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In my opinion, one of the best parts about watching a based-on-history TV show or biopic isn't the actual production itself. Instead, it's the black hole I find myself in afterwards, Googling and paging through lists of books I need to read to learn more on the subject.
And after watching Jackie — the breathless, stirring new film starring Natalie Portman as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis —I found myself in a hole that lasted a full week. The film artfully captures an especially harrowing period of Onassis' life: the days following her husband's assassination. While it could have been a rehashing of things we already know, this movie gives new insight into the former First Lady's life and legacy — and it also left me wanting to know everything I could about the Kennedy family.
As the credits rolled and I walked to the subway, I immediately started researching. I wanted to read more about John F. Kennedy as a child, Jackie's later life in book publishing, her relationship with Bobby Kennedy, and more. But when the internet began to feel overwhelming (there are hundreds of articles out there, let me tell you!), I turned instead to adding some books to my wish list to answer any question I could ever possibly have about the Kennedy family.
So here are the dozen best books that I found. I hope these will help in your own post-Jackie journey. Don't be shy about sharing reading suggestions of your own in the comments, too. I'm still not satisfied on my Camelot quest.
Jackie opens in theaters December 2.
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