The House of Kennedy (2024)

There has been so much written about the Kennedys in the last half century that when I noticed James Patterson and Cynthia fa*gen had collaborated on a piece about the family, I was not sure what they could bring to the table. After trying to keep an open mind, I was pleasantly surprised by the contents of this book, which acts as a basic primer, offering some biographical backgrounds with a peppering of the scandals that have plagued the family for close to a century. Patterson and fa*gen look to the roots of the Kennedy family, where Joseph Sr. and Rose were both highly active in their respective households. Catholic to the core, the Kennedys began having children and watching them grow. There are brief snippets about Joseph Jr. and Rosemary, before the book delves into the meatier aspects of John, Robert, and Edward ‘Teddy’ Kennedy. These three men, the core political wing of the family, all suffered through their own scandals and tragedies, but also are shown to have brought about change in their own ways. From there, the book looks at some of the offshoot cousins, who were not removed from scandalous behaviours, such as murder and rape, before setting the path for the final Kennedy, John F. Kennedy, Jr. In a book full of vignettes, the authors do well to provide the reader with some superficial information to whet their appetites. Recommended to Kennedy fans who may want to know a little more (such as myself), as well as the reader who enjoys some biographical non-fiction about one of America’s well-known dynasties.

I label myself as a Kennedy fan of high order, though I have often looked within the political realm, rather than many of the scalacious and dramatic histories that many writers have uncovered. When I saw this collaborative effort, I could not help but wonder if this would be a slapped-together piece, full of basic information an elementary history tome could offer. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see the detail and attention to flow that occurs within the book. While the authors do gloss over a great deal, the amount that is covered—not to mention some of the little known facts about which I had no idea—is staggering and offered a well-rounded picture of America’s best known dynasty. The authors seem not to push their opinions too strongly, choosing instead to present the reader with something full of information and cited to boot. While I am still stymied as to why James Patterson’s name would appear on the book, as he is surely a thriller writer above all else, its presence will certainly help Cynthia fa*gen gain needed recognition. I suspect this is a case of ‘JP on the cover, the book automatically sells’. fa*gen’s work here does much to buoy my impression of the contents and the style of writing was so easily synthesised that I may have to see what else she’s penned on the subject. With short chapters (perhaps the Patterson influence) and a story that pushes forward throughout, this is not a book to dismiss at first sight. I may just have to find some of the areas about which I want to know more and proceed from there.

Kudos, Mr. Patterson and Madam fa*gen, for a refreshing look at a family who has spent decades under the microscope. You breathe new life into this stuff and I am happy to have taken the time to read it.

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What attracted me to The House of Kennedy by James Patterson was the hope that this book would be different from all the many books written about a family whose claim to fame was the fact that they were extremely rich and therefore, able to write their own rules. Alas, this was the same tired retelling of the Kennedy clan’s escapades. Yes there were many tragedies in the lives they chose. These horrors will remain in people’s minds forever. This book is the same as all the previous tomes: it seems that the reading public cannot get enough gossip about the Kennedys, even if there is never anything new.

The story of the Kennedy dynasty that reads like a novel. Enjoyable, interesting, and very James Patterson.

Oh lookie! James Patterson has found a new pool of ghostwriters! So, how many James Patterson books will be released this year?!?!

Can we start this off by admitting that James Patterson didnt write this book.

We all know it.

I'm just saying it.

Anyways....

If it's about the Kennedys of course I'm gonna read it. They're my favorite messy problematic family although the Kardashians are a close second.

The House of Kennedy isnt anything special. It's not bad but it's not groundbreaking either. I enjoyed it and I liked that it included some info about the current generation of Kennedys. But it still focused too much on the same members of the middle generation(the kids of JFK and RFK) and it focused too on the male members of the family. At this point the men in the Kennedy family are the least interesting members of their family.

I would recommend this book to people like me who will pick up any Kennedy book or people who have never read any Kennedy books. If you dont know anything about this family, this book would be a light gossipy read that would bring you up to speed. Everyone else can probably just skip it.

Patterson writes non-fiction that reads like a finely paced novel. Public lives, private torments, politics, patriotism and adventure. This is an engaging look back at not just a family, but a large part of American history.

Does the world need another book on the Kennedys? Do I need to read another book on the Kennedys? Apparently, both answers are yes.

It starts out like serious family history. There is a quick look at the emigrating Kennedys and a good portrait of Patriarch Joseph Patrick incorporating his Hollywood/Swanson years, his relationship with FDR, his ambassadorship and his approval of Nazi politics. This is followed by descriptive reporting on Matriarch Rose, son Joe’s pre-tragedy charmed life and the sad story Kathleen and the sadder story of Rosemary. Eunice is recognized for her work with disabled and founding the Special Olympics.

The episodes selected for John, Bobby and Teddy are mostly those that bring notoriety. This means long sections on Marilyn Monroe and Chappaquiddick. Inga Arnad and Judith Exner get more ink than Eunice, Pat and Jean Kennedy combined.

