The House of Kennedy

by James Patterson, Cynthia Fagen

Across decades and generations, the Kennedys have been a family of charismatic adventurers, raised to take risks and excel. Their name is synonymous with American royalty. Their commitment to public service is legendary. But, for all the successes, the family has been blighted by assassinations, fatal accidents, drug and alcohol abuse and sex scandals.

To this day, the Kennedys occupy a unique, contradictory place in the world's imagination: at once familiar and unknowable; charmed and cursed. The Kennedy Curse is a revealing, fascinating account of America’s most famous family, as told by the world's most trusted storyteller.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Biography, Politics, Audiobook, Presidents, Historical

432 pages, Hardcover

First published April 13, 2020

About the author

Official US Site
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead

James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

There has been so much written about the Kennedys in the last half century that when I noticed James Patterson and Cynthia Fagen had collaborated on a piece about the family, I was not sure what they could bring to the table. After trying to keep an open mind, I was pleasantly surprised by the contents of this book, which acts as a basic primer, offering some biographical backgrounds with a peppering of the scandals that have plagued the family for close to a century. Patterson and Fagen look to the roots of the Kennedy family, where Joseph Sr. and Rose were both highly active in their respective households. Catholic to the core, the Kennedys began having children and watching them grow. There are brief snippets about Joseph Jr. and Rosemary, before the book delves into the meatier aspects of John, Robert, and Edward ‘Teddy’ Kennedy. These three men, the core political wing of the family, all suffered through their own scandals and tragedies, but also are shown to have brought about change in their own ways. From there, the book looks at some of the offshoot cousins, who were not removed from scandalous behaviours, such as murder and rape, before setting the path for the final Kennedy, John F. Kennedy, Jr. In a book full of vignettes, the authors do well to provide the reader with some superficial information to whet their appetites. Recommended to Kennedy fans who may want to know a little more (such as myself), as well as the reader who enjoys some biographical non-fiction about one of America’s well-known dynasties.

I label myself as a Kennedy fan of high order, though I have often looked within the political realm, rather than many of the scalacious and dramatic histories that many writers have uncovered. When I saw this collaborative effort, I could not help but wonder if this would be a slapped-together piece, full of basic information an elementary history tome could offer. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see the detail and attention to flow that occurs within the book. While the authors do gloss over a great deal, the amount that is covered—not to mention some of the little known facts about which I had no idea—is staggering and offered a well-rounded picture of America’s best known dynasty. The authors seem not to push their opinions too strongly, choosing instead to present the reader with something full of information and cited to boot. While I am still stymied as to why James Patterson’s name would appear on the book, as he is surely a thriller writer above all else, its presence will certainly help Cynthia Fagen gain needed recognition. I suspect this is a case of ‘JP on the cover, the book automatically sells’. Fagen’s work here does much to buoy my impression of the contents and the style of writing was so easily synthesised that I may have to see what else she’s penned on the subject. With short chapters (perhaps the Patterson influence) and a story that pushes forward throughout, this is not a book to dismiss at first sight. I may just have to find some of the areas about which I want to know more and proceed from there.

Kudos, Mr. Patterson and Madam Fagen, for a refreshing look at a family who has spent decades under the microscope. You breathe new life into this stuff and I am happy to have taken the time to read it.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

[Tracy P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The House of Kennedy is a heartrendingly profound and tragic telling of the Kennedy dynasty. I avoided this book for as long as I did because I knew it would be hard to hear in vivid detail all the losses, scandals, illnesses, addictions and hardships that plagued this iconic family.

I learned vast amounts of details I never knew before about many generations - ranging from the fun antics of JFK while in HS at Choate Boarding School, to his competitiveness in all sports, and his (previously unknown to me) frail health from childhood on. I have much more respect for this family of public service. Every scandal, tragic loss, affair, and mishap did not get by the public without intense judgement and scrutiny.

I was also pleased to have learned more details about the person Jackie Kennedy was. She was not only a beautiful fashion icon - but even more admirably - Jackie was a fiercely independent, extremely bright force to be reckoned with in her own right. Her presence and devotion to JFK privately and publicly was a driving force to his success and ultimately the presidency.

