Christopher Peter AndersenCríticas

The deep love Dana and Chris had for each other came through in this book. After Chris's accident Dana did not look a Chris as a burden, but as her duty as his wife. they did have help, so Dana did not have do some of the caring for his daily needs, although she learned how to do it herself. Their roles reversed after Chris was paralyzed. He had done the lion's share of making the income, before his accident. After his accident, Dana had to work to help pay for Chris's care. They started a foundation hoping to get Chris walking again. After Chris's death Dana took over as head of the foundation, only to pass away 17 months after Chris.

This is a very interesting and thought-provoking book. I remember hearing about Princess Diana's death and being extremely sad. My heart went out to her young boys.
This is a good book!

The author does a fine job of telling the story of George and Laura. Mostly free from any political statements, the book instead is devoted to just telling the story of two people and how much they mean to one another.

Brothers and Wives
Brothers and Wives Lessons and Key Takeaways:

1. Race and immigration are very delicate topics. Remember that just because someone immigrates does not mean that they do not love their family back home. Race plays a huge part in how people perceive and treat others. Treat others with respect regardless of their race or social standing because no one is better than the other just because someone is a different skin tone. Everyone is equal. Everyone is valued. Everyone has a mission and a plan.
2. Do not tear down anyone in public. Especially in the media. Tearing someone down and not standing up for them when they are hurting shows that you are part of the problem and not the solution. Instead offer a helping hand and a private area to talk without people controlling you and your every move.
3. You are human. You are independent. It is okay to make mistakes. Apologize for them.
4. You are not better than anyone no matter what your title. In fact it shows that you have an ego problem and need to be brought down a few notches.
5. Always treat others with decorum and respect.
6. Do not pretend to like someone and then trash their family behind their backs. Especially if they are of a different race.
7. Always coexist in love and appreciation for the blessings and gifts that life gives you. Remember we only have one life to live so do something meaningful with it. Like work an actual paying job.
8. Stop and think about the consequences of your words and actions and how it might affect your family and your friends.
9. Think about what you want to do with your life on your own terms.
10. Pause and reflect on those that have gone on before and see where you can leave an impact on someone else in a positive way.
11. Reflect on whether you want to have a healthy relationship with your family or to cut them off and be free.
12. Speak of the goodness that being financially free and independent makes you and how you do not have to answer to the Queen. (I learned this from Harri).

Biggest Takeaway:
1. Stop. Think. Pause. Reflect. Speak.

Quote in Summary:
“There is perfection in imperfection through the eyes of seeing the goodness of the heart and mind and not with the eyes of man that sees what they want and dissimilates what they want. Always remember that it is okay to be perfectly imperfect and that it is acceptable to be who God made you flaws and all. No matter what the cost.”

Not being a very big Mick Jagger fan I went into this book thinking I would give up on it fairly quickly but, although it read like a tabloid feature, I quite enjoyed it. It was an entertaining easy read and it certainly went into all of his life…..sex, drugs and rock’n roll. It’s not a serious music biography but more of a gossipy, tell all story of his life.

Being from the UK I have to admit that I didn’t really know a great deal about JFK Jr, but I was riveted by this book and thoroughly enjoyed learning about his life and the great tragedy of his death. His mother definitely seemed to have dominated his life so, on her death, he seems to have thrown caution to the wind, and did all the things his mother forbade him to do. All in all, I found the way the author wrote this book very readable and couldn’t put it down.

I like Barbra's singing and her movies, but what an awful person. I quote Ginger Rogers from the book, "Manners, I think everyone should have them." She was rude. She alienated a vast majority of the people she worked with. She never even helped her own sister with her career. She was very, very, very controlling and wanted things done her way. I have lost all respect for her.½

This book starts out with the plane crash that killed JFK Jr; his wife, Carolyn; and sister-in-law, Lauren. The weather was foggy and a factor that evening, but ultimately the crash was caused by pilot error. Even as a young child John was fascinated with helicopters and planes and begged to go with his father.
John F. Kennedy Jr’s life was strongly influenced by his mother. She did not always agree with his life choices. Even though he was very wealthy, he used his name to help others and was very down to earth and kind to everyone.
This is for anyone who wants a peek into the Kennedy’s life.

Do you remember

Beautifully written and perfectly constructed. We all remember where we were and what we were doing but we really don't know the whole story. The author does a wonderful job of outlining not only that tragic day but events that led up to it. The book is also rich with pictures.

Jack and Jackie shows that deeply, unbelievably flawed people can still accomplish great things snd achieve some good in the world. This is a warts and all look at the Kennedys that seems well-sourced. Everybody talked with the exception of the close family—friends, friends of friends, ex-lovers, business acquaintances, service people—all spilled everything they knew. All the sex, drug use and other questionable behavior jumps from the page. Every gritty detail, offhand remark, joke and misstep was taken note of by someone and Anderson gathered it all. With friends like these who needs enemies? Jackie allegedly left an autobiography to be published long after her children’s lifetime but if anyone is still interested by then I doubt it will reveal anything new.½

I am a complete sucker for any book about Jack and Jackie Kennedy, so of course I couldn't resist this, even though all Christopher Andersen really does is rehash all the old favourite anecdotes and events from every Kennedy biography ever. But he summarises their love story with such emotion that I was completely swept along - again! - and read the whole book in a day.

