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Jack's Widow
The iconic First Lady, Jackie lived her life in a fishbowl yet she was shrouded in mystery. She was the epitome of style, poise, grace, and femininity, but her lifelong silence in front of the media has left many unanswered questions.
In this juicy yet reverential examination of her life, Eve Pollard's insight into what made America's most admired woman tick is blended into a page-turning, believable thriller. Starting from the somber days following the shocking assassination of Jackie's husband, President John F. Kennedy, Pollard explores the emotions that guided her existence as the world's most famous widow. Everything in Jackie's life is encompassed: the painful childhood that prepared her for the dual role of dramatic chatelaine of the White House and cheated wife; the hidden mental torture behind her marriage to Jack as she attempted to maintain her self-esteem—an anguish that doubled when his debauched love life became public after his death. To cope, Jackie developed a self-defense system to deal with the friends and family who were revealed as the willing helpers in her late husband's constant quest for new sexual partners. And, finally, she used different methods from sunglasses to psychiatry, from remarriage to realpolitik to protect herself and her precious children.
With brilliant storytelling, Pollard, one of the former First Lady's first biographers, entangles Jackie during her early days as a senator's wife in the complex world of espionage with startling and thrilling consequences after the tragic murder of her husband. Pollard's wealth of information on the adored Jackie produces a captivating and realistic tale that both surprises and entertains.
In this juicy yet reverential examination of her life, Eve Pollard's insight into what made America's most admired woman tick is blended into a page-turning, believable thriller. Starting from the somber days following the shocking assassination of Jackie's husband, President John F. Kennedy, Pollard explores the emotions that guided her existence as the world's most famous widow. Everything in Jackie's life is encompassed: the painful childhood that prepared her for the dual role of dramatic chatelaine of the White House and cheated wife; the hidden mental torture behind her marriage to Jack as she attempted to maintain her self-esteem—an anguish that doubled when his debauched love life became public after his death. To cope, Jackie developed a self-defense system to deal with the friends and family who were revealed as the willing helpers in her late husband's constant quest for new sexual partners. And, finally, she used different methods from sunglasses to psychiatry, from remarriage to realpolitik to protect herself and her precious children.
With brilliant storytelling, Pollard, one of the former First Lady's first biographers, entangles Jackie during her early days as a senator's wife in the complex world of espionage with startling and thrilling consequences after the tragic murder of her husband. Pollard's wealth of information on the adored Jackie produces a captivating and realistic tale that both surprises and entertains.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
March 13, 2014
This is a fictional account of Jackie Kennedy's life after the assassination of her husband during his term as President of the USA. I thought it sounded interesting and had great potential, but that ultimately it fell short and was rather ordinary. I read this as a buddy read with a friend here on GR (thanks, Elaine!) and I think we were agreed that the storyline seemed a little confusing and unfocussed at times. I suspect that this story could truly have been a good read with some tighter editing.
Through her reading, Elaine knows more about the history of the Kennedy family and related events around this time than I do, so I found it a bit difficult to know where the line was drawn between reality and fiction (short of fact-checking everything on the net!), so I kept asking "Would that be true? Did that really happen? How could the author know that? Surely that must be fiction?"
The storyline gained some more focussed direction in the last couple of chapters, however then it seemed that the ending came all in a hurry and therefore felt rushed and anticlimactic.
Through her reading, Elaine knows more about the history of the Kennedy family and related events around this time than I do, so I found it a bit difficult to know where the line was drawn between reality and fiction (short of fact-checking everything on the net!), so I kept asking "Would that be true? Did that really happen? How could the author know that? Surely that must be fiction?"
The storyline gained some more focussed direction in the last couple of chapters, however then it seemed that the ending came all in a hurry and therefore felt rushed and anticlimactic.
March 11, 2014
Pollard has written a fictional account of Jackie Kennedy's life after the assassination of JFK. Using factual events she creates a story where we see America's most popular first lady involved in espionage, dealing with the realities of her life as a widow and trying to find love again. Mostly it is a fairly average story with some interesting moments. One of the weaknesses in the book is that often I would lose track of the story line. I think this was because Pollard did not always follow through with what she intended to write about. For me this did detract from the story over all. I have to admit I did not really begin to enjoy this book until about the last 100 pages or so. I was reading it and discussing it with a GR's friend as I went along so this added to the enjoyment of the book.
November 26, 2024
A very generous 1.5 stars. I found this book behind my mother's nightstand, and I probably should have left it there.
This book was great to read at night, because I'd be fast asleep in 20 minutes. The act of taking a real person and making them into a fictional character is not something I enjoyed. The only redeeming quality was the action at the end. If you are curious about Jackie Kennedy Onassis, don't read this book. Just watch a documentary or something. If you are interested in a very fictional long-winded, slow-paced book about a US spy during the cold war, then yeah, go ahead and give it a shot.
This book was great to read at night, because I'd be fast asleep in 20 minutes. The act of taking a real person and making them into a fictional character is not something I enjoyed. The only redeeming quality was the action at the end. If you are curious about Jackie Kennedy Onassis, don't read this book. Just watch a documentary or something. If you are interested in a very fictional long-winded, slow-paced book about a US spy during the cold war, then yeah, go ahead and give it a shot.
