Life With Rose Kennedy

by Barbara Gibson, Caroline Latham

Vintage paperback

Genres: Memoir

295 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rose Kennedy was a feisty and independent woman. She was the mother of nine children, including President John F. Kennedy; she was the wife of Ambassador Joe Kennedy. She was the mother of Attorney General Robert Kennedy and Senator Edward Kennedy. Wealth and prominence defined her life. Rose was focused on self-improvement: she read newspapers, studied French, attended plays and concerts. She kept notes on the activities and development of her 20+ grandchildren.

She had eccentric attitudes toward money--She gave generously to relatives. She also returned gifts for credit and tipped cab drivers by giving them pictures of President Kennedy. In later years, Rose spent much of her life alone--going for long walks, swimming, and attending mass. She loved to sing Irish ballads and to dance.

Barbara Gibson portrays Rose Kennedy as a person with flaws and strengths--a woman who suffered adversity without complaining. Recommended to any reader who likes to read about historical figures.

Before becoming Mrs. Kennedy's personal secretary, author Barbara Gibson worked part-time for Mrs. Kennedy.

[Vikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a biography of Rose Kennedy. It was very good. It told of the latter years of Rose Kennedy's life mainly while she was in her eighties. There was much on the grandchildren.

[Sandy Neal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting read. I was surprised to hear how Rose Kennedy lived. So much of the personal history, especially the losses, her tragedies, we shared.

[Pamela Sikorski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed learning about the everyday life of the Kennedy family. Rose was a force to be dealt with in that large family of children . However hard she tried those kids were most of the time out of control. She had her house run with military precision and was determined that her kids were useful and well informed people. I liked her even if she did look the other way when her husband wandered but that's what the wife's did back then( maybe even now).

[Carolyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were some interesting parts to this book, but by the end of it, I just felt like I had gotten done reading a book about a rich woman with not a whole lot of purpose. I mean, she was in her 80's, not that she actually NEEDS purpose. In some ways she was very generous, but stingy in others. Odd. I wasn't that sympathetic to her, though.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting to learn the little tidbits about the Kennedys that didn't make the press. After reading the book, I didn't feel that I knew Rose Kennedy much better than before. She sounds like a typical old lady who is tight with money. Wish it had more about Rose's feelings about her family.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining--not a lot of new info but a nice companion to the Rita Dallas book The Kennedy Case for a backstairs view of the Kennedy family.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

#72 of 120 books pledged to read during 2020

[Debra Pawlak · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book provides an interesting glimpse into the Kennedy lives, it seems a little dated. Gibson was a secretary to Rose Kennedy for many years and she has insights into the family that only an employee might have--some flattering, some not so much. I found it rather funny that even Mrs. Kennedy's grown children kept things from her. "Don't tell mother" seemed to be one of their favorite phrases. If you are looking for an in-depth biography on Rose Kennedy, you will not find it here, but if you just want a quick read that is entertaining, you might enjoy this one. Take it with a grain of salt as one woman's experience with the Kennedys. Not sure that I would have been cut out for this line of work! It seems Rose Kennedy was hard to please--just ask the children!