Rating: 
Summary: Other voices, other reviews
Review: As the author of "Squeaky," I am disappointed that you would introduce prospective readers to my book by posting perhaps the most negative review I have received. While the fellow from Kirkus is entitled to his opinion, it certainly is not unanimous. Perhaps it is a bit self-serving to urge people to read the book for themselves, but they might take a look at some of the other reviews. These opinions are as valuable or as meaningless as any others, but in the spirit of book jacket copywriters, I'll cite a few:
"This is an important, thoughtful book, a close look at the enduring enigma of the '60s, a puzzle in our collective psychic life that continues to play out today." -- Carolyn See, the Washington Post. "A meticulously researched and brilliantly written biography.... magnificent work." -- Alan Cabal, New York Press. "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'... 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, Booklist. "Excellent." -- Publishers Weekly. "Gripping." -- George magazine. "Fascinating.... an admirable reporting job." -- the Atlanta Journal. Etc....
Rating: 
Summary: A story half-written.
Review: Bravin has chosen to write a biography of a woman who usually appears as a side character to Charles Manson. What begins promisingly, though,soon turns into another biography on Manson himself, and the realm of information he uncovers about her pre-Charlie life suddenly stops, and we are told little then that we didn't know from "Helter Skelter". Unfortunately, fascinating theories about her father are unresolved, and because Fromme wouldn't talk herself, there are no clues to the woman's mind after 20-plus years in prison.
Rating: 
Summary: an excellent read!
Review: egad! did kirkus (from kirkus reviews) and i just read the same book? he writes that the most "compelling material" in this book is that phil hartman knew squeaky in high school. wow! and they even had a class together. big deal. this compelling material takes up less than one paragraph in a book of 401 pages. this book is about squeaky and her years with manson -- and the years that followed after charlie's being sent to jail. squeaky is herself a radical environmentalist and makes a strong case for her cause, the protection of the environment that is. i found her a complicated and intriguing person. if your interested in the life and times of squeaky fromme you will get a very clear picture by reading this book
Rating:
Summary: an excellent read!
Review: egad! did kirkus (from kirkus reviews) and i just read the same book? he writes that the most "compelling material" in this book is that phil hartman knew squeaky in high school. wow! and they even had a class together. big deal. this compelling material takes up less than one paragraph in a book of 401 pages. this book is about squeaky and her years with manson -- and the years that followed after charlie's being sent to jail. squeaky is herself a radical environmentalist and makes a strong case for her cause, the protection of the environment that is. i found her a complicated and intriguing person. if your interested in the life and times of squeaky fromme you will get a very clear picture by reading this book
Rating:
Summary: Meee Twooo
Review: I am older than 13 but thought I would enter some imput.I grew up with the manson and sla clan surrounding me. My supervisors daughter Diana Lake was taken over by the Manson family back in the 60's and the SLA lived near me in Concord calif where one of my friends was captured and murdered. All three susan Atkins and Squeeky and Karen went to my same school Westchester and were controlled not by Charlie but by the Gov't to discredit the hippy movement. These statements are true and I hope you will be able to read the true story in 'The boggie man is comming" by Ron j Trompeter.
Rating:
Summary: thoughtful and illuminating
Review: I enjoyed reading this book a great deal. Mr Bravin has portrayed his subject with a good deal of objective sensitivity. He did not succumb to the easy temptation to portray her as a sensational freak, but neither does he take sides. The progress of the trial was well documented: at once hilarious and tragic. Lynette Fromme's life was put into an almost understandable perspective by the author's rich fleshing out of just what a crazy chaotic time the early seventies really was. Against a backdrop of Patty Hearst, the SLA, the Weather Underground, it is easier to see this troubled woman as a product of a unique period in American history. -Pat Gracey
Rating:
Summary: "Squeaky" a suberb, subtle chronicle
Review: I found Squeaky to be one of the best, most intelligent -- and unexpectedly fascinating -- biographies of a contemporary figure I've read. Bravin's accomplishment is that he takes someone most of us think of as a joke, if at all, and shows that her story is contradictory, tragic, and relevant to us. Squeaky went from bright eyed girl to Manson freak, and if it could happen to her... the book sheds light on the 60s, on psychology, on this country, on its laws and societies... etc. Plus, its elegantly written, and refuses to hammer us with conclusions, pro or con regarding its subject. It's a book that makes you realize that you knew very little about something you thought you understood..
Rating:
Summary: an eye opener
Review: I had forgotten just how turbulent those times were. Mr. Bravin brought it all back. This is an excellent account of Ms. Fromme's life before and after Manson on many levels. Bravin maintains a format that is intelligent and literate, unlike the moronic twadlings of Ed Sanders, as well as insightful and interesting. Anyone interested in this period should definately read this book. It will certainly give you a new prospective on Ms. Fromme. I would like to see Mr. Bravin produce a book about Sandra Good.
Rating: 
Summary: Long Book, Long Overdue
Review: I understand that this 400-page tome took four years to write and research. It feels like it, especially when wading through the tedious courtroom sequences and Ms. Fromme's own obtuse writings. That said, this is a compelling book about an interesting and often overlooked character. Some of the very detailed information is fascinating and some of it could have been left out. More editing would have helped, I think.
Rating: 
Summary: Most grounded book pertaining to the "Manson family" yet
Review: 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.
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