What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship, and Love

This was almost too poignant to read. Not only was it tenderly and affectionately written, but it also is a painfully good gossip about the Kennedy/Radziwill families. Those two themes made it a guilty read for those who know far, far too much about the Kennedys/Bouviers/Radziwills. When I could divorce myself from my own slightly salacious interests, it was a lovely read. But I'm still the old lady on the sidewalk on Fifth, picking out Jackie's apartment building.

Carole Radziwell's recounting of the tragic deaths of her husband, Anthony Radziwill, his cousin John Kennedy and wife, Carolyn, all within three weeks of each other. Of course, John and Carolyn went down in that horrific plane crash. Here she reflects on life & death, and fate & fortune, as she recalls her memories of this time with beauty and eloquence. It is her non-linear approach that gives this book its multi-dimensional quality. Like the layers of an onion, the story unfolds itself. I felt immersed in this story; it haunted me.

She shares her memories of her husband, the agony, the constant stress, the avoidance of reality, the sweet moments between a husband and wife.

One of my favorite moments was when Anthony (who show more affectionately has given her the nickname of Peanut, or Nut to be short) was going into one of his many treatments for cancer:

"He holds my hand tight. Tighter the closer we get to the big double doors. 'I love you, Nut,' he mumbles. 'I love you more.' He smiles; this is our thing. 'I love you mostly.'
I am determined to be casual, smile, not say good-bye. 'Okay, see you later, Sweetie.' Never good-bye. Then he disappears. The big blue double doors swing shut behind him. It's quick, this whole scene. No lingering, no second or two longer. A brisk walk and swoosh and the doors swinging shut. Then it is completely quiet."

At first reading, I appreciated her ability to detach from her emotions in order to present a factual narrative. But on subsequent readings, these parts seem cold and emotionally detached, contradictory. She seems to achieve an understated effect but at times it is unnerving.

Much of this memoir is about her unwillingness to come to terms with what is happening. And Carole comes across as being passive and maybe codependent in some ways. They didn't talk very much about his sickness. She just seemed to go along with things without complaint, and without dealing with his cancer. It felt painful to watch, knowing the ending. They both did not want to deal with it--but that is part of their story.

Carole seems to prefer to be at a distance, and to intellectualize her experience, She also shared on The Real Housewives Of New York City reunion that she is just very "cold" and rational and that her brain scan revealed that she has a "ginormous" hippocampus.

I think her best writing is in the beginning part, about her childhood in upstate New York. She has a remarkable memory (hence, the hippocampus) and ability to evoke images of that time. This is excellently written and hard to put down. I also appreciated the memories of the Kennedys. You get a feel for the character of John and Carolyn, and that they seemed like truly great and loving people. show less

The cover of this book says that you can find the author on one of the Real Housewives of Wherever (does it matter which city, really? They are all the same.) and I feel like that does this book an extreme disservice. Had I not had this book gifted to me by a friend who swore by it, I would've assumed that it was another 'My-tragic-d-list-celebrity-life' memoir, and moved on my merry way.

What a refreshing surprise it was to have this memoir written so beautifully that I was in tears within the first 10 pages. Chock full of inspiring and devastating quotes, this book reflects the thoughts of a woman who's life has been well-lived, even through incredible tragedy. From her best friend's death to her husbands cancer diagnosis and show more subsequent fight, I felt every emotion with her.

I am taking away 1 star, however, because I felt at times that while the writing was great, I never got to the heart of any certain story she was telling. It felt like I was given the Cliffs-notes version, and that somewhere there is a much longer, deeper memoir that really gets down to the nitty gritty.

Overall, though, it was an emotional roller coaster I was more than willing to go on. show less

The cover of this book says that you can find the author on one of the Real Housewives of Wherever (does it matter which city, really? They are all the same.) and I feel like that does this book an extreme disservice. Had I not had this book gifted to me by a friend who swore by it, I would've assumed that it was another 'My-tragic-d-list-celebrity-life' memoir, and moved on my merry way.

What a refreshing surprise it was to have this memoir written so beautifully that I was in tears within the first 10 pages. Chock full of inspiring and devastating quotes, this book reflects the thoughts of a woman who's life has been well-lived, even through incredible tragedy. From her best friend's death to her husbands cancer diagnosis and show more subsequent fight, I felt every emotion with her.

I am taking away 1 star, however, because I felt at times that while the writing was great, I never got to the heart of any certain story she was telling. It felt like I was given the Cliffs-notes version, and that somewhere there is a much longer, deeper memoir that really gets down to the nitty gritty.

Overall, though, it was an emotional roller coaster I was more than willing to go on. show less

A poignant and very interesting book about a quite ordinary girl who marries into an extraordinary family. If this wasn't enough to make a great story add the tragic events that surrounded her life - the devastating cancer and ultimate death of her husband and the death of her best friend Carolyn Kennedy and her husband's cousin, John Kennedy Jr. The book reads very easily and you are swept along by the inevitable events. Its one of those stories that even though you know the ending, it keeps you enthralled and entranced until the end.

Surprise! This is a very good read. Most everyone will be familiar with the characters and events contained within the story. However, this is an inside look not only at the experience of cancer for a family, but the reality of the lives of the famous that normally we would have no expose to.

I admit I would never have picked up this book without having seen the author on her TV show "Real Housewives of NYC." And there apparently was discussion over her writing. So I thought I might see what the fuss was about.

This book claimed my attention immediately, and maybe because I am a cancer survivor myself, so it felt very intimate. Definitely recommend.

Very well written, captivating, and devastating.
Carole Radziwill shares with us the triumphs in her career and family.

A girl from a working class town who marries a prince, Anthony Radziwill, the cousin of John Kennedy Jr. Her marriage led her into the old world of European nobility and the newer world of American Aristocracy. The couple are best friends with John Kennedy Jr. and his wife Carolyn Besset. We are taken through the devastating loss of their unexpected deaths and the death of her husband, shorty thereafter.

Carole's strength and grace is truly an inspiration.