Squeaky: The Life and Times Of Lynette Alice Fromme (Hardcover)

by Jess Bravin (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme pulled off a rare double in the annals of crime; in fewer than ten years she became closely identified with the murderous "family" of Charles Manson and attempted to assassinate President Gerald Ford. Former New York Times reporter Bravin recounts Fromme's transformation from a middle-class child who once danced on national television to a troubled young woman seduced both physically and mentally by Manson. The author has done his research thoroughly, capturing the texture of an era and Fromme's journey. Yet we feel that we know Squeaky no better at the end than at the outset. We must also question the why of this huge tome about a woman who, in Bravin's own words, was no more than a "troubling footnote" in the popular culture of her time. Recommended for larger collections. [This is one of the first titles of Buzz Books, a new imprint of Buzz magazine and St. Martin's.?Ed.]?Jim G. Burns, Ottumwa, Iow.
-?Jim G. Burns, Ottumwa, Iowa
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Would-be presidential assassin, erstwhile groupie, eco-activist, keeper of the Manson Family faith during Charlie's imprisonment, Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme rubbed elbows with fame and the famous. Bravin not only connects with the Manson Family, including its involvement with certain of the late '60s entertainment glitterati, better than anyone since Ed Sanders in The Family, but he also goes beyond it to consider details as small as the reasoning behind Fromme's apparel when she went to shoot Gerald Ford: her "red ceremonial gown, to wear when she went about her work cleaning the earth. That's what she was on today, a cleaning mission." Yet so powerful was Manson's influence on her and so durable her commitment to Charlie's revealed truth that the Manson Family experience remains the core of her story. Bravin's disturbing but fascinating effort is significant for its new perspective on the Manson phenomenon. As either cautionary tale or gruesome pleasure reading, it should satisfy thrill seekers, Manson obsessives, and other portions of the true-crime audience. Mike Tribby

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; 1st edition (May 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312156634
• ISBN-13: 978-0312156633
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #571,529 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well documented book on Lynette Alice "Squeaky" Fromme, July 9, 2002

By	Rhiannon Bishop (North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Squeaky: The Life and Times of Lynette Alice Fromme (Paperback)

This book chronicles the life of Lynette Alice "Squeaky" Fromme from her childhood years, her time with Manson, her attempted assissination attempt of Pres. Ford, and her subsequent trial.

The updated version of the book has a "section" from Squeaky herself. The majority of the book, though, was written without her cooperation. Some "members" of the family gave input into this book as well, including Sandra Good, and RuthAnn Morehouse.

A great book to read not only if you want to learn more about Lynette Fromme, but also to get a grasp on the turbulant times of the 60's and 70's.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book! Compelling, Prvocative, & (sorry) a bit Comic, September 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Squeaky: The Life and Times of Lynette Alice Fromme (Paperback)

The incomprehensible but undeniable truth of Squeaky Fromme is that she is as secure in her conviction that we, the non-Manson world, are evil killers as we are in our likewise opinion of her and her Family. But, the fascination (at least, for me) of Squeaky: The Life and Times of Lynnette Alice Fromme is the realization that you are reading a story of a person whose similarities to the non-Manson world are as unnerving and mysterious as her differences. One of the strengths of Mr. Bravin's effort is that he can present the evidence and truth of this woman's life without resorting to the facile and trite pop-psychology that mars other true crime stories. Or, for that matter, other true life stories. To that end, I'm a bit surprised by the simplicity of some of the other Amazon reviews of the book. Does the Kirkus reviewer truly believe that he alone has shrewdly detected the flaw in young Squeaky's Eco politics? Is the reviewer from Australia flummoxed because Mr. Bravin decided not to include the chapter entitled, "Squeaky's Relationship with her Father Lead Her to Become a Manson Psycho"? My guess is that Mr. Bravin was aware of these nuances but, in keeping with the tone of the book, choose to present Ms. Fromme's story and let the reader draw conclusions from meticulously presented evidence. I think I like this book for the same reason these other two reviewers didn't: Mr. Bravin's book does not cuddle you with the obvious. While the legal judgements regarding Ms. Fromme's life have been decided the psychology of her puzzling mindset is till an open case. This is exactly what makes the book so interesting. But, as serious as the subject is, the book does have its own brand of humor. When Mr. Bravin does want to direct you to an irony he does so with a dead pan kicker or well-chosen quote. Manson Family child bearer Ruth Morehouse explaining the flaws in Manson's criminal master plan: "I don't think Charlie really considered the conspiracy angle too much." (Translation for Kirkus reviewer: the Manson Family were not big on worldly thinking.) One weakness of the book is that it underplays the last twenty years of Ms. Fromme's life. Granted that endless days in jail don't make for exciting reading. But, still, I'd like to know how Ms. Fromme deals with her delusion today. How long can you prevent yourself from feeling remorse for your indirect role in some of the most gruesome crimes in memory? Maybe an addendum in the next edition?

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Odd Subject Well-Handled, August 30, 2001

By	"pjmorv" (Alexandria, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Squeaky: The Life and Times of Lynette Alice Fromme (Paperback)

Lynette Fromme is a rather obscure figure to merit a lengthy biography, but Bravin's book is worth the read for anyone interested in the cult mentality. While the most famous book about the Manson Family is Vincent Bugliosi's excellent "Helter Skelter," that book focuses on the crimes, not the creed. Here, Bravin shows us how an intelligent middle-class teenager could be drawn into a quasi-religion based on violence, drugs, and racism.
Also unlike "Helter Skelter," Bravin's book tells what happened later, that the Manson Family did not end with Manson's incarceration. Fromme and other charter Family devotees like Sandra Good are still devoted to their guru, and Bravin traces the strange course of their small sect.