Review: Jackie O On the Couch by Alma Bond

Jackie O On the Couch

by Alma Bond

Publisher: Bancroft Press

Pages: 288

Format: book

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Jackie O: On the Couch is the story of Jackie Kennedy Onassis as she might have written it.

This is not just another biography. For the first time, Jackie O: On the Couch highlights Jackie's life from her own perspective, as imagined by author Dr. Alma Bond, a psychoanalyst and long-time student of Jackie lore.

The facts are all historically correct, as are the ideas, the Washington intrigue and politics, and the examination of the role of women in society and in the White House. Jackie speaks of her need to record her story truthfully-to replace the hodgepodge of lies published during her lifetime. Speaking as an older woman, she ponders how her points of view have changed from those she held when she was young.

The book delves into her childhood and explores how and why Jackie became the person she was. It also explores the Kennedys, and how John F. Kennedy's background affected his marriage. Jackie's deep love for Jack, his early inattentiveness, their difficulties together, his outrageous womanizing, happy times at the White House, and the tragedy of his assassination-all are viewed through Jackie's eyes.

Jackie writes of her need for Aristotle Onassis, debunking the notion that she married him purely for his money, and traces the joyful early years of the marriage through to its dramatic collapse and Ari's difficult death.

A different Jackie emerges into the world of publishing. Her new persona allows her to establish her very best relationship with the stout and adoring Maurice Tempelsman, until non-Hodgkins lymphoma takes her life in 1994, at age 64.

Kritters Thoughts:  Jackie Kennedy could possibly be my favorite person in history ever.  The ups and downs that she lived through and the moments where she was a part of history and the moments where she was on the sidelines of history - she just is a woman I admire in so many ways.

I saw this book for review on Netgalley and I couldn't wait to read it, so I am glad I set aside the time and read it - in one sitting!

Edited with names and things as header of chapters, the book went chronologically through Jackie's life from her childhood to years before JFK, through JFK and beyond.  I was really only aware of the JFK years, so I appreciated the book having years before and after and that being just a portion of the story.  

Told through Jackie's point of view and in her voice, I kept having to remind myself that it was a fiction book based in a certain amount of fact.  I kept wanting to think that this was her story and all truth!

There are more in this On the Couch series, so I may have to try the next one.


Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel