JFK Jr.
I wouldn’t say I like memoirs. I’m pretty picky about them. But what I do appreciate is that they are not the span of a person’s life, just a part, more specific and more significant, analyzed and understood for what it was. Certain people, certain subjects might pique my interest as was the case over ten years ago with Christina Haag’s “Come to the Edge” about her relationship with John F. Kennedy Jr. while they were in their 20’s. Remarkably intimate, it gives the reader a glimpse into the intensely private life of JFK Jr., in addition to his personality, and considering it’s solely her perspective, only adds to his mystery. I had a distant curiosity in JFK Jr., especially when he announced his marriage to Carolyn Bessette. After reading the wedding announcement, Haag said, “...seeing the photograph was like a small death.”
The Boston Herald describes “Come to the Edge” as being “about the endless burning passion of young love – the kind that strips you bare and leaves you for dead when it’s over.” Over the years, I have had many conversations with friends about their first loves. Unless you married your high school sweetheart, you probably have one too, out there somewhere. The idea is universal – the subject of novels, played out on television, in coming of age movies, short stories, magazine articles, and the catalyst of long-distance dedications on the Saturday morning radio programs.
There was something about JFK Jr I recognized and found intriguing. Maybe it was just his charisma and free spirit coupled with the seeming responsibility of his name and legacy, but she tells of a kayaking trip that speaks to his recklessness, his search for meaning in life, and perhaps his attempt to marry the two. The way he held her focus long after it ended felt tragic and yet common, and knowing his demise leaves mortality lurking just beneath the surface.
Elements of this memoir influenced and informed my writing of The Setting Sun, a fictional novel – inspired by longing, lost love, lasting connection, and death.