Jackie by Josie: A Novel

by Caroline Preston

Book Overview

Follows a thirtyish graduate who unexpectedly finds herself helping a celebrity biographer research the life of Jackie Kennedy Onassis, and ends up discovering surprising parallels between her own... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684838907
• Release Date: March 1998
• Publisher: Scribner
• Length: 314 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.9" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

clever and unique

This is a very clever and fun book, one that can be enjoyed by anyone wanting to read about a smart, somewhat lost, young woman, who ends up finding herself by discovering things about Jackie Kennedy. The book is so touching and kept me totally involved, anxious to see how things would turn out for this intelligent compelling person. And for you people out there who don't think you would enjoy a book with a parallel story about Jackie Kennedy, pick this book up anyway. The author has used the parallel in such a clever way, it is worth the try. I am looking forward to more books by this wonderful author.

A sweet story

I was expecting a light Bridget Jones-ish read when I picked this up in the bargain bin. I was pleasantly surprised. The story follows Josie Trask, wife of Peter, mother of 3-year-old Henry, American Lit grad student having trouble getting her thesis finished, spending the summer living with her mother, apart from her husband, doing research for a schlocky bio on Jackie O. Josie is a fair bit more intellectual than most 30-or-so female central characters have been lately. She goes through a bit of a crisis in her marriage and winds up with a better understanding of herself, her mother and her relationship with her husband. As the story unfolds, we are treated to tidbits from Josie's Jackie research, that are both interesting on their own, and in the way they relate to what Josie's going through.Preston's writing is strong, the characters are authentic and the story is a pleasure all the way through. It's also peaked my interest in reading more about Jackie and the Kennedys.

great!

I felt I could relate to Josie. As the author says in the book, the best story is one where you feel you're eavesdropping on the people sitting at the next table. That's how I felt. It was a quick read, not too many difficult words, not hard to pick up again, and sympathetic characters.

Magnetic and gratifying read.

This book was so charming, warm and clever. I felt as if I knew the characters and hated for it to end. I become impatient with long physical descriptions of place; how refreshing that this talented author has the ability to set a scene in wonderfully concise and amusing way (similar to Elinor Lipman). I can imagine that Caroline Preston was happy and proud when she finished this lovely novel, as it is first-rate. I'm glad I bought it and look forward to her next - I'd like to find out what happens next to Josie and Peter!

Really fun summer reading

The perfect reading indulgence - good relationship issues, fun Jackie O. facts, and an ending that is not a cop out. Loved it for reading on the beach.