5 comments about Guns and Roses: The Untold Story of Dean O'Banion, Chicago's Big Shot before Al Capone.

1. Chances are if you're reading the reviews for this book then you've read at least one Capone biography and walked away, like me, thinking, "Great story, wish I knew more about the Northsiders." Well Rose Keefe has heard our collective wail and has provided us with one of the best books on both Chicago gangland and one of its most interesting characters. There is much more to the O'Banion/Northside story than just being fodder for Capone's gunmen. If you're into Chicago's gangland past then this volume is a must.



2. This is about the people who nearly beat the Capone Mob for control of the Chicago boot-legging business. They were led by a florist and included a war hero, a cowboy, a bigamist and a practical joker who starred in an early stag film in the middle of a gang war. The wild Northside Gang is today best remembered for being the victims in the St Valentine's Massacre but in the twenties they were household names. This and Rose Keefe's book about Bugs Moran are both fascinating. A must read!



3. A great bio on the Chicago gangster gunned down in his flower shop during the "Roaring Twenties". The book focuses on the rivalry between the Northside Chicago mob and the Southside Torrio-Capone mob.Obanion and his cohorts are literally devoured by the inter-city "big time" mobs with connections to New York city.From reading this book I don't believe Obanion knew what he was up against,he was a small town boy who moved to the city of Chicago, yet he tried to run his crime empire like a small business. Cavorting around a flower shop by day,shaking hands,(without an enemy in the world?),with little to no protection,meanwhile engaging in criminal activity that would include murder.That's just asking for it,and Torrio's mob,later inherited by Capone,was only too happy to oblige. It seems Torrio's mob when they arrived in Chicago was already an experienced hard core criminal transplant from NYC and cites thereof.How could Obanion honestly think that when the control of rackets,gambling,bottlegging,and the millions of dollars at stake, there was a "moral" line that shouldn't be crossed?Especially when dealing with the mob and seeing as the mob eliminated its own so what could a rival gang expect.Capone listed his profession as furniture dealer but I doubt you would see him lifting furniture into trucks.His furniture business was a fort.The short baby faced Obanion never had a chance in dealing with the NYC mob. this book really brought this out as I read it.An excellent work on crime history but it sort of makes Obanion look like a "farmer".



4. This is the most comprehensive and thoroughly researched biography of Dean O'Banion and it has been justly recognized as definitive. Rose Keefe's greatest accomplishment is that her meticulous research has refuted dozens of journalistic half truths, embellishments and canards that have become commonly accepted as the truth simply because of constant repetition over eight decades. The actual Dean O'Banion is a far more complex and interesting character than his newspaper stereotype.
   
   Many sources have characterized the Prohibition battles between the Northside Gang and the Capone/Torrio mob as simply a territorial battle between the Irish and those damned Dagoes. Keefe correctly points out that the Northsiders were, in fact, an exceedingly diverse group comprised of Irish, Italian, German, Jewish and Polish hoodlums. The reality was more complicated than the widely accepted conventional wisdom.
   
   Although O'Banion could act in an utterly ruthless manner if circumstances warranted, more often than not he relied upon his quick wits. He possessed superior intelligence and had an engaging personality that inspired great loyalty from his comrades even long after his death.
   
   Despite his humble origins, O'Banion had the ability to put people from various walks of life at perfect ease and to form lasting friendships that allowed him to move easily in political and social circles despite his criminal background. O'Banion was a contradiction: he was a devoted son and husband. One could envision the industrious O'Banion succeeding in almost any field of endeavor that he tried. The loss of his beloved mother to tuberculosis and a childhood accident that left O'Banion partially crippled with a permanent limp were traumatic episodes, but rather than contenting himself to be sidelined by his handicap or to endure a life of economic hardship and privation, O'Banion chose not to be pushed around as he hit back hard with both fists in order to survive in the rough and tumble, dog eat dog environment that was Chicago in the early years of the past century.
   
   If you are living from hand to mouth, it always pays to be ambidextrous and O'Banion was, figuratively and literally: his custom tailored suits contained multiple pistol pockets which allowed O'Banion to draw concealed revolvers using either his right or left hand or both hands simultaneously. The same hands that O'Banion could and did use to fire pistols, crack safes, stuff ballot boxes or slug out rival newspaper hawkers would also cut flowers into lovely arrangements for weddings and funerals. As a bootlegger, O'Banion prided himself on selling quality products as opposed to the rot gut handled by his rivals.
   
   Keefe relates the many occasions on which O'Banion performed acts of charity. Some of these kindly acts were calculated, however, since O'Banion was also interested in reaping votes come election time. By performing good deeds, he could call in favors when ballots were being cast by his neighbors. Unlike Al Capone who coupled brutality and with openly lewd and lecherous behavior (Scarface allegedly gained his trademark after making crude remarks about a woman's shapely posterior in the presence of her protective and knife wielding older brother), O'Banion was noted for behaving in a courteous and oftentimes chivalrous manner.
   