The JFK assassination is covered at length. It refers twice to the Zapruder film and a woman who heard shots behind where she stood but never mentions the Grassy Knoll. The authors must buy into Oswald as a lone assassin, believing the “curtain rod” story and that Ruth Payne was a “friend”. (The absence of research here causes me to doubt some of the Marilyn Monroe story.). Bobby’s assassination is covered. There is a presage on p. 183 I had not heard before, a few months before the murder, Sirhan Sirhan told a trash collector of his intent.

There is a lot of trivia. For instance Neil Sadaka’s “Sweet Caroline” was written for the “first daughter” riding a pony on the While House grounds and that her brother wore hats because he didn’t like his hair. There are many mentions of the celebrities that two generations of Kennedy men date.

Members of the next generation are covered through tragedy and trouble, ending with death of JFK, Jr. There is the sad story of Bobby’s son Michael and his 15 year old baby sitter. Joan’s son William and his rape trial (and 3 other similarly perpetrated alleged rapes). There is Ethel Kennedy’s nephew, Michael Skakel’s murder of Martha Moxley. There are terrible accidents, a drug overdose and a suicide.

There are some B & W photos, none worthy of note. There is no index. Most of the sources are secondary.

This is a fast read. While there is some substantive biography, what will keep you page turning is the tabloid-type content.

Excellent overview of the Kennedy family, focusing primarily on their tragedies. Dubbed the "Kennedy Curse", over a dozen family members have met the fate of horrific death. From Joe Sr to Jack Jr, The House of Kennedy highlights the amazing but sad ride. As JFK once said "A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces but also by the men it honors, the men it remembers." and it is certainly the case that readers never seem to tire of remembering the Kennedys.

This non-fiction book co-written with Cynthia fa*gen flows smoothly through several generations and dozens of the Kennedy dynasty. For those of us who have lived through much of this tragic Kennedy history, many memories are stirred about the seemingly unending series of assassinations, fatal plane accidents, alcohol abuse and marital infidelities.

I'm grateful for the balanced handling of so many historical moments and the modest unraveling of complex personal struggles expressed in both significant virtue and appalling evil, all unfolding inside the pressure cooker environment of the Kennedy obsession with performance, to win at any cost.

Readers will admire the Camelot family's rarely matched contribution to America and the indelible imprint of political service they rendered. The reader's heart must also be grieved by the most unfortunate chain of calamities that gave birth to the idea of a Kennedy curse and such self destructive behavior that brought such shame and brokenness.

Not a first rate biography of the Kennedy House, but an informative survey of the family's ill-fated history.

Quite disappointing. Most of the content you could get within minutes with a quick wikipedia search on the Kennedys. What bothered me the most is that in this book rumours are often treated as facts. If you ever watched a documentary about the Kennedys, you don't have to read this book. You would've heard almost everything already.

(The narrator of the audio does horrible female voices btw)

What a wonderful look into the family that has always held America's curiosity. I've read books about one or another family member, but it's nice to go through the family tree! I will be buying for my library.

Finally read it! I have always had a fascination with the Kennedy Family and this was a great book about them all. I leant alot that didn't know about. So much tragedy for one family.

This was a heartrendingly profound and tragic telling of the Kennedy dynasty. I avoided this book for as long as I did because I knew it would be hard to hear in vivid detail all the losses, scandals, illnesses, addictions and hardships that plagued this iconic family.

I learned vast amounts of details I never knew before about many generations - ranging from the fun antics of JFK while in HS at Choate Boarding School, to his competitiveness in all sports, and his (unknown to me) frail health from childhood on. I have much more respect for this family of public service. Every scandal, tragic loss, affair, and mishap did not get by the public without intense judgement and scrutiny.
I was also pleased to have learned more details about the person Jackie Kennedy was. She was not only a beautiful fashion icon - but much more - she was a fiercely independent, extremely bright force to be reckoned with in her own right. Her presence and devotion to JFK privately and publicly was a driving force to his success and ultimately the presidency.
James Patterson is phenomenal in his remarkably authentic and comprehensive telling of this most fascinating family of which our country will always seemingly be mesmerized by- the good, bad, and the ugly.
I will definitely be revisiting this book again in the near future. Highly recommend for those interested in learning more about the Kennedy family from their early beginnings and how they rose in ranks to becoming one of the most politically influential families in American history.

Two stars was a gift and only because I really did not know a lot about the Kennedys other than the really big headlines. I read James Patterson’s book on Aaron Hernandez and really enjoyed it so I was excited to read the one on the Kennedys. He could have done so much with all these tragedies and trauma as so much more can be written and speculated about, but that did not happen. Instead this book was a bunch of facts (from other authors/historians) and quotes from people. Time lines were all over the place and names dropped everywhere which made it difficult to follow. Instead of a nice narrative, it was a reference book and a poorly written one. I am highly disappointed by this big name author and his lack of creativity and writing.