James Patterson is phenomenal in his remarkably authentic and comprehensive telling of this most fascinating family of which our country will always seemingly be mesmerized by- the good, bad, and the ugly.

I will definitely be revisiting this book again. Highly recommend for those interested in learning more about the Kennedy family from their early beginnings and how they rose in ranks to becoming one of the most politically influential families in American history.

[Carole · Rating 3 out of 5]

What attracted me to The House of Kennedy by James Patterson was the hope that this book would be different from all the many books written about a family whose claim to fame was the fact that they were extremely rich and therefore, able to write their own rules. Alas, this was the same tired retelling of the Kennedy clan’s escapades. Yes there were many tragedies in the lives they chose. These horrors will remain in people’s minds forever. This book is the same as all the previous tomes: it seems that the reading public cannot get enough gossip about the Kennedys, even if there is never anything new.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of the Kennedy dynasty that reads like a novel. Enjoyable, interesting, and very James Patterson.

[Haley Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️ rounded up. "Rose & Joe start dating when she is sixteen, perhaps the happiest year of Rose's life. "I wish I was sixteen" again, she declares on her one hundredth birthday." 🥹
as someone who has never read a book focused the Kennedy family, this felt like a fairly decent overview of the main Kennedy clan, focusing mostly on the men’s triumphs/mistakes/turmoils and the many untimely deaths. considering the Kennedy family is the closest thing we have to American royalty, i knew about the major stories (the assassinations of JFK & RFK, the many affairs with socialites, and the family’s supposed curse), but I never could have imagined how deep and dark things got for them!
i was equally enthralled and disturbed by the sections about Rosemary’s lobotomy, JFK’s heroic war story, Ted’s carelessness at Chappaquiddick, Eunice beginning the special Olympics, the endless plane crashes, several murdered women, & so much more.

certain portions of the writing were engaging and poetic but it felt like others relied too heavily on information dumps and previous works about the family. i’m not sure James Patterson (if he even wrote this) had anything new or unique to say about the Kennedys.
also really wish we spent more time on the women. felt like it could have been 200 pages longer if we had explored their lives in more detail.

i would not recommend this to someone who has extensive knowledge of the family already. especially because this book left me wanting more even with little knowledge going in.

definitely need more recs of books on this family! such a fascinating topic.

[Naomi]

Oh lookie! James Patterson has found a new pool of ghostwriters! So, how many James Patterson books will be released this year?!?!

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can we start this off by admitting that James Patterson didnt write this book.

We all know it.

I'm just saying it.

Anyways....

If it's about the Kennedys of course I'm gonna read it. They're my favorite messy problematic family although the Kardashians are a close second.

The House of Kennedy isnt anything special. It's not bad but it's not groundbreaking either. I enjoyed it and I liked that it included some info about the current generation of Kennedys. But it still focused too much on the same members of the middle generation(the kids of JFK and RFK) and it focused too on the male members of the family. At this point the men in the Kennedy family are the least interesting members of their family.

I would recommend this book to people like me who will pick up any Kennedy book or people who have never read any Kennedy books. If you dont know anything about this family, this book would be a light gossipy read that would bring you up to speed. Everyone else can probably just skip it.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patterson writes non-fiction that reads like a finely paced novel. Public lives, private torments, politics, patriotism and adventure. This is an engaging look back at not just a family, but a large part of American history.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Does the world need another book on the Kennedys? Do I need to read another book on the Kennedys? Apparently, both answers are yes.

It starts out like serious family history. There is a quick look at the emigrating Kennedys and a good portrait of Patriarch Joseph Patrick incorporating his Hollywood/Swanson years, his relationship with FDR, his ambassadorship and his approval of Nazi politics. This is followed by descriptive reporting on Matriarch Rose, son Joe’s pre-tragedy charmed life and the sad story Kathleen and the sadder story of Rosemary. Eunice is recognized for her work with disabled and founding the Special Olympics.

The episodes selected for John, Bobby and Teddy are mostly those that bring notoriety. This means long sections on Marilyn Monroe and Chappaquiddick. Inga Arnad and Judith Exner get more ink than Eunice, Pat and Jean Kennedy combined.