   Keefe's writing is factual and entertaining. The O'Banion who she describes in such great depth proves to be such a charming and larger than life personality that it is entirely possible to imagine his immortal soul awaiting forgiveness and redemption in Purgatory. I was reminded of the Warner Brothers crime melodrama "Angels with Dirty Faces" in which a priest played by Pat O'Brien called upon a group of juvenile delinquents to "pray for a boy that who couldn't run as fast as I could" after his childhood friend who failed to escape the corrupting influence of the mean streets died at an early age as a result of embarking upon a criminal career. If this sounds like a mere Hollywood screenwriting cliche, consider the fact that a Roman Catholic priest was disciplined and transferred for leading graveside prayers for Dean O'Banion despite orders from the Cardinal to deny Christian burial rites to known gangsters.
   
   The only serious fault that I found with "Guns and Roses" is that the book lacks proper footnotes. There is a bibliography, but Keefe ought to have provided footnote attributions to the excerpted materials that were previously published elsewhere. There are also some minor geographical, historical and typographical errors that Chicagoans may catch in the text, usually on minor details, but the book is otherwise solid. Despite these shortcomings, this book is nevertheless a significant addition to the true crime history of Chicago during the Prohibition Era.



5. I'm so glad to see some really well-researched books coming out these days about the legendary figures of organized crime. Dean (not Dion) O'Banion was one guy I never expected to see a full-blown biography on, yet here it is. Rose O'Keefe must have done a lot of digging to come up with all of this material, and virtually none of it can be found in any other book; certainly none that I've ever heard of. She scores well as a writer, too, telling O'Banion's story in a way that will keep you turning those pages, eager to see what's coming next. There's a lot of context here about the various gangs of 1910s-1920s Chicago, and O'Banion's place in that jungle, which is helpful. If I had to name one small criticism, I'd have to say that the author's tone betrays a tiny lack of objectivity about her subject. He just seems like a vicious thug to me, though a fascinating one, but the book empathizes more with O'Banion than with his victims. But overall this is a must-have book for anyone interested in the history of organized crime in America. You'll be so entertained in reading it that you won't mind the education you're getting!

5 comments about I Love You Phillip Morris.

1. Steven Russell is the ideal antihero: he's resourceful, a conman, and bisexual. Author and journalist Steve McVicker doesn't go into detail why Russell, a family man with a great career, would chose a life of crime over the banal world of law abiding citizens. But after reading the book you can infer that Russell, an ingenious Type A personality, was probably simply bored with doing things lawfully. I enjoyed the book for what it was worth. McVicker writes with a true journalistic style. We wouldn't believe the story otherwise. In fact, McVicker emphasis how much research went into the book; and when he cannot verify Russell's assertions of facts, he lets us know. Otherwise, Russell's entire story is corroborated by first hand accounts of those involved, including prison guards and former coworkers. Reading the accounts of how Russell was able to dupe government officials and corporate America over and over again was engrossing, and I couldn't help but cheer for him, despite his being an embezzler and con artist. It wasn't so much how brilliant Russell was in his escapades, but how inept and lazy everyone else was. Russell himself credits many of his exploits on the sluggishness of prison staff and state bureaucracies. Russell makes a life of non-violent crime and prison escapes look easy--and fun! The book is extremely concise; most the narrative focuses on the planning stages of Russell's many con games and prison escapes. That was fine with me. However, if you are expecting drawn out descriptions of budding prison romances, you won't find that in this book. The only contention I have with the book is when McVicker uses a jarring opportunity to bash Wal-Mart; other than that McVicker keeps most his personal opinions to himself, as a journalist should. I also cringed every time McVicker used the word "lover" to describe Russell's boyfriends. That word is an anachronism, more fitting for the 1970s than today. The book itself was not published by a large publisher, so despite the book being in hardcover format, it's a cheap vinyl cover with no dust jacket--just to let you know. Other than that, I enjoyed the book and look forward to seeing how Hollywood botches the story.



2. I picked this one up when my idol, Jim Carrey, announced he was planning to do a BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN and play the main part, Steven Russell, in the true story that electrified a nation, a man who would break out of jail over and over again to join his lover, Phillip Morris. Jim has made some brave choices in his career (anyone see his latest dud THE NUMBER 23?), but I think if he plays his cards right he may wind up with an Oscar. First he has to learn a Southern accent, not easy for a Canadian, but Raymond Massey did it and so can our Jim.
   
   Steve McVicker isn't a young man and it shows in the maturity he brings to the writing of what could have turned out to be a sleazy story. As a distinguished reporter, he's playing it cagey about whether or not he himself is actually gay, but he's convincing enough to accurately portray Russell's long journey out of the closet and into the swinging, pre-AIDS homosexual lifestyle of Montrose, the third-densest gay mecca in the world, says McVicker, and to think that before reading this book I had never even heard of it. Along the way Russell acquired a very religious wife and sired a daughter, Stephanie, and both ladies have clung to their man through right and wrong even when he left them to pursue his lifestyle, and even after he was convicted on multiple counts of fraud.
   