November 30, 2019
Writing is CLUNKY and factually suspect.
July 8, 2020
Not exactly well written but it is an engaging fictionalized story about Jackie O. It was interesting how the author filled in the blanks with her imagination regarding Jackie.
April 2, 2010
This was a good book. The story was interesting and I cared about the characters. The only thing that bothered me was that it is a book of fiction based on Jackie Kennedy's life after JFK was killed. So things kept making me wonder if it was true or not. I love history so it made me want to read something based on the truth instead of being unsure. Also, it really bashed JFK. I mean, the author was focusing on how his actions affected Jackie, so she focused mainly on his affairs and how his family helped cover them up and everything. I do really like JFK so it was hard reading about him in this light. Especially when you are not sure if Jackie actually felt any of the things that Eve Pollard wrote she felt. If this was a book just based on a fictional character, I would have really liked it and had nothing to complain about.
March 23, 2012
I've never looked into the Kennedy's very much as far as research goes, but I loved this book about Jackie. It's written by the person who also wrote her biography, so the story is laced with facts which really draws the reader and in and causes one to wonder, "Did that really happen?" I am intrigued now to look into Jackie's relationship with her second husband Ari.
Basically, this book outlines all of Jackie's spy work with the CIA during and following her time in the White House. There are intrigues with Russians, Swiss, and all these other people, and she hooks up with this guy from the CIA, named Guy. Anyway, a very good read that makes one want to find out more about this intriguing woman.
Basically, this book outlines all of Jackie's spy work with the CIA during and following her time in the White House. There are intrigues with Russians, Swiss, and all these other people, and she hooks up with this guy from the CIA, named Guy. Anyway, a very good read that makes one want to find out more about this intriguing woman.
October 23, 2007
Ehh....The only thing that really kept me going with this book was the ever-so-slight possibility that it could have been something told to the author off the record while she was doing the biography, and maybe, just maybe, the author decided to write about it in a "fictional" account after all interested parties were deceased. Not really sure about that one...The story was not overly captivating, and her resolution was basically terrible. It would have been a lot better if it were actually the truth. I guess we will never know...Great for an airplane or beach read, as it took zero thought to get through.
July 27, 2007
A completely new view of Jackie O and her life as a spy!
I loved this book because the author took a lot of facts but incorporated a wild imagination to create a quick read about the life of one of America's icons.
If you don't like fiction added to history to create a new version of the past, this is not the book for you.
I loved this book because the author took a lot of facts but incorporated a wild imagination to create a quick read about the life of one of America's icons.
If you don't like fiction added to history to create a new version of the past, this is not the book for you.
May 27, 2008
I liked about the first 50 pages, then it all went to hell. It started out as a recount of what was going on before and after JFK died, then it went into crazy stuff! Pollard is a Jackie biographer, so I didn't know what to believe and what not to, which was frustrating for me. I hated that she ended up having an affair when a huge chunk of the book was about her reeling from JFK's infidelities.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2016
A huge Jackie fan , I couldn't wait to read this take on her life after Jack. While it did help me understand why she might have ever turned to Onassis ( ugh!) ,I found the story line disjointed and confusing. Still reading about her fashion sense and the events she attended made me enjoy some parts of the book.
July 17, 2007
Boo...
BOOOOO
BOOOOO
August 2, 2007
Great fictional book about my idol Jackie O. It portrays her as a strong, independent woman who is up for adventure!
July 7, 2008
A story of "what could've been" after JFK's assasination. The thought of her being involved in the CIA is intriguing but most of this was so far fetched it was annoying.
January 7, 2008
ok in my world this book was 100% fact, I know that Eve Pollard worked for jackie Kennedy so how could it not be so what if it in the ficiton section...either way I thought this was a great book
April 14, 2008
It was an interesting piece of historical fiction, though I didn't particularly enjoy it. I am interested in reading a true biography of Jackie O now, though.
June 1, 2008
probably more interesting than her life really was
August 2, 2009
I found this in the dollar bin, so I thought to myself, "What the hell?" We'll see.
February 9, 2010
Mini review here:
http://melvilles-athenaeum.blogspot.c...
http://melvilles-athenaeum.blogspot.c...
September 13, 2010
I read this book because I have read Eve Plollard's bio of Jackie Kennedy. It was hard to seperate fact from fiction, but overall a good quick read.
May 13, 2011
I guess, as with all writings on this topic, you are left to wonder how much was real and how much contrived, but I enjoyed the story and the read.
August 2, 2011
Amusing take of what happened to Jackie Kennedy after she lost her husband.
August 12, 2011
I will read anything about Jackie!! Loved it!!!
January 11, 2012
I loved this book - its fiction based on real-life events and you can't help but wonder if some of the things that happen are actually real? What if it occurred but no one found out at the time?
July 8, 2013
Great historical fiction about Jackie O. Definitely recommend to anyone wanting to know more about her life.
dnf
March 25, 2013Made it about 60 pages in before I decided to drop it. Not horrible, just dull. Also the prose is pretty clunky.
February 2, 2013
It's not really what I was expecting. At one point I had to force myself to pick it back up to finish reading it, I'm glad I did because I did end up liking the book.
May 9, 2007
Mystery novel gone bad!
January 15, 2012
Not worth my time and kind of Odd
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews