moment of public physical intimacy - days before he is shot gives a brief glimmer of hope.

Through this book, you get to know Rosemary, Ethel, Jackie, Joan, and Victoria (Ted's widow), and you are struck by the fact that Joan is the only wife who did not suffer her husband's death, only because she and Ted were divorced. The other four were widowed. For a family seemingly so blessed with intellect, powerful connections, grit, and charm, it was also beset by horrific tragedies.

Kennedy Wives is for the fan who needs to have a condensed narrative about five women integral to the Kennedy mystique. It is not for someone looking for uncovered facts.

Loved it. Really interesting and so well written that it reads like fiction. With that I mean that it's easy to read and flows well, but also that the Kennedy family's lives are like fiction. Full of larger than life characters, this book focuses on 5 of the wives. I haven't read much about any of them, so for me this was a treasure trove of information. Those women are were/are pretty amazing and lived through so many roller coasters.

*****Copy from NetGalley in return for an honest review*****

Having waded through Robert Dallek's JFK biography a year or two back, I was interested to read some more of the story - particularly the aftermath of JFK's death in this book. I suppose as a biography of multiple women, this was perhaps never going to be the most indepth look at each, but I did find this surprisingly superficial - and with less first hand research perhaps than I'd expected. The overwhelming impression is that the Kennedy men were hell to live with in a way that's hard to reconcile with some of the other aspects of their life - but that possibly the women - who are interesting in their own rights - knew what they were letting themselves in for. Interesting - and leaving me with an urge to go and read more about the family although not liking them much!

The best researched book of a family that 'we' thought we knew everything about!

I cannot praise the book enough and have passed it on to my sister, thinking this will make the best sellers list!

Very detailed book about the Kennedy Dynasty and the women who make it so.