   The book is a primer for how to get away with grifting on a large scale. It will teach you how you, barely a high school graduate, can use the internet or other sources to gather enough info and fake resumes to get your a place as CFO at a major HMO, if you can talk glibly enough and you're personable (and you're not out on the job). This is what happened to Russell, who talked himself into a position from which he could embezzle millions of dollars.
   
   The book is a little dull at times, and frankly Phillip Morris doesn't seem worth all the fuss Russell sees in him, he comes across as a bit of a ditz, like an Owen Wilson type. Funny how both Russell's boyfriends loved little dogs and they really go for Min Pins--again a term I never heard before reading I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS.
   
   The shadow of AIDS falls on the otherwise lighthearted adventures of super con man Steven Russell and you know, in a way, I don't blame him for what he did, for he was trying to give his dying boyfriend the best care he could find him. C'mon, Jim Carrey, Tom Hanks won the Oscar for playing gay and you can too.



3. Entertaining read. McVicker provides a good yarn. Larger then life characters and twists in a real life story. Top notch tale.



4. The wild story of a conman who favors doctored resumes and red stretch pants as props to steal whatever he desires. He just can't outwit his sentimental heart. I read it in one sitting.



5. There's no doubting that this book is compelling, both in idea and execution. The prisoner who keeps returning for the man he loves? The life history of both? Good stories of prison breaks? Hard to keep a heist lover down. A solid, fun read, perfect for passing the time with a good story.

   That said, McVicker's a writer for a (good) weekly alternative paper, and this book reads like an overlong story from those pages, filled up with anecdotes that go just this shy of deep. I'm just not as impressed with the depth of characterizations or the writing as I am with writings in a similar narrative vein.

5 comments about Within These Walls: Memoirs of a Death House Chaplain.

1. I am not accustomed to writing book reviews. However, for those considering reading one of the most accessible, truthful, courageous, and insightful books delivered my a reverend who has invited we, the readers, into the world where he devoted his time ministering to those incarcerated that would eventually be released espousing hope, emphasizing education of skills that would transfer back to the free world, and guidance into programs that would decrease chances of recidivism into of unrestricted living....this should be a priority read. Reverend Pickett`s unfortunate aspect of the chaplain assignment was overseeing the one punishment that is irreversible, otherwise known as capital punishment or the death penalty (state sanctioned murder). This particular task was clearly the most challenging of his spiritual life complied with the fact he is against capital punishment (as is the Presbyterian Church and most major organized religions). These feelings he kept to himself. Had this ideology been exposed, Rev. Pickett would have been relieved of duty and replaced by an individual who could not guarantee the same dignity he treated each individual in their final hours regardless of what act they had committed against their fellow man (unless they were innocent, which has been proven post-mortem). He felt in the execution room with so many people aiming glares of hatred, each man should have at least one person deserved a compassionate friend in their final hour...this was not an easy task as he occasionally knew the victims of those on the gurney. After the state sanctioned murder had been completed, he then had to attend to the family of new victims of useless murder, the loved ones of executed. These individuals were parents, wives, brothers, sons, fathers, uncles, cousins; etc. Despite the fact it makes monetary, ethical, and humanitarian logic to house for life without parole; our culture continues to kill and the cycle of violence rolls on. I live in the real world in this modern era where innocent men have been executed, living men on death row have been exonerated by DNA evidence (false confessions, too), but I do not think we live in a lawless society. I have the utmost respect for men and women who risk their lives for our safety. I also believe that prisons are necessary to permanently house, rehabilitate and/or reform individuals that need extra courses teaching to be productive members of society. Reverend Pickett addresses this in his book, his efforts on how he achieved success, and that his duties as a death house chaplain was such a small role compared to what he did for the men he prepared for the return to the world. Reverend Pickett provides priceless accounts and we should be grateful he chooses to share his experiences. He challenged the reader to step into his shoes and come to the logical conclusions in which arrives. We owe him a debt of gratitude for doing the "dirty work" of the country and, in his honor; we should work so that it is never asked of anyone again. There is nothing touchy-feely or liberal about this book. It is a cold, hard look in the mirror retributive justice. We should challenge ourselves to reconciliative instead.



2. This was interesting, but I find it odd that Chaplain Pickett considered his stated, pre-execution duty to the man who cold-bloodedly poisoned his own son for insurance money, was to comfort him. I would have thought he would attempt to bring him to the point of admitting his heinous crime, and finding absolution--before entering eternity in a few hours.



3. Whether you agree or disagree with the way the death penalty is played out in TX or the US in general this book is a great read. The author has "lived" all sides of the issue from having friends who where murdered to ministering to those who killed them. It's a very well-written and well-rounded look at the issues.



