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6th out of 79 books
—
32 voters
The Kennedy Women: The Saga of an American Family
by
Laurence Leamer (Goodreads Author)
"A FRESH AND UNVARNISHED PORTRAIT OF A FASCINATING, TALENTED, AND DEEPLY FLAWED FAMILY."
—Boston Herald
Laurence Leamer was granted unheralded access to private Kennedy papers, and he interviewed family and old friends, many of whom had never been interviewed before, for this incredible portrait of the women in America’s "royal family." From Bridget Murphy, the foremother wh...more
—Boston Herald
Laurence Leamer was granted unheralded access to private Kennedy papers, and he interviewed family and old friends, many of whom had never been interviewed before, for this incredible portrait of the women in America’s "royal family." From Bridget Murphy, the foremother wh...more
Paperback, 960 pages
Published
September 29th 1996
by Ballantine Books
(first published August 2nd 1994)
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This was my long summer vacation read. I felt intimidated by the length of the book at first. Unnecessarily. The book is fascinating, lengthy - yes,full of minutiae details - yes, but they all build up the story. To me the book is full of life, emotions, drama - highly entertaining and at the same time also informative. The book tells the story of the Kennedys through their women. As a mother I found fascinating to follow the gradual construction of Rose Kennedy’s persona as a mother. However, d...more
In depth, massive book about the Kennedy woman. I really enjoyed the background into Bridget Kennedy, the matriarch who came from Ireland during the mid-1800's and worked her way from nothing to a business owner. A large portion is devoted to Rose, but I found her daughters to be more interesting.
Eunice, Pat and Jean in particular, is written about with depth and honesty. Out of the daughters'-in-law, only Joan got much script time. I would have really liked a more honest and detailed look at J...more
Eunice, Pat and Jean in particular, is written about with depth and honesty. Out of the daughters'-in-law, only Joan got much script time. I would have really liked a more honest and detailed look at J...more
Laurence Leamer was granted unheralded access to private Kennedy papers, and he interviewed family and old friends, many of whom had never been interviewed before, for this incredible portrait of the women in America’s "royal family." From Bridget Murphy, the foremother who touched shore at East Boston in 1849, to the intelligent, independent Kennedy women of today, Laurence Leamer tells their unforgettable stories.
Here are the private thoughts of Kathleen, the flirtatious debutante in prewar En...more
Here are the private thoughts of Kathleen, the flirtatious debutante in prewar En...more
Based on five years of research, and with unprecedented cooperation from Kennedy family and associates, Laurence Leamer paints startling, in-depth portraits of the mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters who struggled to build and maintain the Kennedy dynasty—from steerage on an immigrant vessel to the slums of Boston, from the court of St. James to the White House.
*****Rate this 5/5. The years of research paid off because this book was so well-written and thorough. One always hears of the Kenned...more
*****Rate this 5/5. The years of research paid off because this book was so well-written and thorough. One always hears of the Kenned...more
I read "The Kennedy Men" so just had to get this one. An extremely interesting read. I especially enjoyed the early history. The book does become hard to get through in certain different places but I guess that's difficult to avoid in something this long-800 pages. I got tired of Kathleen Kennedy's debutante days pretty quickly and the ending sort of dragged,but no other real complaints.I would like to know ,however,why there was no mention of Josie Hannan Fitzgerald's death? Seeing as she was R...more
The Kennedy Women by Laurence Leamer
I finally finished it, took me almost a month to read, not because it was a hard book to read, just the opposite. It was a very good book, just its size was a drawback for me. So I settled that by sitting on the deck and reading at the table.
Description from, Amazon.com
Laurence Leamer was granted unheralded access to private Kennedy papers, and he interviewed family and old friends, many of whom have never been interviewed before, for this incredible portrait...more
I finally finished it, took me almost a month to read, not because it was a hard book to read, just the opposite. It was a very good book, just its size was a drawback for me. So I settled that by sitting on the deck and reading at the table.
Description from, Amazon.com
Laurence Leamer was granted unheralded access to private Kennedy papers, and he interviewed family and old friends, many of whom have never been interviewed before, for this incredible portrait...more
This is a very well researched book about the Kennedy women and their influences and lives, both the ones born as Kennedys and the ones who married into the family. I learned a lot about the family and what caused them to be a product of their environment. Unfortunately, I had admired many of the Kennedy, both men and women, more before I read about them than after. While I understand they were a product of their environment, many of them made bad choices that I cannot admire.
Warning - this is a...more
Warning - this is a...more
I bought this when it first came out, which is unusual for me, but I had some extra B-day money and I'd already read "The Kennedy's and the Fitzgerald's" and was quite fascinated with the whole Kennedy thing. Plus, I'd just give birth to my first and only daughter and thought that buying this book would be appropriate somehow, gender-wise.
I recall that it was quite well-researched, well-written, and that it didn't disappoint. There was some interesting info regarding the relationships between th...more
I recall that it was quite well-researched, well-written, and that it didn't disappoint. There was some interesting info regarding the relationships between th...more
Everyone knows about JFK, RFK, Teddy, and even Joe Kennedy. But few stories are told about the women, especially Kathleen and Rosemary. This book was a breath of fresh air and gave a lot of insight and analysis about the Kennedy women. It goes into great detail, especially about Rosemary's lobotomy, Kathleen's life. It discusses the triumphs, the trials, and how every member of the family helped or hurt their cause as they attempted to become America's foremost political dynasty. It is the first...more
I found this book to be pretty great. It was chock full of information of both historical significance and also such tawdriness that, at times, it read like an issue of US Weekly.