The JFK assassination is covered at length. It refers twice to the Zapruder film and a woman who heard shots behind where she stood but never mentions the Grassy Knoll. The authors must buy into Oswald as a lone assassin, believing the “curtain rod” story and that Ruth Payne was a “friend”. (The absence of research here causes me to doubt some of the Marilyn Monroe story.). Bobby’s assassination is covered. There is a presage on p. 183 I had not heard before, a few months before the murder, Sirhan Sirhan told a trash collector of his intent.

There is a lot of trivia. For instance Neil Sadaka’s “Sweet Caroline” was written for the “first daughter” riding a pony on the While House grounds and that her brother wore hats because he didn’t like his hair. There are many mentions of the celebrities that two generations of Kennedy men date.

Members of the next generation are covered through tragedy and trouble, ending with death of JFK, Jr. There is the sad story of Bobby’s son Michael and his 15 year old baby sitter. Joan’s son William and his rape trial (and 3 other similarly perpetrated alleged rapes). There is Ethel Kennedy’s nephew, Michael Skakel’s murder of Martha Moxley. There are terrible accidents, a drug overdose and a suicide.

There are some B & W photos, none worthy of note. There is no index. Most of the sources are secondary.

This is a fast read. While there is some substantive biography, what will keep you page turning is the tabloid-type content.

[Jay Pruitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent overview of the Kennedy family, focusing primarily on their tragedies. Dubbed the "Kennedy Curse", over a dozen family members have met the fate of horrific death. From Joe Sr to Jack Jr, The House of Kennedy highlights the amazing but sad ride. As JFK once said "A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces but also by the men it honors, the men it remembers." and it is certainly the case that readers never seem to tire of remembering the Kennedys.

[David Medders · Rating 3 out of 5]

This non-fiction book co-written with Cynthia Fagen flows smoothly through several generations and dozens of the Kennedy dynasty. For those of us who have lived through much of this tragic Kennedy history, many memories are stirred about the seemingly unending series of assassinations, fatal plane accidents, alcohol abuse and marital infidelities.

I'm grateful for the balanced handling of so many historical moments and the modest unraveling of complex personal struggles expressed in both significant virtue and appalling evil, all unfolding inside the pressure cooker environment of the Kennedy obsession with performance, to win at any cost.

Readers will admire the Camelot family's rarely matched contribution to America and the indelible imprint of political service they rendered. The reader's heart must also be grieved by the most unfortunate chain of calamities that gave birth to the idea of a Kennedy curse and such self destructive behavior that brought such shame and brokenness.

Not a first rate biography of the Kennedy House, but an informative survey of the family's ill-fated history.

[Anka · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite disappointing. Most of the content you could get within minutes with a quick wikipedia search on the Kennedys. What bothered me the most is that in this book rumours are often treated as facts. If you ever watched a documentary about the Kennedys, you don't have to read this book. You would've heard almost everything already.

(The narrator of the audio does horrible female voices btw)

[Author Annabelle Leigha · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful look into the family that has always held America's curiosity. I've read books about one or another family member, but it's nice to go through the family tree! I will be buying for my library.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally read it! I have always had a fascination with the Kennedy Family and this was a great book about them all. I leant alot that didn't know about. So much tragedy for one family.

[Melissa Dunlavey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars was a gift and only because I really did not know a lot about the Kennedys other than the really big headlines. I read James Patterson’s book on Aaron Hernandez and really enjoyed it so I was excited to read the one on the Kennedys. He could have done so much with all these tragedies and trauma as so much more can be written and speculated about, but that did not happen. Instead this book was a bunch of facts (from other authors/historians) and quotes from people. Time lines were all over the place and names dropped everywhere which made it difficult to follow. Instead of a nice narrative, it was a reference book and a poorly written one. I am highly disappointed by this big name author and his lack of creativity and writing.

[Victor The Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprisingly well-written and thorough tale of the Kennedys that’s quick and riveting. A- (91%/Excellent)

[Stace · Rating 5 out of 5]

The assassination of President Kennedy happened a good few years before I was born but I grew up with the conspiracy theories surrounding his death and have seen documentaries, read books, and sat through the movie JFK. I also grew up with people talking about the family and how ‘unlucky’ or ‘cursed’ they were.