4. Rev. Carroll Pickett speaks with the authority of a man who is tough in every way, tough enough to have the respect of prison authorities and tough enough to have the respect of inmates in the toughest prison system in the country, Huntsville, Texas. This tough man is also one of the kindest persons you will ever meet. His honesty makes this a compelling book. He started out as a prison chaplain in favor of the death penalty but after accompanying a hundred inmates to their deaths, he is now so vehemently opposed to the death penalty he no longer refers to it as execution but murder. He now works full time for its abolition. I don't see how anyone could read this book from the beginning and come out at the other end in favor of this barbarism.



5. I enjoyed this book and the authors feelings on the death penalty. I felt like something was missing when I was done reading it though.

5 comments about Education of a Felon: A Memoir.

1. I have read all of Edward Bunker's books and they are a lot like this book. The storyline is dark and brutal, very honest and hard, the author takes you on a trip that is very readable for a while but then (around the halfway mark) the books tend to fade to monotony and a certain sameness.
   
   In this book, we get the chance to read about Bunker's life. I am not sure how much of it is fact and how much is fiction, but it is a brutal life. Bunker was not a person to be admired in the way he lived his criminal years.
   
   Is the book worthwhile? i would say yes, but it could have been much better if it had been written in a faster style, perhaps with more of a look at him getting out of jail and his future Hollywood career.



2. This is an incredible true story, about second (and third and even fourth) chances, and prove that it's never too late for someone to change their life. Today, there are thousands of kids just like Edward Bunker, and there are fewer ways for them to find a second chance, a way out of a life of crime.
   
   
   The network of boys' homes, military and boarding schools described by Bunker today only exist for the ultra wealthy and the privileged classes in California. Even though that part of the system failed to reign him in and redirect him from a life of crime, at least in his lifetime that option existed, although he readily admits to being drawn in by the life of a criminal. Today there are no options left for a middle-class parent who finds themselves overwhelmed by the prospects of trying to raise an out-of-control child like Bunker was. The most amazing part of this book is the fact that he found his way back, away from the life of crime that he lived until he was in his mid-forties.
   
   I hope that his only child, a son, will be able to grow up intact, even though Bunker has passed away. He left a wonderful legacy for his son by writing this book.
   
   I highly recommend this book for anyone who works in the criminal justice system, especially with juveniles.



3. The Education of a Felon by Edward Bunker is very touching. We sent a copy to
   our grandson in prison for getting into fights in bars every time he is released from prison. He was so taken with the material that he now attends AAA and has started going to Church. He also let several other inmates read it and they too are working on changing their ways.
   Sincerely,
   Ol'wdb7777



4. Bunker puts you right into the prison life in this book. Although at times it seems a little rushed if not abrupt, this is a good page-turner and not too much is left to the imagination. It's a good memoir that at times can make you feel as nervous, angry or happy as the author felt.



5. unlike the psychopathic rantings that fill jack henry abbott's "in the belly of the beast," this book about the life of a man who rose from a life of crime to the life of a successful writer is without self-pity, without self-justification. and, also unlike "in the belly of the beast," it is great writing with a great narrative drive. a story is built out of mr bunker's life, in clear direct prose, free of psychiatric babble. this is a fantastic book that deserves a wide readership. so go ahead and read the thing.

5 comments about Son of a Grifter: The Twisted Tale of Sante and Kenny Kimes, the Most Notorious Con Artists in America.

1. Great book for an autobiography. Well-written and quite a story. The only reason I gave it 4 and not 5 stars is that Ann Rule would have done better. But this is definiely still worth the read. I could not put it down. Other reviewers claim that greed overtook the author's sense in the book. That is true, but he ADMITS it. And it must have been difficult for the author to tell the world that.



2. What a life she lived. what a life she put her family threw.
   you can't miss this one.



3. kent Walker didnt actually commit the crimes, and God knows he has suffered enough with the incredible dysfunction he grew up with, but his book becomes repetitive, almost impossible to believe when time after time he goes back , not just alone but taking his wife and children over and over to live with Sante and Ken and Kenny. He admits to consistantly being swayed by money and the lifestyle and its only at the very end, when sante has been caught tried and found guilty that he really cuts off contact for good.
   There were times in the book it became laughable for me, the constant nonsensical lies and hysteria that he bought into again and again and made his living by being fronted with ken and Santes money. I also found his analysis of Kenny being ruined NOT by Sante but by Ken ( his father) very odd. Kent Walker has almost as little introspection and genuine understanding of himself and his life as His mother does.
   Its constant scheme after scheme after scheme with names you no longer even register anymore throughout the book that fill up nearly 400 pages.
   id have been more interested in someone like Ann Rule writing it. I have no idea why Kent wrote this book. And thats something an author needs to get across, if nothing else.



4. I wasn't familiar with the murderous mother and son duo, Sante and Kenny Kimes, both convicted in California for the second of what is believed to be four homicides, until a friend sent me Son of a Grifter, written by Sante's oldest son, Kent Walker. From the unique perspective of one who lived with a veritable cornucopia of abuse - from terror and dodging bullets to blackmail and arson - Kent Walker narrates the outrageous saga of his degenerate, sociopathic mother, her loves, sons and victims, and her ultimate descent into madness.
   
