A decent look at the life of the matriarch of perhaps the most famous American political dynasty. Rose Kennedy led a very interesting life, and it's all here for us to read about. I found the book to be well-balanced. It didn't outright criticize Rose for her faults, but it presents information in a way that lets you know she had them. I've read reviews that said this book was very one-sided. I didn't find that at all.

For me, the most interesting part of the book had to do with Rose's tenure in London as the ambassador's wife. Her later years were pretty much glossed over in a handful of pages. It felt like the author was in a rush to wrap up the book.

A good biography of an interesting subject. ( )

Rose Kennedy: The Life and Times of a Political Matriarch by Barbara Perry is one more of zillions of biographies of the Kennedys. For some reason I never tire of reading about them. There has been much less written about Rose. This books does a good job. The writing is excellent as is the story. If you have lived the story as I have there is much less new. I was surprised at how little time the parents spent with those nine kids though she protests that she was always there for them. She seemed to miss their first communions, their confirmations, their graduations etc. As did Joe, the father. And Joe and Rose always seemed to be in different places but not together. The book is an easy read and worth a detour if you have not had enough of the Kennedys. ( )

Read my review at the New York Journal of Books:

http://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/review/rose-kennedy-life-and-times-political-mat... ( )