I never really knew much about the wider Kennedy family. Yes, I’d heard about his brothers Bobby and Ted and his wife. I knew he had children but that was about as far as my knowledge went. The Kennedy Curse fascinated me. I was addicted to the book and read it within two days.

The family sure has been through a lot and there have been numerous deaths, including two after the book was published (whether the book has been updated I’m not sure). This is a family who fought to get to the top but whilst their fame, wealth, and political lives were increasing their bad luck was too. Plus, the name seemed to go to the heads of some of the younger generation who thought that they could get away with anything with the surname ‘Kennedy’.

The book begins with JFK’s Grandfather and works its way through the family. There were so many things I didn’t know, many of them fascinated me, though I was rarely shocked by some of the behaviours, although the treatment of JFK’s sister was despicable.

If you are interested in the family and would like to understand the history better then this is a wonderful book to gain that knowledge. It’s not all doom and gloom and the book doesn’t only cover the ‘dark’ side of the family. It certainly opened my eyes and made me wonder what the world would have been like without the assassinations of two of the Kennedy brothers.

[Dawnny · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Kennedy's have always been of interest to me. I've read many books about them. This takes you through the history of the Kennedy family. Their burdens, their tragedies and things you might not know if you haven't read much about them. A good read.

Thank you Little Brown for gifting me a copy of this book.

Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Because of my age, I remember the history of the Kennedy family. I was in middle school when JFK was assassinated and in high school when Bobby was killed. Like many people, I cried and felt that both were the end of an era. This book stirred up all of those memories. I didn't have as much knowledge of the next two generations of the family so I found much of that information to be interesting and a bit like national enquirer in the way it was presented. Overall, this would be an interesting book for someone who knew very little about the Kennedy family - if there is anyone like that. For me, it was a trip down memory lane with very little information. Much of this book read like fiction and in my opinion, James Patterson should stick to fiction where he excels.

[Judy Odom · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars for me !

I thoroughly enjoyed The House of Kennedy

I was surprised how quickly the pages turned .

I learned quite a bit that I didnt know and things I thought I knew were corrected.

[Kristi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not like this book at all I could not even finish it

[Carol Jones-Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Read: Jack Kennedy said the reason people read biography is to answer that basic question. With the verve of a novelist, Chris Matthews gives us just that. We see this most beloved president in the company of friends. We see and feel him close-up, having fun and giving off that restlessness of his. We watch him navigate his life from privileged, rebellious youth to gutsy American president. We witness his bravery in war and selfless rescue of his PT boat crew. We watch JFK as a young politician learning to play hardball and watch him grow into the leader who averts a nuclear war.

What was he like, this person whose own wife called him “that elusive, unforgettable man”? The Jack Kennedy you discover here wanted never to be alone, never to be bored. He loved courage, hated war, lived each day as if it were his last.

Chris Matthews’s extraordinary biography is based on personal interviews with those closest to JFK, oral histories by top political aide Kenneth O’Donnell and others, documents from his years as a student at Choate, and notes from Jacqueline Kennedy’s first interview after Dallas. You’ll learn the origins of his inaugural call to “Ask what you can do for your country.” You’ll discover his role in the genesis of the Peace Corps, his stand on civil rights, his push to put a man on the moon, his ban on nuclear arms testing. You’ll get, more than ever before, to the root of the man, including the unsettling aspects of his personal life. As Matthews writes, “I found a fighting prince never free of pain, never far from trouble, never accepting the world he found, never wanting to be his father’s son. He was a far greater hero than he ever wished us to know.”

Second grade is way toooo young to have a president assassinated. My Second grade class came in from lunch recess and got the message that we've had some very bad news, President Kennedy has been shot and killed. They sent us home and my tear drenched mother came to greet me. Matthew’s said the reason people read biography is to answer that basic question. With the verve of a novelist, Chris Matthews gives us just that. We see this most beloved president in the company of friends. We see and feel him close-up, having fun and giving off that restlessness of his. We watch him navigate his life from privileged, rebellious youth to gutsy American president. We witness his bravery in war and selfless rescue of his PT boat crew. We watch JFK as a young politician learning to play hardball and watch him grow into the leader who averts a nuclear war.

