The Best-Loved Poems of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

by Caroline Kennedy

Book Overview

Timed to the publication of the author's new illustrated children's book, A Family of Poems, the national bestseller is now available in a specially priced gift edition Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0786868090
• ISBN13: 9780786868094
• Release Date: September 2001
• Publisher: Hyperion Books
• Length: 180 Pages
• Weight: 0.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.5" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Like bedtime with my Dad

I was given this book by a dear friend for my 50th birthday. Imagine my surprise when it turned out Jackie was reading Caroline a lot of the same poems that my Dad used to read to my sister and me at bedtime. I lost this book, along with many others, in the flood following Katrina. There are books that I decided I could live without, but this one I had to replace.

This is the greatest gift I could ever give... It has changed me

After reading the first installment (Best loved poems of JKO), I shared many of my favorites with my niece who's barely 10 yrs old. She fell in love with "Annabel Lee" by the great EAP. I was so intrigued by her interest. I then ordered a copy of "A Family of Poems", 2 copiesfor she and I. The illustrations are magical as well as the words the depict them. I have found such pleasure in sharing them with my family, I never knew that they would respond with such enthusiasm. I truely believe that these are the things which can bring a family closer. I am so jealous of the fact that my family didn't grow up in this fashion. I will make it a priority to teach my children these works, and let them explore all of the great wonders that are brought to life byh them. I want my family to appreciate what words truely mean. As spoken by Mrs. Kennedy giving a poem is like giving a gift, always read only the greats, and know that poetry can take you so many wonderful places. This is not verbatim, but it is the sentiment that I have taken and shared with all. I now cannot go to sleep without going through the adventures of these great works. Thank you Caroline for all the attention you put into collecting such great master pieces.

a loving daughter's tribute

"The Best Loved Poems of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis," selected and introduced by Caroline Kennedy, is a beautiful book which is both a memorial to our former First Lady and a testimonial to how cultured and informed she was. The volume is also a short course in poetry, as it spans the centuries & includes works by such renowned authors as Langston Hughes, William Shakespeare, Homer, W.B. Yeats, Emily Dickinson, e.e. cummings, and Robert Frost. Onassis' beloved poems reveal her in depth in a manner the newspapers could not, as a patriotic American, a loving bride, a thinker, a dreamer, an adventurer, a humorist, a poet, and perhaps most of all, a dedicated and loving mother.Surely there is no better tribute to a mother than to have a loving child publish such a book.

A Lovely Tribute from Caroline to Her Mother

I think I can liberally say, and that others will agree, that the Kennedy family revels in their iconography (for example, the catalogue for the JACQUELINE KENNEDY: THE WHITE HOUSE YEARS exhibit.) However, every once in a while, they have an inspiring moment that allows us to see the person, and not the icon, that is celebrated. This book is one of those moments.Now, it is a definite possibility that someone is going to complain when they get this book--they will say that there is nothing new revealed about Jackie, and that nothing Caroline Kennedy says has any depth when discussing her mother. Yes, they are right--there is nothing new revealed here, but Caroline Kennedy is not the type of person who would write a tell-all-book in the first place. As she says, this book was written because her mother gave her family their love of poetry, and she wants to inspire others to develop their own love of poetry too.As for the poems, they range from the Biblical to the very modern poets like e.e. cummings. The book is divided into 7 sections: America, First Poems, Adventure, Escape, Romance and Love, Reflection, and In Her Own Words. Each section opens with an introduction by Caroline as to why her mother liked or was inspired by the poems, and some of the poems have footnotes explaining why they were particularly important to include in the book.Another thing people will be bound to complain about is that all the poetry that JKO wrote that is included in this has been published before. But that is acknowledged by Caroline, and as she explains it--that were included to encourage people to write poetry of their own.This book was very clearly designed in such a way to make you want to pick it up and read it on a cold, windy, rainy day...sitting around the fireside... (The pages have an old book look to them) ....which is probably why it was released in October, and not, in say, June. And as for myself, I can't put it down, even if (as some future reviewers will probably say) it is all fluff and puff with "no" substance. (I do think poetry is substance in case you are wondering!)I will not tell you to buy whether to buy it or not, but please keep in mind it is an ANTHOLOGY OF POEMS above all else, and NOT an in-depth look of how JKO's love of literature would influence her throughout her life.

A delight!

What a pleasure to read EACH of these poems. So many have familiar parts, and now I see them in context. I'm not a real poetry fan, so I am unfamiliar with what others might call "chestnuts." I was looking for good things to read to my 7-yr-olds, and this is wonderful. For them and for me. Thank you for a wonderful collection that is going to lead me to buy the complete works of many of these poets.