In this evocative and affectionate memoir, Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith, the last surviving child of Joe and Rose Kennedy, offers an intimate and illuminating look at a time long ago when she and her siblings, guided by their parents, laughed and learned a great deal under one roof.
Prompted by interesting tidbits in the newspaper, Rose and Joe Kennedy would pose questions to their nine children at the dinner table. ""Where could Amelia Earhart have gone?"" ""How would you address this horrible drought?"" ""What would you do about the troop movements in Europe?"" It was a nightly custom that helped shape the Kennedys into who they would become.
Before Joe and Rose's children emerged as leaders on the world stage, they were a loving circle of brothers and sisters who played football, swam, read, and pursued their interests. They were children inspired by parents who instilled in them a strong work ethic, deep love of country, and intense appreciation for the sacrifices their ancestors made to come to America.""No whining in this house!"" was their father's regular refrain. It was his way of reminding them not to complain, to be grateful for what they had, and to give back.
In her remarkable memoir, Kennedy Smith—the last surviving sibling—revisits this singular time in their lives. Filled with fascinating anecdotes and vignettes, The Nine of Us vividly depicts this large, close-knit family during a different time in American history. Kennedy Smith offers indelible, elegantly rendered portraits of her larger-than-life siblings and her parents. ""They knew how to cure our hurts, bind our wounds, listen to our woes, and help us enjoy life,"" she writes. ""We were lucky children indeed.""
In this evocative and affectionate memoir, Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith, the last surviving child of Joe and Rose Kennedy, offers an intimate and illuminating look at a time long ago when she and her siblings, guided by their parents, laughed and learned a great deal under one roof.
Prompted by interesting tidbits in the newspaper, Rose and Joe Kennedy would pose questions to their nine children at the dinner table. ""Where could Amelia Earhart have gone?"" ""How would you address this horrible drought?"" ""What would you do about the troop movements in Europe?"" It was a nightly custom that helped shape the Kennedys into who they would become.
Before Joe and Rose's children emerged as leaders on the world stage, they were a loving circle of brothers and sisters who played football, swam, read, and pursued their interests. They were children inspired by parents who instilled in them a strong work ethic, deep love of country, and intense appreciation for the sacrifices their ancestors made to come to America.""No whining in this house!"" was their father's regular refrain. It was his way of reminding them not to complain, to be grateful for what they had, and to give back.
In her remarkable memoir, Kennedy Smith—the last surviving sibling—revisits this singular time in their lives. Filled with fascinating anecdotes and vignettes, The Nine of Us vividly depicts this large, close-knit family during a different time in American history. Kennedy Smith offers indelible, elegantly rendered portraits of her larger-than-life siblings and her parents. ""They knew how to cure our hurts, bind our wounds, listen to our woes, and help us enjoy life,"" she writes. ""We were lucky children indeed.""
Reviews-
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Narrator Lorna Raver narrates this memoir with such believable tones of nostalgia and love that listeners may believe this is Jean Kennedy Smith herself reading. One of the youngest in the notable Kennedy clan, she describes scenes and squabbles from her early life--playing games, reading, sailing, learning, and getting the most out of their days. Smith certainly had a front-row seat on many historical moments, but Raver's performance reminds listeners that Smith's famous family members were beloved parents, spouses, brothers, sisters, and children, and that their untimely deaths still cause Smith pain. However, the production, like Smith herself, focuses on moving forward, and these enjoyable reminiscences will appeal to a wide swath of listeners. A.F. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine
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August 22, 2016
Smith is the last remaining child of Joseph and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, and her tender memoir recounts the family's early home life. Smith is the former U.S. ambassador to Ireland and a founder of VSA, an international organization providing arts and education opportunities for people with disabilities. Her narrative takes readers back in time to the 1930sâ1950s, when the now nearly mythic Kennedy family consisted of two devoted parents and their nine children. Smith includes a chapter on the prejudice against the Irish that Smith's great-grandparents experienced, and their subsequent rise within Boston society. She concludes her narrative as her brother Jack becomes the president of the United States. In between, Smith divulges domestic routines and rules; chronicles the family's love of the ocean and sports, especially touch football, sailing, and tennis; and explores her mother's insistence upon "cultivation of the mind" and learning about the world. Conversations during family dinners focused on current events or history. Smith sprinkles numerous family photos and quotes throughout the narrative, providing additional dimension. This is a sweet and loving look back at the Kennedy family, written from the perspective of a daughter as well as a sister. -
September 1, 2016
In this memoir of individual vignettes, Kennedy Smith, former U.S. ambassador to Ireland and the last living sibling of former president John F. Kennedy, recounts the stories of her family, especially those formed at their summer home in Hyannis Port, MA. While the author briefly discusses the siblings' later years, the bulk of the book centers on their upbringing. The short, nostalgic accounts feature less of the author's own experiences, instead spotlighting how other family members impacted her life. Narrating the specific influences of their parents, who encouraged each child to think for themselves, she illustrates how each was groomed to make a difference in the lives of others. With tales of touch football, local sailboat races, and the brief time the children spent in Britain when their father was appointed ambassador, this memoir relates the siblings' impressive lives together, providing a look into the childhoods of one of the most influential political families, before they became adults who took on the world. VERDICT This quick read will appeal to history buffs, Kennedy enthusiasts, and casual readers who enjoy lighter biographies. [See Prepub Alert, 4/25/16.]--Stacy Shaw, Orange, CA
Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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May 15, 2016
Former U.S. ambassador to Ireland, Kennedy Smith is the eighth of nine children born to Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. Now, as the last surviving sibling, she offers a heartwarming account of their upbringing. With a 150,000-copy first printing.
Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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Fond memories from the last surviving child of Joseph and Rose Kennedy.Smith, the eighth of her parents' nine children, offers a warm portrait of her happy childhood, when she reveled in the company of her brothers and sisters, guided by her inspiring, supportive parents. Born in 1928, she grew up in their Bronxville home, where the family moved from Brookline, Massachusetts, to be closer to Joseph Kennedy's work in Manhattan, and in their beloved summer house in Hyannis Port, on Cape Cod. "Saltwater was in our blood," she writes, "in our genes." Smith portrays Joe as a devoted father and husband who "flooded us with affection" and enjoyed nothing more than dinner--promptly served at 7:15--surrounded by his adoring clan. Dinner conversation veered toward politics, with "a lighthearted game" that consisted of quizzes about what each child would do if confronted with one political problem or another. Both parents instilled in the children a sense of service and responsibility; Rose was a stickler for lessons, which she felt "strengthened our knowledge and resolve." These included music, sports, art, languages, and whatever "subject and hobby that interested us, and even some that did not." Managing nine children involved discipline and organization. Anyone who disobeyed was sent to Rose' clothes closet for punishment. She guided the children's mealtime and bedtime prayers, and she kept track of their "vital statistics" on index cards, which she updated each week. Smith idolized her older brothers Joe (who was her godfather) and Jack (godfather to Teddy); her closest playmate was Teddy, the last born; and she adored her elegant sisters Kick and Pat. Smith defends her parents' decision to treat Rosemary's "anxieties" and "agitation" with a lobotomy, which went "tragically wrong." As with other losses and crises, the family "could do only one thing in the aftermath: move forward." The author's idealized view of her family counters many biographical portraits of the Kennedys. As the family photos illustrating this memoir attest, for Smith, all was sunshine, smiles, and elegance. COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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August 15, 2016
Fond memories from the last surviving child of Joseph and Rose Kennedy.Smith, the eighth of her parents nine children, offers a warm portrait of her happy childhood, when she reveled in the company of her brothers and sisters, guided by her inspiring, supportive parents. Born in 1928, she grew up in their Bronxville home, where the family moved from Brookline, Massachusetts, to be closer to Joseph Kennedys work in Manhattan, and in their beloved summer house in Hyannis Port, on Cape Cod. Saltwater was in our blood, she writes, in our genes. Smith portrays Joe as a devoted father and husband who flooded us with affection and enjoyed nothing more than dinnerpromptly served at 7:15surrounded by his adoring clan. Dinner conversation veered toward politics, with a lighthearted game that consisted of quizzes about what each child would do if confronted with one political problem or another. Both parents instilled in the children a sense of service and responsibility; Rose was a stickler for lessons, which she felt strengthened our knowledge and resolve. These included music, sports, art, languages, and whatever subject and hobby that interested us, and even some that did not. Managing nine children involved discipline and organization. Anyone who disobeyed was sent to Rose clothes closet for punishment. She guided the childrens mealtime and bedtime prayers, and she kept track of their vital statistics on index cards, which she updated each week. Smith idolized her older brothers Joe (who was her godfather) and Jack (godfather to Teddy); her closest playmate was Teddy, the last born; and she adored her elegant sisters Kick and Pat. Smith defends her parents decision to treat Rosemarys anxieties and agitation with a lobotomy, which went tragically wrong. As with other losses and crises, the family could do only one thing in the aftermath: move forward. The authors idealized view of her family counters many biographical portraits of the Kennedys. As the family photos illustrating this memoir attest, for Smith, all was sunshine, smiles, and elegance.COPYRIGHT(2016) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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October 15, 2016
Jean Kennedy Smith is the eighth child of Rose and Joseph Kennedy and the sole survivor of the original nine, who included President Kennedy and Senators Robert and Edward Kennedy, along with accomplished sisters like Eunice Shriver, who started the Special Olympics. When John Kennedy ran for the presidency in 1960, a family fairy tale grew up around the Kennedys, and that is the story Smith retells here. In this version, there are no infidelities by Joe, no extended travels by Rose. The children are supportive, not competitive, as Joe Jr. and Jack were. But who can begrudge Smith viewing her childhood through the prism of its happiest moments, which were no doubt equally true? Devoted parents offered their children great opportunities; her siblings, encouraged to look out for each other, were extraordinarily close; and Kennedy summers at Hyannis Port, full of sunshine and the sea, made for rich memories. Smith does a fine job of weaving in the family's Irish history and produces nuggets about each sibling. The many photos include ones rarely seen. This very personal family portrait will be especially appealing for longtime Kennedy watchers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)
