An informative and gossip-filled history of a notorious clan.
A sharp-edged exposé of Kennedy men.
Investigative journalist Callahan, author of American Predator, reports on the physical and psychological abuse—neglect, public humiliation, rape, murder—meted out by generations of Kennedy men. Drawing on interviews and archival sources, the author provides ample evidence of the “perverse double standard—in the press, in the justice system, and in the court of public opinion” that allowed the men’s insidious behavior to persist. The infamous family tree begins with Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., “financially and sexually rapacious,” and includes his sons Jack, Bobby, and Ted; Bobby’s son Robert F. Kennedy Jr.; and Jack’s son John Jr., who was killed, along with his wife, Carolyn Bessette, and her sister when the plane he was piloting—irresponsibly and in bad weather—crashed. Like his father and uncles, John Jr. was risk-taking, arrogant, spoiled, demanding. But women, some who married them and remained married despite betrayals, others who had affairs with them, were drawn to their glamour and charisma. Ted, a “legendary drunk and womanizer,” denigrated his wife; Jack didn’t try to hide his affairs with students, interns, coworkers, and Marilyn Monroe. The family’s power protected them: When Ted, driving drunk with an expired license, plunged his car into the waters off Cape Cod, leaving his companion to die, the media presented the event as a tragedy for him; his young victim, Mary Jo Kopechne, was hardly mentioned. Callahan reports on the murder of Martha Moxley, for which Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel was convicted—a conviction that later was vacated through the family’s machinations. “The most famous of these women,” she writes, “have too often been recast as architects of their own demise, or as women who were asking for it, or as imminent threats to the Kennedy dynasty.”
An informative and gossip-filled history of a notorious clan.Pub Date: July 2, 2024
ISBN: 9780316276177
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: May 4, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A slick, vacuous glimpse into the former first lady’s White House years.
A carefully curated personal portrait.
First ladies’ roles have evolved significantly in recent decades. Their memoirs typically reflect a spectrum of ambition and interests, offering insights into their values and personal lives. Melania Trump, however, stands out as exceptionally private and elusive. Her ultra-lean account attempts to shed light on her public duties, initiatives, and causes as first lady, and it defends certain actions like her controversial “I REALLY DON’T CARE, DO U?” jacket. The statement was directed at the media, not the border situation, she claims. Yet the book provides scant detail about her personal orbit or day-to-day interactions. The memoir opens with her well-known Slovenian origin story, successful modeling career, and whirlwind romance with Donald Trump, culminating in their 2005 marriage, followed by a snapshot of Election Day 2016: “Each time we were together that day, I was impressed by his calm.…This man is remarkably confident under pressure.” Once in the White House, Melania Trump describes her functions and numerous public events at home and abroad, which she asserts were more accomplished than media representations suggested. However, she rarely shares any personal interactions beyond close family ties, notably her affection for her son, Barron, and her sister, Ines. And of course she lavishes praise on her husband. Minimal anecdotes about White House or cabinet staff are included, and she carefully defuses her rumored tensions with Trump’s adult children, blandly stating, “While we may share the same last name, each of us is distinct with our own aspirations and paths to follow.” Although Melania’s desire to support causes related to children’s and women’s welfare feels authentic, the overall tenor of her memoir seems aimed at painting a glimmering portrait of her husband and her role, likely with an eye toward the forthcoming election.
A slick, vacuous glimpse into the former first lady’s White House years.Pub Date: Oct. 8, 2024
ISBN: 9781510782693
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Review Posted Online: Oct. 14, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2024
PERSPECTIVES
An engrossing and ominous chronicle, told by a master of the form.
Documenting perilous times.
In his most recent behind-the-scenes account of political power and how it is wielded, Woodward synthesizes several narrative strands, from the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel to the 2024 presidential campaign. Woodward’s clear, gripping storytelling benefits from his legendary access to prominent figures and a structure of propulsive chapters. The run-up to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is tense (if occasionally repetitive), as a cast of geopolitical insiders try to divine Vladimir Putin’s intent: “Doubt among allies, the public and among Ukrainians meant valuable time and space for Putin to maneuver.” Against this backdrop, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham implores Donald Trump to run again, notwithstanding the former president’s denial of his 2020 defeat. This provides unwelcome distraction for President Biden, portrayed as a thoughtful, compassionate lifetime politico who could not outrace time, as demonstrated in the June 2024 debate. Throughout, Trump’s prevarications and his supporters’ cynicism provide an unsettling counterpoint to warnings provided by everyone from former Joint Chief of Staff Mark Milley to Vice President Kamala Harris, who calls a second Trump term a likely “death knell for American democracy.” The author’s ambitious scope shows him at the top of his capabilities. He concludes with these unsettling words: “Based on my reporting, Trump’s language and conduct has at times presented risks to national security—both during his presidency and afterward.”
An engrossing and ominous chronicle, told by a master of the form.Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2024
ISBN: 9781668052273
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 15, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2024
IN THE NEWS
PERSPECTIVES
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