Rating: 
Summary: The Ultimate Tribute To A Parent
Review: I knew I would love this book. I am a selective fan of poetry, but knowing Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis' mission of educating her children in the classics and the best of literature, I knew it would become a favorite. And it has. It resides along with my volume of Robert Frost on my bedside table.My own parents instilled a love of the written word in my life at an early age. Poetry, however has become my own addition. I don't believe my parents had been much exposed to poetry. There are lots of poets I am not big fans of, but I think that's what poetry is....something you make your own because it speaks to your soul. Once you have read the classics and the best, you can make decisions as to what feeds your soul. I think for any young parent, it would be a great idea to start reading poetry to your children. I found the children's poetry charming in this volume. Caroline Kennedy shares her interpretations of what these poems have meant to her Mother, herself and her late brother. These lessons last a lifetime. To me a poem is a laugh captured on paper. Share the wealth!
Rating:
Summary: A Lovely Tribute from Caroline to Her Mother
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: A Nice, Fitting Tribute
Review: I would just like to say a few things: Namely, the person who wrote that review about Caroline confusing the time period when Paul Revere and her grandmother Rose were alive is completely wrong. Caroline was NOT confusing this; she didn't mean that her grandmother literally caught a glimpse of Revere, but that when Caroline was a child she thought her grandmother was the oldest person in the world and thought that Rose might've seen him. Secondly, to the other person from S.C. who thinks that Caroline is cashing in on her mother's celebrity: The book is a tribute, not something to be used for monetary gains. Caroline has too much respect for her mother and family to do that, and plus she's loaded, why would she need the money?!! This book is a nice, loving tribute to a famous mother who happened to like poetry. What's wrong with that?
Rating: 
Summary: Andy Warhol Nails It Again
Review: If you have a Bible, and any standard anthology of poetry in your house, then you already have all the poems in this book. There's no reason to buy it unless you're such a Kennediphile, that it matters to you which works in this completely standard fare appealed to someone once married to a Kennedy. Jackie O., or the First Lady of the Kennedy Administration, or John-John's mother, or however you care to think of her, is one of those people who, as Andy Warhol once said, is famous for being famous. Since she worked as a publisher, one might have high expectations for her personal collection of poetry: does it contain original drafts of well- known works?-- perhaps even uncensored versions; or unpublished works of recent authors?-- early rejects of Maya Angelou's writings, or Marge Piercy's juvenilia? Perhaps this volume might contain poems written by people we never knew wrote poetry: her son, Lyndon Johnson, anyone; maybe she has fresh and unpublished translations of Greek or Latin poetry! No such luck. Whatever hopes one might have held that the book would justify her place in the American imagination are dashed. I don't want to dismiss the book out of hand, because most of the poems here are very good, they are simply all recognized poems whose greatness is not in dispute, and this book adds nothing to them. So we know that a former First Lady liked them; so what? So do most people. Maybe next year we'll learn that Mrs. Onassis ate food and enjoyed sunny days. Leave the Kennedys alone. They're not royalty, and they're not even good examples of anything.
Rating:
Summary: A Fine Well Chosen Anthology
Review: If you want to know someone, see what he reads. This maxim is even more true of that most personal of disciplines: poetry. The choices of Jacqueline Kennedy tell more about her than the most slavish "in-depth" interview. The book is divided into six sections: "America," "First Poems" (children's poems), "Adventure," "Escape," "Romance and Love," and "In Her Own Words." Each section has a forward by Caroline Kennedy commenting on the selections. The collection is diverse and eclectic. Caroline's observations, though fond and proud, are quietly made. Ms. Onassis shows a great deal of adventurousness, a surprisingly passionate nature, a wonderful sense of fun and wit, and a streak of melancholy. Some of the poems will be familiar, like returning old friends; others will be a new gift. She was very fond of Yeats, Donne and Elizabeth Bishop; all of whom can be both giddy and profound. I have always thought Elizabeth Bishop's "The Art of Losing" (entitled here as "One Art") was only a poem for the very tough of soul. The last verse: --Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture
I love) I shan't have lied. It's evident
the art of losing's not too hard to master
though it may look like (Write it!) a disaster. Caroline Kennedy says the following Emily Dickinson excerpt "always reminded me of my mother," "Inebriate of air am I,
And debauchee of dew;---
Reeling through endless summer days,
From inns of molten blue." What an evocation of elegance that is, and what a tribute from a daughter to a mother! I received this book as a gift from my daughter. It is printed on a fine grade of paper and has a royal blue ribbon bookmark. I think it makes an excellent gift and is a nice addition to a collection of poetry.