   In retrospect, Kent whitewashes his mother's pathology by blaming it on genetics, convinced she is the descendant of a long line of personality disordered, anti-social crazies. However, regarding his brother Kenny's fate, he is less charitable and condemns nurture rather than nature, indicting both his overindulgent, weak, alcoholic stepfather and his overprotective, paranoid mother whose greed knew no bounds.
   
   For pure gall and tenacity, Sante Kimes has no peer. If she had been hardwired for productive and benevolent purposes, she could have been a notable force for good in the universe. Instead, essentially her entire purpose for existence was to accumulate wealth. Even when she eventually married a millionaire, who was almost her equal in corruption, nothing was ever enough. She burnt down beautiful homes for the insurance, stole furs and cut out the labels for fencing, wrote bad checks to car dealerships for tens of thousands of dollars without blinking an eye, and, worst of all, raised her youngest son to kill for profit.
   
   Kent Walker avoids any psychoanalysis of his mother, preferring to limit his story to the events and consequences of being a member of the Kimes clan, but it is inarguable that Sante was a textbook sociopath: void of conscience, completely self-serving, compulsively driven by excess, reckless disregard for the rights of others, and absolutely no acceptance of blame.
   
   For example, Sante and Ken drove to Mexico, with their boys in the backseat, and picked up young women to smuggle back in the trunk over the border to work as maids in their house. Except they weren't really maids, they were slaves. They received no pay, they were beaten and abused, and when they ran away they were simply replaced with new ones. Even after Sante Kimes served three years in a federal penitentiary for this offence, she continued to pick up homeless people and vagrants and keep them as unpaid servants. Needless to say, she wasn't much of a candidate for rehabilitation.
   
   For those of us who are parents, you will come away from this book feeling like a combination Dr. Spock, Miss Barbara and Mother Teresa. If you think your children grew up in less than ideal circumstances, or their childhood was deprived in some way by your economic circumstances or limited expertise, I assure you it was Paradise compared to the Kimes household. Kenny Kimes was shamelessly spoiled, taught no limits, attended expensive schools, drove sports cars, wore designer suits, and was denied nothing by his wealthy father and grateful mother, who considered him the golden goose because his existence ensured her a piece of the Kimes inheritance. That overindulgence served to turn Kenny into a cold-blooded murderer who will spend the rest of his natural life in prison.
   
   In retrospect, Kent Walker sugar coats much of his childhood, insisting that the crazy episodes comprised only a small fraction of the bigger scene, but this merely proves he has no sense of boundaries or reasonable perspective on what the reader will regard as a nightmare of dysfunction. Son of a Grifter is a long, bizarre story that I don't necessarily recommend to anyone unless they are looking to feel better about their parenting style, or are interested in the Kimes story, as it is probably the most compelling and factually correct presentation. For an overview of the murder trials, see Court TV's Crime Library.



5. Sante Kimes was written up by many as some type of mastermind of crime, some evil genius. That wasn't really the case at all. What she was was unbelieveably ballsy, insanely narcissistic and self-centered, financially hugely neurotic and desperate and greedy, and of course very quick on her feet. Her crimes are simply too many to list - the book is positively stuffed with fraud, theft, arson, slavery, violence, swindling, in constant repition, and not excluding several murders - and coming from an eyewitness to literally decades of malfeasance they make for a fascinating roller coaster ride. It is a wonder the author didn't turn out every bit as warped as his half-brother. He did not escape unharmed.
   
   None of the characters comes off well. Of course Sandy "Sante" Kimes is a true original, and the focus of the book. But Ken Kimes, her second husband and targetted millionaire, is not some simple dupe or victim; he aided and abetted Sante for decades, allowing his integrity (what little he may have had when he met Sante), his business, his health, and previous family relationships, and finally his wealth all to go into freefall as his 'wife' systematically plundered, wasted or misappropriated whatever she wanted. During the time of her first imprisonment for slavery, when he had a clear chance to make a break and save what was left, he declined to do so, and instead embarked on a multi-year drunk and slid into degenerate gambling to kill time until her release. When Ken finally dies, the author speculates on whether even this was entirely natural, and it seems the dying Ken had a lot on his mind just before checking out. In any event, Ken's death and Sante's subsequent desperate search for what was left of his cash (precious little) pushed her completely over the edge into much nastier criminal territory than she had previously occupied.
   
   The son Kenny probably had a chance at a life but the adventurous high life offered by Sante seemed more fun. He had neither the charm or much of the luck of his mother.
   
   The character of the police in the various cities should also be mentioned. It is simply shocking how lazy, stupid, and disinterested the various officers, who could have busted Sante et al dozens and dozens of times, were. Time and again either the victims or even the son Kent himself give the local cops absolutely everything they need to know, but they just couldn't give a crap. Had they made even the slightest effort to enforce or uphold the law, the Kimes' crime spree would have ended decades sooner, and some people might still be alive. It is their failure, and not Sante's evil genius, which is in part responsibile for both the sheer number of her crimes, and the related and contributing factor of her perceived invulnerability. Some of them should be charged as accessories for the crimes they thereby allowed to happen.
   
