Play Audiobook Sample
What Remains (Abridged): A Memoir of Fate, Friendship, and Love Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(4.00) - 3,898 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
A stunning, tragic memoir about John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife Carolyn Bessette, 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.”
Download and start listening now!
"I have never watched Real Housewives of NY and I have never been especially interested in the Kennedy family, but I do love a good memoir. A friend of mine who knows I love memoirs recommended this book and I'm glad I read it. Carole tells her story of being from a working class town and moving to NYC to become a journalist where she meets her future husband, who happens to be a prince. Her husband's cousin is JFK Jr. and she develops an extremely close friendship with Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. Sadly, it is a profoudly tragic story as her husband is diagnosed with cancer and while they are "waiting for him to die" is when the plane carrying John Kennedy and Carolyn crashed into the ocean. Despite it being so tragic, it was worth reading because Carole is an impressive writer. My heart went out to Carole as I read about reality of someone you love having cancer and reading about her close friendship with Carolyn, yet knowing how it will end."
— Jane (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
-
Carole Radziwill, a wonderful writer who married into a famous family, gets at the essence of what matters - friendship, compassion, destiny- in her stunning new memoir, "What Remains." --Oprah Winfrey
-
Love and loss, family and friends, fate and fortune: these themes pervade this beautifully-written memoir. [A] courageous and compelling work." --Library Journal
-
"What Remains is a riveting and heartbreaking journey beyond the fairy tale, told with the compassion of a friend and wife, and the searing eloquence of a gifted writer." -- Jeannette Walls, author of The Glass Castle
-
Carole Radziwill has written an unsparing, unsentimental and inspiring memoir. A spirited journalist with a novelist's eye for detail, she delivers a stunningly honest story about life's great joys and deepest pain." -- Christiane Amanpour CNN (Chief International Correspondent)
Awards
-
A New York Times bestseller
What Remains Listener Reviews
-
" Bitterly sweet beautiful. "
— Michelle, 2/18/2014 -
" Honest portrayal of dealing with illness and death. Don't think it would have been as successful a book had it not been for the Kennedy connection. Read it for book club but don't think I would have finished it otherwise. "
— Maryjo, 2/10/2014 -
" Such an honest account of dealing with a loved one's illness. Cried my eyes out. "
— Kitty, 2/3/2014 -
" I bought this because I am a RHONY fan. Radziwill is a good writer. Her memoir is both raw with emotion and very engaging. The deaths of Radziwill's best friend, her bfs husband and her own husband are devastating. "
— Jill, 1/31/2014 -
" Several love stories, those between husband and wife and those between best friends. "
— Tracy, 1/31/2014 -
" Heart wrenching story.... Loved hearing about John Kennedy & Carolyn Bisset like we've never known. Thumbs up to Carole Radziwill for being so incredibly strong. "
— Irene, 1/30/2014 -
" I was amazed at the sincerity in Carole Radziwill's book "What Remains...". I can only say I think she is so brave to be able to write this tragic story. I feel deeply for her loss of Anthony, John and Carolyn. She is an amazing woman. I wish her the best. "
— Janet, 1/27/2014 -
" Great book about friendship, moves a little slow at times, but well worth the read "
— Coreen, 1/24/2014 -
" Started reading this tonight after work, couldn't stop. Cried my eyes out. Super good, sad that someone's real life could be so tragic. "
— Desiree, 1/20/2014 -
" Saddest book I've ever read! "
— Leigh-ann, 12/23/2013 -
" Beautifully written story of friendship, love, and loss. Wish I could give it 4 1/2 stars. "
— Leslie, 12/16/2013 -
" I have always been fascinated by all things "Kennedy" so was interested to read this memoir. It was a heartbreakingly bittersweet story of love, friendship and family as they bravely face the battle of cancer. Additionally it is an incredibly well written book. "
— Sarah, 12/14/2013 -
" A candid memoir of love and loss. "
— Cathy, 12/8/2013 -
" Her story is so raw and unfair; while she can't write anther one like it - I hope her life brings her happiness because she's earned it. "