What was he like, this person whose own wife called him “that elusive, unforgettable man”? The Jack Kennedy you discover here wanted never to be alone, never to be bored. He loved courage, hated war, lived each day as if it were his last.

Chris Matthews’s extraordinary biography is based on personal interviews with those closest to JFK, oral histories by top political aide Kenneth O’Donnell and others, documents from his years as a student at Choate, and notes from Jacqueline Kennedy’s first interview after Dallas. You’ll learn the origins of his inaugural call to “Ask what you can do for your country.” You’ll discover his role in the genesis of the Peace Corps, his stand on civil rights, his push to put a man on the moon, his ban on nuclear arms testing. You’ll get, more than ever before, to the root of the man, including the unsettling aspects of his personal life. As Matthews writes, “I found a fighting prince never free of pain, never far from trouble, never accepting the world he found, never wanting to be his father’s son.

He was a far greater hero than he ever wished us to know.” We came in from second grade recess and the leaders said there has been some horrible sad news. We were told that President Kennedy was killed, then it was the next summer that the next brother was killed. I was far too young to really understand and what the public went through. I still remember my mother coming to meet me after lunch and walking to meet me in solid tears. So upset. For new chapters as we learned about what horrible things can happen. Excellent READ.

Second Read: When I read it the second time, I did so much more thoroughly than I did the first time. They covered every Kennedy from Grandma Rose and her husband down to the youngest grandchild. I cannot believe the catastrophe's that hit this family. Assassinations, 12 Airplane accidents, problems on ships at sea, cancer, back problems, mental problems requiring surgeries and drugs. They had flings and affairs right and left. When I think of Camelot, this sure doesn't feel like it. Too many problems for that label. Religion was a partial glue that helped hold them together! Really hard to read. The research was very good. Still a good book, just much harder than I really thought and have read in other books. Rated 4.5 Stars

[Mahoghani 23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

An immigrant family that thrives with the utmost determination to become truly relevant in the United States. There are so many books written about this talented & dedicated family that you will need to just read & delve into the histrionics of the Kennedy's. There were a lot of things that I didn't know & so I stopped and researched the information to obtain a clear understanding about the autobiography. This book isn't about the most famous Kennedy's. It's the whole family; from the grandparents unto the present time. J. P. took each member of the Kennedy family, from arrival to the United States from Ireland to the death of JFK Jr., and provided an indepth look into the solidity of family values, rivalry, to never fail at anything, addictions, & family secrets, plots, political power....just to name some. Their cavalier regard towards life made their deaths so hard to bear. They never showed fear because it wasn't embedded in them. They pushed the resistance button more than necessary & the end result was worse than anyone expected. I don't believe there's a curse on the Kennedy family. I believe their free spirited decisions outweighed the structural balance to live their lives any other way than how they lived.

This book took you through a timeline of this family, their issues, sibling rivalry, squirmishes with the law & their unhealthy addictions. Joe & Rose had nine children, 4 boys & 5 girls, & it seemed as if the females in this family were not pushed as hard as the boys to succeed but they were just as successful as their brothers. I learned a lot in this book & I'm not thinking about any conspiracy theories about this family. I just wanted to read about this family that came to America and by whatever means necessary, they succeeded to become a family whose legacy will never be forgotten.

[SLeigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this Immensely

My only wish is that it was even longer. This was a fantastic account of the trials and tribulations of the Kennedy Family. For far too long, so much has been a myth. The gilding is off the cage.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ☆

A captivating and easy to read account of the lives of many members of the Kennedy family. If you already know a lot, there may not be much new information here, but for someone who wants a good overview, this was very interesting.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the best book on the Kennedys that I have read, but far from the worst. James Patterson’s succinct and intense style keeps you turning the pages. Liked the pictures.

[Debra B · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars

[Marcea · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot of old news about every Kennedy imaginable all rolled into one book. Good if you have never read anything about the family but not worth the time if you have.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

All my past views of the Kennedy's have been dispelled. I am so disappointed. They were not a very nice family.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a heartbreaking story of the Kennedys.