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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
Written in a much drier and factual manner than both Dean Jobb’s “Dr. Cream” book as well as books by Michelle McNamara & Truman Capote. Nonetheless, still an enjoyable read which lets us have a view at the “real” Bonnie & Clyde and who they were without the Americana legend
The history of Bonnie and Clyde has always intrigued me. The very fact of their glamour, love, and crime. They were the kinds of criminals the world identified with—even loved. I had never read a full account of their story until I came upon this book. It was enjoyable to hear about their lives, their struggles. Honestly, I feel very sad for them, rather than admiring them. While they loved each other, they were deeply unhappy, and their relationship was very unhealthy. It's a tragedy what happened in the end, yet there were few options left to them.
This book gave me a clear account of their lives, their passions, and their experiences on the road, told through various accounts. It's a quick read/listen. I listened to this one, and it only took me a few hours to finish.
Read it if you don't know much about Bonnie and Clyde, except for the basics!
This book gave me a clear account of their lives, their passions, and their experiences on the road, told through various accounts. It's a quick read/listen. I listened to this one, and it only took me a few hours to finish.
Read it if you don't know much about Bonnie and Clyde, except for the basics!
I didn’t know very much about Bonnie and Clyde before reading this book. The author does a really good job throughout helping the reader to see what parts of their story is known as fact, what is believed to be true, and what is complete myth. Newspapers at the time weren’t super concerned with reporting that absolute truth and were more interested in the drama that was inherent with Bonnie and Clyde. A lot of times if something went down and the cops couldn’t figure out who it was, the newspapers would blame Bonnie and Clyde. Another thing I found interesting was that the cops at the time seemed to be SUPER incompetent. There wasn’t really any training. A lot of people just joined the force because they needed a little extra money and their regular work wasn’t cutting it. That’s part of the reason why Bonnie and Clyde were able to evade capture for so long. The last thing I really liked about this book was that the author had panels on each person that Bonnie and Clyde killed. Over time, Bonnie and Clyde have become wildly glamorized, but it’s important to remember that they killed A LOT of people. 4/5
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
dark
informative
sad
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
informative
medium-paced
More like 3.5. I appreciate the author trying to give us the "most true" version of Bonnie and Clyde. I thought it would be told in a more literary nonfiction fashion, but the audiobook wasn't bad and was presented in a way that was mostly easy to understand. There were so many names and I was getting a little confused who was who.
Bonnie and Clyde are absolutely romanticized for their outlaw ways due to feeling as outsiders. I knew of the couple and the story but I learned SO much about their story and their past that was really interesting. I found the book to be well researched and interesting enough to want to keep reading.
Very readable account of the notorious Bonnie Parker & Clyde Barrow that feels comprehensive with thorough research from a multitude of sources. I feel like this book is a great foray into getting a true picture of who the people behind the legend were and how they became legends in the first place. There are primary sources throughout the book including pictures and other documents. Pieces of the legend are spelled out and evaluated for the reader. The back of the book contains Bonnie's poem "The Story of Bonnie and Clyde"; a section on what happened to various family and gang members; and involved officers. I highly recommend this to those interested in the crimes commuted by the Barrow gang or actual people connected to it all.
You've read the story of Jesse James
of how he lived and died.
If you're still in need;
of something to read,
here's the story of Bonnie and Clyde.
You might think you know the story of Bonnie and Clyde--the love struck couple who went on a crime spree throughout Texas in the 1930s. Over the years they have been immortalized in stories, songs, and on film.
Thanks to the advent of photography, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were documented in newspapers which printed Bonnie's poetry left behind after a fortuitous flight from a safe house. The media and the public were quick to latch onto these ill-fated young people ready to cast them as a modern answer to Robin Hood.
Bonnie and Clyde: The Making of a Legend (2018) by Karen Blumenthal unpacks this sensationalized story to look at the facts.
By examining the poverty of their neighborhood and the other barriers they faced growing up in Texas Blumenthal tries to offer some explanation of how two poorly educated teens became two of the most notorious criminals of our time.
Bonnie and Clyde: The Making of a Legend is a quick and informative read with numerous photos and first-person accounts from witness statements. Recommended for true crime enthusiasts and mystery readers of all ages.
Possible Pairings: Fatal Fever: Tracking Down Typhoid Mary by Gail Jarrow, Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson, The Borden Murders: Lizzie Borden and the Trial of the Century by Sarah Miller