Jackie's myth of Camelot might be over, thanks to the mudslinging tactics of modern day journalism, but I don't care. I know that Jack cheated on Jackie relentlessly. I know that his appearance of youth and 'viggar' belied his ill health. I know that Jackie was conditioned by her mother to stay with her philandering husband because his family was rich. But I also believe that Jack and Jackie did love each other, in their way. He had issues with displaying (nonsexual) affection and Jackie preferred to be alone and could cut people out of her life without blinking an eye. Yet in the words of one friend, 'They both wanted desperately to connect, but hadn't the faintest idea how. That's what made their love story so achingly poignant.' Both had personal quirks and failings born of privileged yet dysfunctional backgrounds, but they were 'two lonely people' and saw in each other the other half of themselves, and that's what I love about the slow-burning, marriage of convenience turned partnership that was Jack and Jackie's marriage.

Andersen interviewed first hand many of the people who knew the President and his First Lady, which surprised me after reading the first chapter, which sounds slightly cribbed and one-sided. He does tell both sides of the story, light and dark, however, including JFK's many dalliances and Jackie's personal methods of dealing with a homelife that was at times both mentally and physically gruelling. I just revelled in the descriptions of Jack's love for his children, his admiration for his wife, and Jackie's growing and enduring love for him - brutally cut short in Dallas, 1963. And if the chapter on baby Patrick's short life doesn't bring a tear to the eye, there must be something wrong! Beautifully told.

A trashy tabloid account that claims that Jackie Kennedy had sexual affairs with her brother in law Robert Kennedy, Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando, and before her marriage to Jack Kennedy, with Aristotle Onassis. No real evidence is offered --just gossip, innuendo, rumor, and nasty speculation. This is just trash for the gullible, by an author who has made a career of parasitism. (½

Anderson explores the personalities of the three woman (plus Diana) most connected to the throne in Britain today and identifies what he thinks drives each of them. This is a lot of material any one who follows the Royal Family at all prooobably already knows and is presented in a dishy way rather than a scholarly one. I was sometimes pretty unclear about how Anderson knew what he seemed to know, but that was more because of his presentation style (not always making his sources clear) rather than any real suspicion that he was making anything up. It was an entertaining read, and probably a decent introduction to these women. If you are looking for a really great biography of a member of the Royal Family, I cannot recommend highly enough [[Sally Bedell Smith]]'s [Elizabeth the Queen]. It's very readable and paints a much fuller (and at least apparently better researched) portrait of Elizabeth II than Anderson can here.½

I am so fascinated by the Kennedys, especially JFK and Jackie, so naturally I just had to read this.

I liked this book a lot but there were a few things I didn’t like. First of all, the title is misleading. This book is about the entirety of their relationship, not just their last year together. Another thing was that it was a bit too gossipy. It talked about JFK’s extramarital affairs a lot. Aside from these things, I did enjoy the inside look that this book provided. JFK and Jackie were truly one of a kind.

I gave this 3.5 stars. While it was certainly interesting, it took a long time to slog through it. Some times trashy, and then at other times engaging, it is difficult to know what was true and untrue. Many tattletale "facts" seemed undocumented. Did she really have an affair with Marlin Brando, Bobby Kennedy, some of her husbands cabinet members?

One of the interesting tidbits was that the doctor who repeatedly injected the president, also injected Jackie with the same feel good steroids. Years later, before Jackie's diagnosis of nonHodgkin's lymphoma, it was discovered that these chemicals were known to cause the illness that Jackie died from.

No doubt, a highly-interesting lady, she brought fashion and class to the White House. The portrayal of the death of her husband while she watched his body parts fly on her and the car, leaves no doubt that she would be emotionally challenged afterward. She was a very strong woman. Like all of us, at times other directed, and other instances self absorbed.½

I found this book to be written on a National Enquirer level. It was full of gossip, unnamed "sources" and out and out mistakes. For example, in talking about Diana's alleged suicide attempt while pregnant with William,the author claims she was Charles' wife of two years when in fact their first anniversary came a month after William was born. Similarly,on page 42 he claims a napkin used in serving the Queen's breakfast is mongrammed EIIR which according to him is Elizabeth II Regent when in fact it is Elizabeth II Regina (Regent means an adult serving as monarch for an underage heir, while Regina means Queen.) These were just two of the many little "slips" he made throughout the book and I felt it indicated a lack of careful reading and/or research into his facts. The first chapter I also found to be bizaare I found it hard to finish.