Rating:
Summary: A Fine Well Chosen Anthology
Review: If you want to know someone, see what he reads. This maxim is even more true of that most personal of disciplines: poetry. The choices of Jacqueline Kennedy tell more about her than the most slavish "in-depth" interview. The book is divided into six sections: "America," "First Poems" (children's poems), "Adventure," "Escape," "Romance and Love," and "In Her Own Words." Each section has a forward by Caroline Kennedy commenting on the selections. The collection is diverse and eclectic. Caroline's observations, though fond and proud, are quietly made. Ms. Onassis shows a great deal of adventurousness, a surprisingly passionate nature, a wonderful sense of fun and wit, and a streak of melancholy. Some of the poems will be familiar, like returning old friends; others will be a new gift. She was very fond of Yeats, Donne and Elizabeth Bishop; all of whom can be both giddy and profound. I have always thought Elizabeth Bishop's "The Art of Losing" (entitled here as "One Art") was only a poem for the very tough of soul. The last verse: --Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture
I love) I shan't have lied. It's evident
the art of losing's not too hard to master
though it may look like (Write it!) a disaster. Caroline Kennedy says the following Emily Dickinson excerpt "always reminded me of my mother," "Inebriate of air am I,
And debauchee of dew;---
Reeling through endless summer days,
From inns of molten blue." What an evocation of elegance that is, and what a tribute from a daughter to a mother! I received this book as a gift from my daughter. It is printed on a fine grade of paper and has a royal blue ribbon bookmark. I think it makes an excellent gift and is a nice addition to a collection of poetry.
Rating: 
Summary: Another side of Jackie O.
Review: It has been said that we can never truly know everything about a person. What Caroline Kennedy has provided is a glimpse into the personal tastes of her mother, the beloved Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. Through her we get a sample of her mother's style and outlook through the poems that she favored. Although some may dismiss this as merely a gimmick or using her mother's name for profit, however, the insight into this private woman's life that can be gained is immeasurable.
Rating:
Summary: Literature of Comfort
Review: It is a beautiful book for anyone who loves poetry or whomever is a lover of literature in general. It's good to have on hand a quick reference for some of those poems you've always liked, but don't have time to look up. One of my favorites is "Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes. Another poem, "Ulysses" by Tennyson is most uplifting in this time of stress....."One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will...To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.'"
Rating:
Summary: this is a wonderful book
Review: It is impossible to select a favorite poem in this book, because they are all so beautiful and unique. I loved the diversity of themes in this book. There are poems about America, Adventure, Escape, Reflection, Romance and Love. These were subjects that were important to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Caroline Kennedy writes such eloquent introductions to each theme. Each introduction gives us a glimpse into what a beautiful person Jackie Kennedy was. There are several passages from the Bible that are just wonderful. I loved the passage from Ecclesiastes, because it so deep and philosophical in the way it describes the cycle of things in life. The passage from Matthew is very good because it talks about the virtues we should all try to cultivate like being merciful and being pure of heart. The 23rd psalm is a wonderful poem because it teaches us to accept and not to be afraid of death. I loved the poems by Robert Frost and Langston Hughes selected in this book. Let America Be America Again addresses the subject of inequality. This poem so optimistic and patriotic as Hughes identifies himself with every race in America. One of my favorite poems by Robert Frost is presented here. I really enjoyed the Road Not Taken because it has a very clear message. Each of us has to take make a decision about what path we want to take in life and that decision is not always easy. Some of the love poems in the book are hard to understand especially the sonnets and the poems I loved the line Shall I compare thee to a summer's day. Even though I didn't understand the whole poem, the first two lines are beautiful. I loved She Walks in Beauty by Lord Byron because of the poet's descriptive words and memorable phrases like the first line she walks in beauty like the night I really like the last 2 lines of this poem. I seek someone whose mind is at peace and whose heart whose love is innocent as the poem suggests. This is such a enjoyable book. I know that just finishing it has inspired me to continue to writing my own poetry.
Rating:
Summary: If you get one book of poetry, let it be this one...
Review: Let me say, first off, I think Caroline Kennedy has done an excellent job in putting "Best Loved Poems" together. I had never seen such a wonderful, eclectic collection in one volume. There is a poem for every mood, or any adventure. Plus, the love Caroline had for her mother shines throughout each page. The added addition of Jackie O's own poems makes this a must own. There are few poetry books that I have felt I needed to own. I find it tiring to read the same poet over and over again. Or, just read poems related to one subject. But, this one is different. I couldn't pass it up and I suggest you don't, either.
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