A review by haley_b
And They Called It Camelot: A Novel of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis by Stephanie Marie Thornton

emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

And They Called it Camelot fictionalizes the life of Jackie Kennedy from her first encounter with the future president to the death of Onassis. 

This novel describes Jackie’s life in great detail, and I admit I knew very little about her prior to reading. However, I was also skeptical of the novel as a concept from the very beginning. It’s too grounded in a real person’s experiences to be truly historical fiction, but it doesn’t pretend to have the credibility of a biography, either. The book appears to be written for those who already have an interest in Jackie as a celebrity rather than those with an interest in the time period. 

I found the characters somewhat flat, and Jackie’s troubles in particular began to feel trivial. She lamented her marriage at length despite forgiving men’s mistakes very easily and holding every other privilege imaginable in a wealthy, respected family. I did sympathize with her losses both in pregnancy and in the many deaths close to her, most famously her husband’s assassination.  

Despite its emotional moments, this novel is not compelling enough to justify its own existence. Those interested in reading should consider biographies that can tell the same story with greater credibility.