— Lana, 11/24/2013 -
" Haunting. Much also to be learned of the Kennedy relationships if you read between the lines. "
— Rebecca, 9/11/2013 -
" Super sad story. "
— Eun, 5/20/2013 -
" This book was so honest and touching. She doesn't exploit her close relationship with JFK or Carolyn Besset, but simply tells her story and their part in it. Highlly recommend "
— Maria, 3/29/2013 -
" This has taken the place of my all time favorite book -she tells you on the first page exactly what is going to happen in the book, and I was still rivetted as I read it. "
— Danielle, 2/25/2013 -
" I don't read a lot of nonfiction, but I loved this book. Cried like a baby even though I knew how it would end. "
— Pam, 1/30/2013 -
" This memoir was written by a woman who was married to John Kennedy Jr.'s cousin, and who was very good friends with John's wife. Their plane crash took place at the same time her own husband was dying of cancer. "
— Vicki, 1/3/2013 -
" THis story is an up close and personal account of JFK Jr's last days. Heartbreaking.A must-read for anyone fascinated with the Kennedy clan. "
— Shelley, 6/11/2012 -
" Beautifully written. Captivating in the most human and simplest of ways. Left me in tears. "
— Alison, 5/24/2012 -
" dont be miffed by the RH of NY Carole, she can tell a story and can write. she has had a very interesting life. reading about her husband's struggle is heart breaking but so real "
— Harmony, 2/23/2012 -
" This is my favorite book! "
— Gail, 2/13/2012 -
" It was an OK book. It talked about Carole Radziwill and her husband's journey with cancer. Her husband was a cousin to John Kennedy Jr. It talked a little about the Kennedy's. It was interesting. "
— Sue, 11/11/2011 -
" Though a sad story, it is a story of finding your inner strength even during those times you feel it's not possible. "
— Carrie, 11/8/2011 -
" Third time I've read this. Radziwill tells sad tale with a lovely voice. "
— Jane, 9/24/2011 -
" Great biography of John F. Kennedy Jr and his cousin. "
— Geri, 6/14/2011 -
" My favorite memoir of all time! "
— Tara, 6/5/2011 -
" She gave such an honest account of her life and love and feelings. I think she was very brave to write it and I feel really lucky to have read it. "
— Ali, 5/10/2011 -
" This was a hard book to read -- painfully honest, never melodramatic, beautifully loyal. I ached for her by the end of the book, and I would love to know what she is doing now. "
— CynthiaA, 5/10/2011 -
" Tragic yet wonderfully written book recounting the private friendship between the author and John Kennedy Jr. and his wife, Carolyn Bessette. A tasteful glimpse into the private lives of some very public people and, ultimately, a story of love and loss. "
— Ginny, 5/8/2011 -
" Heartbreaking but powerful memoir. Well written, interesting look into her close friendship with Carolyn Bessette and John Kennedy Jr. and an honest account of her life with and marriage to Anthony Radziwill, who was diagnosed with cancer shortly after their honeymoon. "
— Susan, 3/4/2011 -
" I read this book when it first came out. I really loved her writing & story. I was very touched by this book and would highly recommend it! "
— Nicole, 3/4/2011 -
" It was a wonderful book. I listened to the audio, read by the author. Learning the facts about the Kennedy's was fascinating, and the entire story is very well written and interesting. "
— Dena, 2/9/2011 -
" One of the saddest stories I have ever read. Very well written by a courageous woman. "
— Michelle, 1/11/2011 -
" This was so, so good. I read it a couple years ago. "
— Taunya, 12/28/2010 -
" The Best Friend of my Whole Life died very suddenly in July of 2007. I had no idea what to do (regarding anything) so I did what I always do...went looking for a book about it. This was the only book I could find about such a loss and was glad to have it. "
— Lauri, 12/24/2010 -
" NOt sure why I read this but it was all right... "
— Callie, 12/18/2010
About Carole Radziwill
Carole Radziwill grew up in upstate New York and earned a BA at Hunter College and an MBA at New York University. She spent more than a decade at ABC News, reporting from around the world, and earned three Emmys. Her first book, What Remains, a memoir, spent more than twenty weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. She has written for many magazines, including Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, and Glamour. She currently is a star of and “the voice of reason” on Bravo’s The Real Housewives of New York.