I just recently completed reading this book, though I had it on my bookshelf for a  very long time.  It was published in 2000, a year after the death of JFK Jr. The story focused mainly on events and experiences that impacted JFK Jr's life, and subsequently the lives of the many people he would come in contact within his lifetime. These events and experiences, I feel, is what the book indends to show, as things that allowed John to become the person he was, and how his life and persona evolved to where it was at the time of his death.  However, what concerned me most at the end of my reading, aside from all the flashback of my emotions over John's life and eminent death, was the actual title of this book itself.

It almost seems unfair or inequitable that John's whole life experiences, being them so meaningful and profound, should only be condensed into one summary title as The Day John Died.  I cannot help but feel that this is somewhat of a misrepresentation of some kind.  It would feel better to me, if it was titled for instance, JFK Jr-The Man He Really Was...instead.  It occurs to me, hat because of the authentic title of this book, as a reason why I waited so long to read it in the first place.  The second reason why I delayed in reading it, inclusive of me reading the proliferation of Kennedy, Onassis, Bouvier etc. family, personal stories and books, is exactly because of this particular title.  It sounds so final, rather than the actual unfolding, if you will, of the summary of John's life events and experiences that it truly encompasses. All of them so dynamic and far-reaching!

However, still another reason why I waited to read this book only now, was because of my just having finished reading a book titled, What Remains, by Carol(e) Radziwill.  Carole was married to Tony Radziwill, first cousin to John, through his mothers sister, Lee Radziwill. John was very close to his cousin Tony in a way unlike his other relationships with his multidute of cousins on both sides of his family. Tony would have been the only brother-like relationship John would truly ever have.  Carole's book was largely about her life and marriage to Tony, and what their experiences were as a couple either coming from such different social backgrounds. One of the more tragic experience's of their lives together was Tony's diagnosis of cancer and what their lives were like as a result of having to deal with this crisis.