One Special Summer

One thing Ms. Bouvier always represented was the epitome of good taste, elegance, eloquent and proper speech, good breeding. She was sought after by the most powerful men in the world for her finesse and broad knowledge of how to entertain, how to dress, how to decorate, how to present herself out to the world. Women who aspire to the essence of character could always profit from any study of this women, even though some of the gossipy rags fail to capture what she was truly all about - good manners, decorum, family, politeness, steadfastness and caring.

This was written when travel was glamorous and these two certainly made the rounds! I was journalling before journalling and scrapbooking became the present rage and enjoyed this book because it was done without the present day pre-fabbed gew-gaws. The sisters took their mother and later the lucky readers through castles and meetings with friends of friends who were high up and taught us how to handle an embarrassing situation of being taken "home" across Paris by a couple who really didn't ant to take them home, Lee did a hilarous entry of her experience at a dance where she danced with a lead-footed man who pointed out his family "all with the same noses!" and Jackie drew herself dancing with a dashing Russian Soldier during the same event. These two had a great approach to life and even their bad days were hilarious adventures. Much is written in French and it delighted my second year French-student daughter then she discovered that she was able to translate for me. After reading this book, you will discover how to have a good time and find the humor in any situation and never leave a sheet of paper or an envelope blank. Jackies' drawings are easy and cute an an inspiration! One of my daughters' teachers borrowed this book from me to show the students that they can make art anywhere about anything!

What a refreshing treasure of an illustrated young Jacqueline Bouvier this is as she tours Europe with her sister! This little compilation of sketches and notes denotes an era and a life style, with naivete and flair.

I bought this book when I was in high school, and after studying the darling illustrations, and reading the story, I soooo longed to travel abroad, particularly by boat; and to mix with all the European dignitaries, socialites, and "Lah De Dahs" from across the pond. Now it's 30 years later, and having traveled quite extensively with my husband I still have that same longing, yet this time for my own daughters! This book and its charming illustrations make you want to send your daughter(s) or sons to Europe and travel amongst the noblesse. However impossible as that may seem to be, the good news is that today, anyone can take the Queen Mary or any number of magnificent ships (QEII available no longer) across the pond and waltz around Europe. This is a nostalgic peek back into a time long ago; how the well-to-do traveled, socialized, lolly-gagged about, and spent their time, misbehaving and just having an all around good time. It is based on the true summer travel experience of the Bouvier sisters: Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis and her younger sister Lee Bouvier Radziwill. One became a First Lady of the United States, and the other, a Princess by marriage residing in Europe. I recommend this darling picture book for anyone with a sense of fantacy and longing for high society adventure and travel.

This was such a delightful discovery, I can almost picture what it would have been like to have discovered the actual scrapbook and travel journal on which this book is based. It is a delightful glimpse into the pre-celebrity lives of the young Bouvier sisters. Not only is this a treat for fans of either Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, or her sister Lee Bouvier Radziwill, but it is also a wonderful book for people who are fans of vacation memoirs. No matter what your background is, there are laughs to be found in the trials and tribulations of a voyage--for instance, of sharing a ship cabin with a woman in her 90's, who has a penchant for walking around in the buff late at night. The drawings, done by Jackie Bouvier, are charming and funny. One hopes that people still take such sweet records of their vacations.