Texas Bad Girls: Hussies, Harlots, and Horse Thieves

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Summary: Texas Bad Girls: Hussies, Harlots and Horse Thieves
Review: Bravo! While I'm not a fan of historical novels, this one is something different and special. The author, J. Lee Butts, grabbed my attention on page 2 with "...scarcer than bird poop in a coo-coo clock". None of my history books taught history in such a witty way. I especially enjoyed all of the old photographs he included in the book and the chapter on Etta Place (the woman connected to the Sundance Kid). Learning the origin of the famous/infamous "Chicken Ranch" and how it got it's name, was a hoot and a half! The publishers notes on the back of the book said "Jimmy Lee Butts writes these stories to sound as though a friend just sat down and decided to tell you an interesting tale about someone he once knew." That is a perfect description! Now, I feel as though I knew these people and stepped back in time to experience every second of what went on in this book. I'd just like to know why Jimmy Lee Butts didn't write our high school history books? I'm anxiously awaiting his next book :-)

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Summary: A Disappointment
Review: Great potential for a fun, interesting read is often wasted in "Texas Bad Girls." The author has some fine story-telling skills, and some of the yarns are genuinely fascinating. Unfortunately, the author seems in love with his own cleverness, and ruins a good many of the stories by inserting distracting quips and jokes. The humor works sometimes, but too often it serves to mark this book as the work of an amateur, one step up from a vanity project.

The author appears to have done a great deal of original research, but explains none of it and cites no sources beyond a bibliography of older books and articles at the back. This, along with the wise-acre writing style, robs the book of credibility. I think Mr. Butts has potential as an entertaining writer of light history, and I'd like to see him set his standards a little higher.

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Summary: Texas Bad Girls
Review: I bought the book as a Christmas gift, but started reading instead. I finished it that same night and passed it on to a friend. They finished reading it that same day. It is light and easy to read, but very well written. It is comfortable and well worth reading a second time.

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Summary: TEXAS BAD GIRLS
Review: I KNOW THIS AUTHOR. HE HAS BEEN A DEAR FRIEND AND BROTHER-IN-LAW FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS. I HAD THE HONOR OF READING SNIPPETS,EXCERPTS AND ROUGH DRAFTS AS THIS WORK WAS BEING COMPILED. AS JIMMY TRAVELLED THE HIGHWAYS, BYWAYS AND BACK ROADS OF TEXAS, VISITING LIBRARIES,OLD CHURCHES,SCHOOLS AND COURTHOUSES, HE LEAFED THROUGH MOUNTAINS OF ARCHIVED MATERIALS,READ OLD NEWS PAPERS AND DUG IN BOXES OF JUNK IN SEARCH OF MATERIAL TO AUTHENTICATE HIS STORIES. THE TENDER LOVING CARE HE PUT INTO HIS RESEARCH IS VERY EVIDENT IN THE FINISHED PRODUCT. HIS DESCRIPTIVE TALENTS BRINGS EACH CHARACTER INTO FOCUS FOR ME. I CAN CLOSE MY EYES AND MENTALLY SEE EACH WOMAN. I'VE NEVER BEEN A STUDENT OF HISTORY, BUT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN AN "A" STUDENT HAD HISTORY BOOKS BEEN WRITTEN WITH THIS MUCH HUMOR.

TEXAS BAD GIRLS WILL MAKE YOU LAUGH, MAKE YOU CRY AND MAKE YOU WANT MORE. READ IT ONCE. WAIT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND READ IT AGAIN. IT'S BETTER THE SECOND TIME. I LOOK FORWARD TO JIMMY'S NEXT BOOK WITH EAGER ANTICIPATION.

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Summary: texas bad girls get good reviews
Review: I read this book the day I bought it. I thought it was a well researched, and was very well written. I enjoyed reading about the history of these women. I hope the author will write one about those bad Texas men to go with it. The author seems to have a flare for writing about historical events as if he was actually there. It was great.

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Summary: A Disappointment
Review: If you thought history couldn't be fun, read this book! The author's style is delightful, sprinkled with humorous and original expressions. Hope he's writing another!

Rating:
Summary: Fun History
Review: If you thought history couldn't be fun, read this book! The author's style is delightful, sprinkled with humorous and original expressions. Hope he's writing another!

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Summary: Texas Bad Girls Gone Good
Review: This author has a unique and gifted way of taking simple historical facts and turning them into a wonderfully written "Texas tale" filled with humorous quips and folklore. Texas Bad Girls is a must read for those that love the wild days of the west but are willing to take a different ride down that dusty trail. The statement, "Stand by your man", is quickly dismissed as a simple cliche. These women were tough and real and they take you right along every step of the way. A great romp...and some of them were experts at romping! A fun read and a must read. Looking forward to the next adventure. Good job Butts.

Rating:
Summary: Texas Bad Girls Gone Good
Review: This author has a unique and gifted way of taking simple historical facts and turning them into a wonderfully written "Texas tale" filled with humorous quips and folklore. Texas Bad Girls is a must read for those that love the wild days of the west but are willing to take a different ride down that dusty trail. The statement, "Stand by your man", is quickly dismissed as a simple cliche. These women were tough and real and they take you right along every step of the way. A great romp...and some of them were experts at romping! A fun read and a must read. Looking forward to the next adventure. Good job Butts.