   This was a great book. It fascinated throughout.

No comments about Carlo Gambino - Crime Boss Don Carlo (Biography).

No comments about The Man Who Made Vermeers: Unvarnishing the Legend of Master Forger Han van Meegeren.

5 comments about Squeaky: The Life and Times Of Lynette Alice Fromme.

1. Overall, a good effort. Couple of shortcomings in that Fromme's formative years (her childhood) are glossed over pretty quickly, and because of when the book was written (late 1980s), there's little to nothing about her last two decades or so behind bars. Basically, the book really concentrates on Fromme's life from the period of 1970 to 1975, and in particular on the Ford assassination attempt and subsequent trial. Of interest is the period after Manson was sentenced leading up to early 1975, as this is where the author did a good job tracking down people involved with Fromme and fleshed out the holes in the media narrative as to what she was up to between the Manson trial and the attempt on Ford. Not a pro-Manson or pro-Squeaky book, nor is it mired in sensationalism...in fact, the portrait of Fromme is quite a bit different than what I expected it would be.



2. Another great book about the Manson women. Gives insight to the person behind the media stories. Very interesting story. Gives you insight to the person and not the crimes.



3. If you're one of those people who went through a phase where you were trying like hell to figure out why humans like Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme helped turn Charles Manson into a cult leader back in the late 1960s, this book will answer none of your questions. Though it received a lot of great reviews by writers from the best newspapers and magazines, I remain utterly dumbfounded as to why.
   Anyone who has truly wasted a lot of time digging for any information that can be found on "the family" will find this book hollow. Beyond hollow. It doesn't even have an outward form.



4. I've always thought you have to take anything thats been written about the so called "Manson family", whether pro or anti Manson, with a huge grain of salt. This book requires less salt than anything I've read pertaining to the "Manson family" to date.

   The author paints a very sympathetic picture of Fromme. I think the angle he is getting at is Manson was able to influence Fromme because she was looking for a Father figure type because her dad was emotionally abusive, neglectful and he strongly implies that Squeaky was sexually abused by him. (which Fromme has denied is true) He also does a lot to show and explain the environmental/ecological activism and theories of the "Manson family", which I found interesting and a lot more well grounded than Bugliosi's screwy "helter skelter" theory. The environmental issues were the main focus and obsession of the "Manson family", not "helter skelter" in my own personal opinion.

   I'm giving this book 4 stars, I'm leaning toward giving it 5 but some the stuff on her trial for attempted murder on former President Gerald Ford drags a little, although some of Frommes wacky courtroom behaviour during the trial is amusing. I personally do not believe she had any intention on shooting Ford either, she was just was trying to draw attention to the environmental issues she was obsessed with.




5. This is a compelling and very informative portrait of one of the more vocal female members of the Manson family, would-be presidential assassin Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme. In late 1969, when Charles Manson and four others were imprisoned for the brutal murders of nine people, Squeaky Fromme became the leader of the Manson clan in Charlie's absence and took to the streets, holding daily vigils outside the courthouse with the other family members who weren't imprisoned. In 1975, while living in Sacramento and preaching about the destruction of the environment with friend Sandra Good, Squeaky aimed a gun at then-president Gerald Ford. In prison for life, this novel details her early life as a dancer with the Westchester Lariats in Redondo Beach, California, her notable High School days, and finally how and when she met Manson and was seduced by his off-the-wall ideologies. It gives an incredible day-by-day account of her highly-publicized trial in which it was to be decided whether or not she actually meant to kill the president. Although not for everyone, this book is a must for true-crime fans and those who want to know what made this fascinating woman tick.

5 comments about Forget You Had a Daughter: Doing Time in the 'Bangkok Hilton': Sandra Gregory's Story.

1. This was a rather timely read given the current situation in South East Asia with Sharpelle Corby and the Bali 9. In this book, Gregory tells the story of how she set out from Britain to spend 8 weeks in Thailand, accompanying a friend of a friend she had no previous acquaintance with. Gregory loved Thailand so much that she decided to stay on, until she became seriously ill and distraught over the political situation at the time. Having no money to return to Britain and too stubborn to ask her family for financial support, she 'serendipitously' re-encounters her former travelling companion who offers her one thousand pounds to smuggle a small quantity of heroin for him. Desperately ill and under the impression her acquaintence has 'fixed' things at customs, she agrees. She is, of course, caught.
   
   The story describes her time at Lard Yao, known worldwide as the 'Bangkok Hilton' and the shocking conditions she was forced to endure. Following her transfer to a British prison, Gregory continues her tale, drawing contrasts between the penal systems of the two countries, and finding Britain to be the worse of the two.
   
