Jackie Stories 2-3

2 A Rival at Work & 3 A Waspish Novelist (Eight Friends of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis)

By: William Kuhn

Narrated by: Pamela Dillman

Length: 1 hr and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

For many people, Jackie was beyond criticism. People who came from her own background, however, were often more detached. They could be more forceful with her and sometimes more openly critical of her than others were.

Nan Talese was one of the most important people in American publishing at the end of the 20th century. Nan and Jackie both grew up as bookish debutantes in and around New York. When Nan and Jackie worked at the same publisher in the 1990s, a muted rivalry arose between them.

Louis Auchincloss was a novelist of Manhattan's elite. He was also a distant relation of Jackie's by marriage. They'd known each other since they were young. When he came to write books which Jackie edited, she discovered he could be more difficult than her other authors. He did what few others did. He told her the truth, though Auchincloss' honesty could also be malicious.

Photographs accentuate her style and flair, but it's Jackie's struggles with social equals that reveal the hidden, human dimensions of the world's most famous woman.

©2021 William Kuhn (P)2022 William Kuhn

For Jackie O fans

If you are a fan of Jackie Kennedy Onassis, this might be the book (series of books) for you. Numbers 2 & 3 describe fellow editor Nan Talese and novelist Louis Auchincloss, a distant relative and for whom she served as an editor. Ms. Talese and Mr. Auchincloss were relatively know persons in their own rights, but their respective celebrity paled in comparison to Jackie O’s. Frankly, I listened to this audiobook because of my lifelong fascination of the former President’s glamorous wife, and while this audiobook truly is about her two friends, there was sufficient insight into Mrs. Onassis to hold my interest. I’m guessing it’s best to read the entire series for the greatest insight into her circle of friends and Jackie herself. NOTE: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Glimpse into the mind of a legend...

...and even better, into the hearts of her friends.

This unique perspective of Jackie, through some of her most interesting and accomplished friends, not only brings captivating new nuances to her personality, but is marvelously informative about the world of publishing in which she worked.

Rivalry reveals Jackie’s traits most candidly…

This audio book is a fascinating reveal of the lifelong rivalry between a lauded editor and the celebrity of Jackie Kennedy Onassis.
Writer William Kuhn, an expert on Jackie’s life and letters, learns a great deal about the tension between the flames of fame vs. high professional competence, as Nan reveals intimate details of her working relationship and long friendship with Jackie. I wanted to be at that cozy table with Mr. Kuhn and Nan, sharing a cocktail and dishing through this engaging story. William’s writing creates that “you are there” feeling. Great narration by Pamela Dillon keeps you listening to the poignant end.

Pleasantly Surprised

Jackie Stories 2-3 was a quick story that I listened to while getting ready during our family’s spring break vacation. It was the perfect thing to pop on while putting on my makeup, setting my mind onto the publishing world of yesteryear and thoughts of Jackie, someone I’ve always admired and secretly wanted to emulate. It was pretty cool getting a glimpse of the behind the scenes thoughts and notes from the author’s research for his novel “Reading Jackie.”

These are two stories from two people who were in Jackie’s life, Nan Talese, one of Jackie’s longtime colleagues, and Louis Auchincloss, a distant cousin and someone who knew Jackie early in her adult life. It was so neat getting to hear stories that I have never heard before about a woman that I greatly admire, helping me to see a side of her I did not know before.

Adding to the tone of the stories was the narrator’s soothing voice, though it did tend to throw me, as the author is male, and the narrator is female, but I still enjoyed the listen nonetheless. I have several other Jackie Stories that I am currently listening to and really love this series.

*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher through LibraryThing Early Reviewers. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own.