Rating: 
Summary: Herein lies a proper Spotlight Review . . . .
Review: A note to Mr. Kerwick and to "thomasmcgauley" regarding their opinions of The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys: An American Saga -- to rate a book poorly based on your opinion of the author is not necessarily the purpose of these Spotlight reviews. These reviews are intended to provide interested readers with information regarding the quality of the work -- and that's where an opinion is involved. It sounds like you've prejudged this novel according your dislike of the author and subject. How about an opinion of the book? Was it well written? Most certainly. Was it informative? You bet. Would I recommend it to someone who didn't hate the author or the Kennedys and who wanted a riviting account of American history -- it's ups and downs and good and bad? That's what the stars represent.
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Summary: A REAL TREASURE
Review: A wonderful and captivating history of America's royal family. Fascinating facts about Rose Kennedy's Young life. FOR QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS ON JACKIE ONASSIS, PLEASE E-MAIL ME AT MellissaLD@aol.com. HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: great story
Review: American popular history at its best in this history of both sides of the Kennedy family (Rose Kennedy was the daughter of Mayor John Fitzgerald of Boston) beginning in late 19th century tenement poverty in Boston and ending, 800+ pages later, at the inauguration of JFK as President. Countless things here I did not fully know. The book is quite capable of being critical of certain aspects of both families, but its overall impact is to leave one even more amazed by the accomplishments and tragedies of the Kennedy family.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent addition to any family library.
Review: Given that the Kennedy family history has been chronicled by hundreds of writers over the years, I was somewhat surprised to find this text remarkably unbiased. Although it was evident that the author had a tremendous respect and admiration for Rose (Fitzgerald) Kennedy, and an equally strong distaste for Joseph Kennedy, the book provided an excellent biographical history of the two families that combined to shape America's most enduring dynasty. The text was well researched, and comprehensive without being tedious to read. Ms. Goodwin's book should be required reading for every high school or college course in twentieth century American history.
Rating: 
Summary: to catch a thief
Review: I enjoyed this book, but also felt the author is a little to close to the subject, and has not much objectivity. Also, I think, being it's a book about the Fitzgeralds, she should have cribbed a few passages from The Great Gatsby. I would loved to have been reading about old Papa Kennedy conning Gloria Swanson, and discovered he had "temporarily lost interest in the abortve sorrows and short winded elations of men." If you're going to steal, Doris, might as well go the whole hog.
Rating:
Summary: The Mesmerizing Story of America's Royal Family
Review: I was thoroughly enthralled, gripped and engaged in this story of three generations of the Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys. The story begins in 1863 with the baptism of John Francis Fitzgerald in Boston and concludes almost 100 years later with the inauguration of John Fitzgerald Kennedy. The families' roots are traced back to the great immigration following the Irish potato famine in the 1840's. From immigration to becoming the American royal family in just three generations is a remarkable achievement that is chronicled in fascinating detail in this comprehensive, definitive narrative.
Even though it is more than 800 pages, the book is not a dry history text, but rather an intriguing glimpse into the lives of the charmed and sometimes tragic lives of this huge Irish Catholic clan. Nothing is omitted, from the affairs of Joseph Kennedy, to the flirtations of Kathleen, the appalling lobotomy of Rosemary, and the sexual antics of John F. Kennedy. The political shenanigans of the elder Fitzgerald provide an interesting examination of Boston politics in the early 1900's...rife with graft and insider manipulation.
The author's writing style is rich, powerful and mesmerizing. For instance, to describe the ascent of JFK into the limelight of American politics, she writes: "For his capacity to arouse the questing imagination of his fellow citizens, and of much of the world beyond America's borders, was to elevate the family saga past the borders of mythology. By the beginning of the fifties he already contained all the elements which his leadership was to be compounded, forged in tumultuous experience, anchored and given direction by his often resented but always unbreakable links to his extraordinary family."
The level of detail and insightful analysis into the complex characters and relationships in the family is well worth your investment of time in reading this tome. A book you won't soon forget.
Rating: 
Summary: The Kennedy's and the Fitzgeralds
Review: Ms. Goodwin is a tallented writer and historian, in that the book has well documented sources, and provides an interesting glymse into rise of this prominant family.However Ms. Goodwin sometimes gets a bit too mushy for my taste particulary in some of the chapters covering the Fitzgeralds. Secondly her unwaivering support for the Family(The Kennedy's primarily) Get in the way of objectivity particularily in reveiling the misdeeds of Josepth and Jack Kennedy. In general a great book which is throughly written and a must read for those wanting to known more about this significant family.
Rating:
Summary: nice soft ball approach
Review: OK, so much negative stuff has been written about the Kennedys that this somehwat romanticized perspective could be viewed as a welcome balance. Though it smacks of Horatio Alger at times, it is indeed interesting and fun and stimulates interest to dig deeper. THe best parts of this book are the history of the US. Unfortunately, when you do dig deeper than she did, what you find is not very pretty: a genius in business, Joe Kennedy was a tough SOB who would fleece anyone to get richer. Even Kearns has to mention, for example, that he ripped off investors when he got out of Hollywood - ruining many poor people who believed in him - and that his father, a local banker and businessman, burned his account books when he died so that his son would not pursue small debtors he wanted to help out. The Kennedy kids were thrust into power as instruments of his ambition, and it cost many of them their lives, as we know. There was a lot of good in them, but they were bred to become powerful, and what they represented in politics had less to do with conviction than as a means of ascent. I learned a great deal from this book, so recommend it. But it is also sentimental and ignores too much evidence that contradicts her fawning vision of this elite family of voracious appetites. I suspect the Kennedys recognized Kearns' predilection for nice people and charmed her into willing submission. Afterall, they are true pols, so they used her.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent historical account of Kennedy/Fitzgerald family
Review: This book is a MUST HAVE for anyone fascinated by the Kennedy family saga. This was the most illuminating account of the family that I had ever read. Doris Kearns Goodwin, in telling the Kennedy and Fitzgerald story, gives a voice to the Boston Irish and immigrants struggling to survive and make their names. Ms. Goodwin is my favorite author; I recommend all of her work.
Rating:
Summary: A sweeping saga, an incredible book
Review: This book is so great on so many levels. It is an immigrant story, a fabulous history of the famine plauged Irish coming to America. The story begins here of a Fitzgerald coming to America for a better life. It traces the family history of birth, life and death before arriving at the life of John "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald, mayor of Boston. It then becomes a book discussing Boston at the turn of the century, before becoming a poltical history of Irish Boston politics. Fitzgerald besides being a famous Boston mayor, is also the father of Rose Fitzgerald. After Fitz's demise the book turns to Rose, her life and her relationship with the son of an Irish ward boss and pub owner Joseph P Kennedy. Of course the book turns the Kennedys and their family. A family full of ultimate success and complete tragedy. It covers the family for slightly more than 100 years starting with a babtism of a young Fitzgerald to the inaugoration of the first Irish Catholic President of the United States John F. Kennedy. An amazing book and a must read for any Kennedy historian. 5 stars
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