A fast, gossipy read. While some of it feels like pure conjecture (i.e., the first chapter about what might happen when Queen Elizabeth dies, right down to personal conversations), the rest trips along like a 300-page behind-the-scenes look at the politics and rivalries among the current crop of British royals. The perfect book for a lazy summer afternoon.

One thing I have learned after reading this book. I apparently love books about crazy families. Especially crazy rich families. Three books come to mind. Lying in bed now so will add the titles tomorrow but one was about the Bradshaw family and Frances and her sons of which 2 great books are written. [bc:Nutcracker: Money, Madness, Murder: A Family Album|1405390|Nutcracker Money, Madness, Murder A Family Album|Shana Alexander|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1353970210s/1405390.jpg|1395627] I loved Nutcracker and I still have to read [bc:At Mother's Request: A True Story of Money, Murder and Betrayal|1606124|At Mother's Request A True Story of Money, Murder and Betrayal|Jonathan Coleman|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1376515755s/1606124.jpg|1599447]

Then there is one where dad was the crazy and killing one which was also a very good book [bc:Death Sentence|233947|Death Sentence|Joe Sharkey|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1341491791s/233947.jpg|226574] and now this one. All three were out of print and all three are good well written true crime books and I recommend. To be fair I do think this is the least of the trio but it is still a good read.

Trashy, but fun biography of the king/queen of rock. This is the story of Jagger’s involvement with a full gaggle of men and women who cradled him in their arms. Egotistical with a libidinousness to rival a goat, he will no doubt be immortal. His is the triumph of charisma.

This book used many, many sources and seems to be well documented. It shows two sides to Jackie, good and bad. At times she could be very, very, giving and at other times very self-absorbed. I truly think she never got over the death of Jack until many years later.

This is an author who can write well, telling a balanced story. No holds barred, there is an in depth portrayal of both Jackie and Jack, the positive and the negative traits provide a well rounded portrait.

The title is misleading. I thought the book would focus on the last days of their marriage. Instead, it is an overview of their marriage from beginning - ending. When all the glitter and glitch is laid bare, both were human beings; both were flawed, both were amazing.

Jackie is portrayed is a strong, intelligent, classy lady. John is portrayed a president able to navigate the stormy, tempest tossed waters of the cuban missile crisis. Jackie played ignorance regarding his serial cheating, until clad in a very sheer ultra form fitting dress, Marilyn Monroe lustfully sang Happy Birthday Dear Pres i denttttt at Madison Square Garden.

To obtain needed energy for their busy calendars, both took daily, frequent injections of a combination steroid and amphetamines. By today's standards, they would be classified as addicts.½

Well written and researched without gossipy, invasive passages, this is the lovely story of Jacqueline Kennedy, her life with John F. Kennedy, her grace under pressure when tragedy seemed to be abundant, her love of their children, and the very special relationship she had with her son.

There are delightful, heart-warming stories of JFK Jr. and the love his father had. A frequent visitor to his father's oval White House office, he hid under the desk, and made himself right at home with those who sat round a negotiating table.

The love received lasted him a short life time. Always one to push the envelope in courting dangerous situations, tragically he, his wife and her sister died when 38 year old JFK Jr, en route to Martha's Vineyard, flew his plane during a heavy fog, creating problematic spacial abilities to judge how to right the plane.½

This is an intimate look at America's first family. You may learn more than you want to know. I can't imagine what it is like to be lavished with all the money you could possibly want and the adoration of millions. What I DO know is I would never want to change places with anyone in this family. The reading of this book was riveting to me with clear descriptions of the emotional dynamics within and in between John F., Jackie, John Jr., Caroline, Aristotle and the rest of the Kennedy family. If you are interested in America's first family, you will certainly enjoy the read. The narrator, Robertson Dean, has a wonderful soothing voice.½

The Good Son: JFK Jr. and the Mother He Loved by Christopher Andersen is compelling reading and great fun. I think I have read too much about the Kennedys. I am Kennedy-ed out. The principal thing that I came away with from this book was the great love Jackie and John had for one another. And great respect for one another. I was touched by their mutual love. I can strongly recommend the book if you still have room for another Kennedy book.

Obviously I didn't pick up this book because I am a fan of the first couple but I'm very interested in marriage in general and specifically, marriage under pressure. I can't imagine any other pressure-cooker more stringent or all-consuming than the White House and I was interested to read one person's interpretation of why George and Laura are still together. More incredibly, for all George's faults, he has never been dogged by rumours of infidelity, the way previous presidents have.

I learned some interesting facts through this book. I didn't know that Laura was responsible for a fatal automobile accident while she was in her teens or that she chain-smokes; I didn't know that both Bush twins have multiple arrests and warnings for drinking offenses; I didn't know that President Bush's rise to the top seemed so incredilous to those who had been in politics for a long time. So I found it interesting but ultimately it did not change my opinion of the man, his family or his politics.