A surprisingly well-written and thorough tale of the Kennedys that’s quick and riveting. A- (91%/Excellent)

The assassination of President Kennedy happened a good few years before I was born but I grew up with the conspiracy theories surrounding his death and have seen documentaries, read books, and sat through the movie JFK. I also grew up with people talking about the family and how ‘unlucky’ or ‘cursed’ they were.

I never really knew much about the wider Kennedy family. Yes, I’d heard about his brothers Bobby and Ted and his wife. I knew he had children but that was about as far as my knowledge went. The Kennedy Curse fascinated me. I was addicted to the book and read it within two days.

The family sure has been through a lot and there have been numerous deaths, including two after the book was published (whether the book has been updated I’m not sure). This is a family who fought to get to the top but whilst their fame, wealth, and political lives were increasing their bad luck was too. Plus, the name seemed to go to the heads of some of the younger generation who thought that they could get away with anything with the surname ‘Kennedy’.

The book begins with JFK’s Grandfather and works its way through the family. There were so many things I didn’t know, many of them fascinated me, though I was rarely shocked by some of the behaviours, although the treatment of JFK’s sister was despicable.

If you are interested in the family and would like to understand the history better then this is a wonderful book to gain that knowledge. It’s not all doom and gloom and the book doesn’t only cover the ‘dark’ side of the family. It certainly opened my eyes and made me wonder what the world would have been like without the assassinations of two of the Kennedy brothers.

The Kennedy's have always been of interest to me. I've read many books about them. This takes you through the history of the Kennedy family. Their burdens, their tragedies and things you might not know if you haven't read much about them. A good read.

Thank you Little Brown for gifting me a copy of this book.

Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY

Did not like this book at all I could not even finish it

Because of my age, I remember the history of the Kennedy family. I was in middle school when JFK was assassinated and in high school when Bobby was killed. Like many people, I cried and felt that both were the end of an era. This book stirred up all of those memories. I didn't have as much knowledge of the next two generations of the family so I found much of that information to be interesting and a bit like national enquirer in the way it was presented. Overall, this would be an interesting book for someone who knew very little about the Kennedy family - if there is anyone like that. For me, it was a trip down memory lane with very little information. Much of this book read like fiction and in my opinion, James Patterson should stick to fiction where he excels.

4.5 stars for me !

I thoroughly enjoyed The House of Kennedy

I was surprised how quickly the pages turned .

I learned quite a bit that I didnt know and things I thought I knew were corrected.

These folks definitely did their homework. Fascinating stuff, especially relating to Jackie O.

An immigrant family that thrives with the utmost determination to become truly relevant in the United States. There are so many books written about this talented & dedicated family that you will need to just read & delve into the histrionics of the Kennedy's. There were a lot of things that I didn't know & so I stopped and researched the information to obtain a clear understanding about the autobiography. This book isn't about the most famous Kennedy's. It's the whole family; from the grandparents unto the present time. J. P. took each member of the Kennedy family, from arrival to the United States from Ireland to the death of JFK Jr., and provided an indepth look into the solidity of family values, rivalry, to never fail at anything, addictions, & family secrets, plots, political power....just to name some. Their cavalier regard towards life made their deaths so hard to bear. They never showed fear because it wasn't embedded in them. They pushed the resistance button more than necessary & the end result was worse than anyone expected. I don't believe there's a curse on the Kennedy family. I believe their free spirited decisions outweighed the structural balance to live their lives any other way than how they lived.

This book took you through a timeline of this family, their issues, sibling rivalry, squirmishes with the law & their unhealthy addictions. Joe & Rose had nine children, 4 boys & 5 girls, & it seemed as if the females in this family were not pushed as hard as the boys to succeed but they were just as successful as their brothers. I learned a lot in this book & I'm not thinking about any conspiracy theories about this family. I just wanted to read about this family that came to America and by whatever means necessary, they succeeded to become a family whose legacy will never be forgotten.

Enjoyed this Immensely

My only wish is that it was even longer. This was a fantastic account of the trials and tribulations of the Kennedy Family. For far too long, so much has been a myth. The gilding is off the cage.

Not the best book on the Kennedys that I have read, but far from the worst. James Patterson’s succinct and intense style keeps you turning the pages. Liked the pictures.

3 1/2 stars

A lot of old news about every Kennedy imaginable all rolled into one book. Good if you have never read anything about the family but not worth the time if you have.

All my past views of the Kennedy's have been dispelled. I am so disappointed. They were not a very nice family.

I really loved this audio book--it was like fiction, because sometimes truth is stranger than fiction, right? I didn't learn too much new info about JFK, RFK, or Jackie, but I did learn a lot about the Kennedy cousins, JFK Jr, and other secondary family members. It's definitely one of my favorite audio books of the year. There's no doubt that this family is utterly fascinating. Full review to come.

3.75 stars

Something about the Kennedy’s. I am sure many people could say this.
This book provided some historical background which is what I was after. At times, dense with politics is was slow going (Ted Kennedy) but overall entertaining enough to keep me interested.
Such tragedy for this family that it begs the question whether the Kennedy curse has some truth?

Very good interesting.