   Of particular interest were Gregory's encounters with some very notorious offenders such as Rosemary West. She also speaks of the shadow of Myra Hindley in two of the prisons she was incarcerated in. I actually found the second part of the book, where Gregory was in British prisons to be more horrifying than her descriptions of Thai prisons.
   
   Gregory's book is very readable, honest and pulls no punches. However, at the end, you realise that Gregory's book is not so much about her physical survival, but her emotional survival and the evolution of her soul.



2. Gregory's book details her life from meeting the guy who offered her money to smuggle drugs, to her life in Thai prisons, adapting to the harsh way of life and finally moving back home to a British prison. The development of her character from beginning to end is evident to all through her concise narrative about her guilt and shame, especially when she speaks of her family members. All in all, this is a haunting real-life story that shouldn't be missed by anyone, especially Caucasians travelling for long periods of time in Southeast Asia. The temptation may be great when funds are running low, but the horrors of prisons in the less-developed regions are not exaggerated.



3. I live in Bangkok, less than 10 km from the prison Sandra was held in. I enjoyed reading the book for several reasons. One, as a ex-pat resident of Thailand, I could relate to and even walk past many of the places she described. Second, I'm a sucker for real-life dramas--the gorier, the better. And third, from reading the book,it was a shocking realization that as an ex-pat, one cannot necessarily rely on one's embassy to "take care" of any legal entanglements while in the Kingdom of Thailand (ex-pats living here are generally very spoiled and well-taken-care of). I also felt sorry for Sandra, as there are more heinous crimes than the one she commited every day herethat go unnoticed, unpunished (ie, sex-slavery, child trafficking).
   The prose is readable, enjoyable, but not beautiful nor well-crafted, However, anyone travelling to Thailand as a backpacker or as a tourist would be well-served to read this book. Many legal aspects of Thailand seem erratic or lackadasical compared to Western countries, but if you DO get caught doing wrong, the consequences are harsh indeed.



4. Having lived in Thailand for a gratifying 5 years, I am familiar with everything she describes and feels for the country. Thailand is a stunning country known as the "land of smiles" but numerous people don't realize that behind those smiles there is an entire different side to Thailand. That life I like most people have never gone through and do not realize how hideous it is. That is what this book is about, a book filled with fact stating the hideous side of Thailand. I was traumatized by some of the events not realizing that such a beautiful country has such a dark side too it when crossing the path of a good person to breaking the rules. I think it is definitely worthwhile reading, it touches your heart so much because you realize that as we speak about the harsh life in prison there are people out there in those hideous prisons which animals control who think they are gods and the prisoners are slaves. Even though Sandra Gregory made a huge mistake the reason for such was so understandable. Even though she smuggled the drugs I think she is a great and caring person helping others realize that you should think twice before smuggling drugs. This is one of the unsurpassed books I have ever read, it isn't an enjoyable book, where you can laugh, it is depressing and sad but so realistic because you know this is a true story, which a human being has been through. Some of the events disgust you but you continue to read because the book has so much gratitude to it.



5. Having been to Thailand on numerous occasions I can clearly see how Sandra became a mule. It is truly a beautiful country, the people, food, culture, way of life. I met a lot of young unsuspecting travellers on my travels and also saw a lot of dodgy characters in Bangkok. When funds are lacking, one can easily get suckered into being a mule. For the love of God - do not do it. Or if you are still unsure, pick up this book. I promise you that you will not be able to put it down.

5 comments about The Prince of Providence: The True Story of Buddy Cianci, America's Most Notorious Mayor, Some Wiseguys, and the Feds.

1. There is no doubt Buddy Cianci is an interesting figure worth reading about. However, this book seems at many times to be not much more than the rehashing of newspaper articles written by the writer or his colleagues. All the chapters have snappy introductions, or "ledes," as journalists say, and tend thereafter to be very repetitive in their descriptions of the mayor.
   
   I did not mind purchasing the book, as Cianci is an interesting figure to know about, but I found myself skimming over sentences and sections much more often than I like. Not recommended.