While the title focuses on the women, I think that one could learn a lot about the men in the Kennedy family as well. After finishing this, I am not sure that I would necessarily need to read The Kennedy Men given the attention that is devoted to them as well; however, the information about the men is generally present...more
While the title focuses on the women, I think that one could learn a lot about the men in the Kennedy family as well. After finishing this, I am not sure that I would necessarily need to read The Kennedy Men given the attention that is devoted to them as well; however, the information about the men is generally present...more
This is one of the best books I've read on any Kennedy. I have always been fascinated with the family and how especially the women have endured the politics, the affairs, etc. This is a true insight into the foundation that was laid with the first Kennedy woman who opened her own business to support her family. It really depicts Rose's spiritual faith and how it pushed her to do what she believed was best for her family as a whole and those generations that would follow.
I love biographies.. most biographies. I am interested in this family so I really wanted to read this. I learned alot about the faith people have in their religion. I learned how women were treated in certain era's and families. It was very interesting. There wasn't a part that I wanted to skip or that I thought would drag on. I think back on things I read in this book every now and then.
I had a Ta Da moment last night in finishing The Kennedy Women - all 796 pages. Why have I balked at the length when I have Stephen King's 1100 pager on deck as well?
I believe Leamer did a good job in portraying the Kennedy family in a fair way. It is interesting to see them in the light of the eras they were living.
This is our January book club selection and I can see quite a good discussion coming up.
I believe Leamer did a good job in portraying the Kennedy family in a fair way. It is interesting to see them in the light of the eras they were living.
This is our January book club selection and I can see quite a good discussion coming up.
Jun 24, 2009
Gconnolly
is currently reading it
I have just started reading this book, but already I am drawn in by this intimate portrait of five generations of Kennedy women. It seems to span the years from 1849 - 1994 and spares none of the details. I am very interested in this family tree and all the trials and tribulations they have met along the way.
Read this book over ten years ago and remember it well. From the day in 1821 when Bridget Murphy, the true Kennedy matriarch, is born in Ireland, to Rose Kennedy's 100th birthday in 1990, this book covers plenty of history.
Whenever there is a news story about the Kennedy family, I think of this book.
Whenever there is a news story about the Kennedy family, I think of this book.
Fantastic book that goes right back the the mid nineteenth century to the early 1990's. Unlike a lot of books on the Kennedy's it neither glosses over bad thing or forgets the good. A fasinating read about the women who's lives were overshadowed by their fathers, brothers, husbands, and sons.
I really enjoyed this book--I feel like I just got started reading more historical non-fiction and this one really was a great first one to get me started. What an amazing/interesting family--it really makes me want to read more about them...so any other good Kennedy books out there
This is ONE OF THE MOST ADDICTIVE books I've ever read!!!!! This not only reads like a novel, but you will laugh, cry, and scream at the women in this book just like you would in a regular novel. It's over 800 pages, but I immediately wanted to reread it once I was done.
There are so many lessons and elements and anecdotes of this story that have stayed with me over the years, it has truly influenced me as a person. It can be maddening, but it is worth it for the understanding of the dynamics and culture of this highly influential family.
I am not going to lie, I actually did not finish reading this book. However, I did make it to about page 250 and I have the intentions of finishing it once it becomes available at the Palatine Public Library again. They only let you re-new a book twice and I had already done that. Perhaps one of my book club friends will loan me their copy at some point. From what I have read so far, I really liked this book. All the reviews that we read before choosing it for book club were accurate. It does no...more
About the only biographies I'll read are on the Kennedy family. Have read several. What is it with our national obsession with the Kennedy clan??
I enjoyed getting to know the courageous Kennedy Women, living a life of glamour and tragedy and serving America alongside the men they loved.
sheds a lot of light on an american family that so many people looked up to....but why? The cheating and adultery and and and.....
Larry Leamer's books about the Kennedys are a must read for anyone interested in the family or their major impact on American history.
Jun 12, 2009
Barbara
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone interested in the Kennedy family
Excellent book on the Kennedy Women. Hardly any politics mentioned and very interesting as to how the womens lives played out.
A fascinating look into the women of the Kennedy dynasty. Once you pick it up you will not be able to put it down.
This is an excellent biography of the Kennedy women, from Bridget Murphy who came to the US in the 1840's up to the book's publication in 1994. Obviously, a lot has happened to the Kennedy family since this book was published, but Leamer does a very thorough job of portraying the lives of the women up to that point. I was especially interested in learning about Kathleen, as she is not as well-known today. Leamer does a great job of showing how the Kennedy women were dramatically affected by soci...more
The Kennedy family is always an interesting read.
Long but completely riveting.
Loved it!!! Great read!!
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Laurence Leamer has written fourteen books including five New York Times bestsellers. He has worked in a factory in France, a coal mine in West Virginia and as a Peace Corps volunteer in a remote village in Nepal two days from a road. He has written one novel but is primarily known for his nonfiction, especially a trilogy on the Kennedys. His new book, The Price of Justice, is the story of two Pit...more
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Oct 24, 2009 05:45pm