What Remains - Carole Radziwill

What Remains

By Carole Radziwill

  • Release Date: 2005-10-07
  • Genre: Biographies & Memoirs
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 1,792 Ratings

Description

A stunning, tragic memoir about John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, and his cousin Anthony Radziwill, by Radziwill’s widow.

What Remains is a vivid and haunting memoir about a girl from a working-class town who becomes an award-winning television producer and marries a prince, Anthony Radziwill. Carole grew up in a small suburb with a large, eccentric cast of characters. At nineteen, she struck out for New York City to find a different life. Her career at ABC News led her to the refugee camps of Cambodia, to a bunker in Tel Aviv, and to the scene of the Menendez murders. Her marriage led her into the old world of European nobility and the newer world of American aristocracy.

What Remains begins with loss and returns to loss. A small plane plunges into the ocean carrying John F. Kennedy Jr., Anthony’s cousin, and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, Carole’s closest friend. Three weeks later Anthony dies of cancer. With unflinching honesty and a journalist’s keen eye, Carole Radziwill explores the enduring ties of family, the complexities of marriage, the importance of friendship, and the challenges of self-invention. Beautifully written, What Remains “gets at the essence of what matters,” wrote Oprah Winfrey. “Friendship, compassion, destiny.”

Reviews

  • Slow burn

    3
    By shopgirl70
    Kept reading because of the iconic nature, finally finally got into it near the end. Reminder of something that everyone of that time will never forget. Probably a blessing that John and Caroline are not here for cameras on phones and the nature of our current world.
  • Harrowing Story

    5
    By lromzz
    I do not know Carole Radziwill from RHNYC or from her exploits since as I read this from a recommended list. I found it to be a heartbreaking, well written account of her husband’s cancer journey and the death of two very close friends. I read a review that stated she seemed to love Carolyn more, but I thought she wrote about their relationship in away to place how important it was in the reader’s mind so that one felt how devastating it was when she and John were gone. I would highly recommend this book.
  • This one made me cry

    4
    By 779293730838
    Definitely read it but have tissues prepared, the last part had me in tears, of course.
  • Excellent and heartbreaking

    5
    By sternfam23
    Excellent couldn’t put this down. Laughed and cried. Thank you Carole❤️
  • Excellent Read

    5
    By Bennettwrites
    Polished, full of pathos, heart wrenching. Bittersweet in how much a person can take, and the stark realism of no matter the privilege or ‘pull’ one has, death is death. I found myself a bit frustrated at all the denial, all the ‘rules’ set by these famous families. Love is love, death is death. When in the same room, we all breathe the same air. On a lighter note, looking forward to reading Radziwill’s up coming novel. She is a solid writer.
  • Beautiful

    5
    By Cat TD
    This book is moving, heartfelt, heartbreaking and joyous...beautifully written.
  • A memorial of love, strength and conviction

    5
    By wolfbur
    The book brings together many lives intersecting friendship, love and energy to seek truth. Although they were well known, it was less celebrity and more about love, adventure and companionship. Well done.
  • Captivating story and storytelling

    5
    By DariaJL
    Excellent writer and storytelling. So raw, honest and authentic. I read it in one day.
  • A favorite

    5
    By julofthewildisle
    Grief, love and friendship beautifully captured. Savored every bit.
  • Captivating

    5
    By lrwenrich45
    Beautifully written raw honest loving and heartbreaking.. Thank you for being brave enough to share it..