2. One day in grammar school a young lad named Vincent Cianci announced to his classmates that he was going to be Vice President of the United States when he grew up. What those kids in the schoolyard could not have possibly realized was that even at the age of 10 or 11 Vincent Cianci was dead serious about what he wanted to do with his life. In "The Prince of Providence", author Mike Stanton. a reporter for the Providence Journal, chronicles the life of this colorful and controversial, energetic and enigmatic figure.
   When "Buddy" Cianci arrived on the scene in 1974 he really was a breath of fresh air. For Providence was a corrupt and dying town that had long been dominated by the Democratic machine. It was only as the result of a unlikely confluence of circumstances that this young upstart Republican had been elected Mayor of Providence. As a dynamic young urban mayor, Cianci gained favor with Republican President Gerald Ford who was looking for ways to expand his base for the 1976 election.
   And Buddy Cianci had a quality that few politicians these days seem to possess---vision. He aggressively pursued federal funds for his city and entertained innovative proposals and project ideas that would have been summarily dismissed as "pie in the sky" by previous administrations. In addition, the mayor seemed to have boundless energy--he was everywhere. Those of us who live in Rhode Island saw firsthand the impact that such energy and imagination was beginning to have on our capitol city.
   But unfortunately, there was also a dark side to Buddy Cianci that would ultimately lead to his downfall. In the pages of "The Prince of Providence" you will read all about the corruption greed and intimidation that would ultimately become hallmarks of the Cianci administration. Although I have lived here all of my life I was personally taken aback by the how frequently Buddy Cianci employed violence and intimidation in both his role as Mayor and in his personal life. You will also be introduced to Dennis Aiken, the FBI agent bound and determined to get to the bottom of all of the wrongdoing in the city. It is a fascinating story.
   In his later years, Buddy Cianci would once again become somewhat of a national figure by his frequent appearances on the "Imus In The Morning " show. No one can deny that he was a compelling and entertaining guest. On "Imus", Buddy would maintain his innocence. In many respects, Buddy Cianci reminds me of Richard Nixon. Both were extremely gifted individuals with serious personality flaws. Even if you are not from Rhode Island or New England where Buddy Cianci is a household name, I think you will find "The Prince of Providence" to be well worth your time. You will come away shaking your head and wondering what could have been. Recommended.



3. THis book was a good read. Being from RI it was enlightening to see really how corrupt RI politics is. It's sad. I would recommend this book to people who want to know how city hall really works.



4. As a native Rhode Islander who last lived there in 1975 (the year the Buddy story really started) I came to this book with a somewhat sketchy knowledge of the story of Buddy Cianci's reign(s) over Providence. With relatives still living there I paid some attention, but didn't follow it in depth. I knew about the two sides of Buddy, and the strong feelings he elicited, as well as the attitude that, yeah, he was corrupt, but look what he did for Providence, so he's okay. I even witnessed something described in the book-the incredible adoration Cianci would receive upon entering the Providence Civic Center late in a Bruins hockey game to take his seat. I have never seen ANYTHING like this (and I live in NH, so I've seen lots of politicians).
   With this background I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed Mike Stanton's book, and, after reading this, I can only conclude that my fellow Rhode Islanders who support this guy are either morally brain dead, or just were not aware of the depth of the corruption that existed in his administration. Stanton's in depth analysis of how it all happened put to rest any sympathy I may have had for Cianci. The book is thoroughly entertaining, and I recommend it to anyone interested in an amazing well-told story, not just Rhode Islanders or political junkies, although it will certainly appeal to both of those groups.
   I think most of the reviews I have browsed through are pretty consistent, and pretty accurate, but let me add my disagreement with some of the comments. First, there is no fluff or excess in this book. All of the anecdotes are useful, and interesting, and I would not take a single one out. If anything, I wanted more. There is so much in this book that just touches the surface of various incidents or scams, this book could have easily have been half as long again, and I would have followed along. The minor repetitions that exist serve to remind you of who different players were, and, given the large cast of characters I found it helpful rather than redundant. Second, while the author does not always name names, the detailed notes at the end do name names, excepting, of course, those sources who chose to stay anonymous, for, I think most would agree, excellent reasons. In fact, I am somewhat amazed that as many people spoke on the record to the author as did, and I really thought the author did a nice job of telling the story, and pulling together such an assemblage of information. In fact, given that he usually writes for a newspaper, I was very impressed with his engaging and articulate style. If I have a quibble with this book, it is that, while it makes it clear about the corrupt side of Cianci, it is hard to understand what it was he did or had that made him so successful in leading the Providence renaissance. Clearly he has drive, charisma, charm, and chutzpah. But how did he create, fund and shepherd such massive projects, such that people did not mind the fact that he was totally corrupt? I wish there had been a little more insight into this facet of Buddy, but aside from that, this book filled in the gaps in my knowledge. I will be recommending it to all my Rhode Island friends and relatives, and anyone else who wants a great read.
   By the way I gave this book four stars, rather than five, not because it is not one of the better books I have read recently, as it is, but because I try to reserve five stars for the Crime and Punishments of this world, the books that are truly great, not just a cut above the others. There are too many reviewers, IMHO, that will give a five star review to anything they like, and are not being critical enough. This is not in a league with five star books, but it is not far off.



5. I don't think the overall subject of the book will be surprising to anyone from Providence, or elsewhere in RI for that fact, but some of the stories and details in the book will shock you! I lived 1/2 my life in Providence and the other 1/2 in or near Miami. As bad as the banana republic of Miami has demonstrated it can be (Elian!), it cannot compare to the corruption found in Providence and throughout Rhode Island politics. I could not put the book down for 3 days.

   The only reason I knocked off 1 star on my rating is that the writing quality could have been a bit better. The author rambles in some sections and then seems to repeat himself from time-to-time. The same is noted in some other reviews, so I don't think it was my reading. Nevertheless, it is a minor issue and the book is well worth reading and owning, particularly if you ever lived in Rhode Island. Just remember, it isn't fiction like the Godfather - it really happened.