10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Jackie's overlooked parent, 18 Oct 2001
By Jane B. Wypiszynski - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Janet and Jackie: The Story of a Mother and Her Daughter, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (Hardcover)
I am an avid reader/collector of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis books, and I would recommend this book to someone who wants to better understand her. A great deal has been made about the relationship between Mrs. Onassis and her father, but not much was ever published about her mother. The author has accessed materials from the Auchincloss family, and has also talked with members of the family who can give insight into the complex woman Janet Auchincloss was. There are some extraneous details, but I learned a lot about the family dynamics, and how they affected some of Jackie's behaviors and tastes.
Janet Auchincloss has usually been portrayed as a social climbing, volatile, meddling woman with whom Jackie had little affection. This book makes Mrs. Auchincloss much more real, and clearly shows the impression she made on her eldest daughter.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A new slant, 17 Oct 2001
By A Customer - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Janet and Jackie: The Story of a Mother and Her Daughter, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (Hardcover)
Most bios of JBKO treat her relationship with her mother only superficially, concentrating instead on how she adored her charismatic father. This book shines the light on Janet, which is a welcome change. While I applaud the new approach, I'm afraid it's not entirely successful. It includes many Janet stories, and almost as much about Jackie, but disappointingly little about Janet AND Jackie. I also wish that Lee and her relationship with Janet and Jackie had been explored more. Still, this book is an entertaining and credible read. I especially appreciated the part where Janet confronts her Senatorial son-in-law regarding his behavior after Jackie loses a baby. Mrs. Auchincloss behaved just as my, or other good mother, would.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Janet As A Real Person, 9 Oct 2001
By Barbara K. Gelatt - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Janet and Jackie: The Story of a Mother and Her Daughter, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (Hardcover)
All books I have previously read portrayed Jacqueline Kennedy's mother, Janet, as rather a one dimensional character whose main focus in life was social climbing. Ms. Pottker has fleshed her out into a real human being with foibles and strengths like everyone else. I would have liked to see more of the dynamics between mother and daughter, but nevertheless found this book interesting. Even though Jacqueline herself seems to have had more love and tolerance for her father, it was her mother that was the bigger influence in her life. In divorce the non custodial parent quite often spends the time spent with the children in
pursuit of giving the children a good time, buying things, etc. However, it is the custodial parent who has to establish discipline, study habits, etc. Consequently the children recall more fondly the good times versus the day to day normalacy. The author has given a new look at the life of Janet Lee.