Maxine: "Call Me Madam"

by Maxine Temple Jones

The life and time of a Hot Springs Madam as told by Maxine Temple Jones. She covers the people involved in Historic Hot Springs, Arkansas. An interesting insight to how she became a Madam and the colorful characters she met along the way including politicians, gamblers, gangsters and even local business people and tourists.

Genres: Nonfiction

226 pages, Paperback

First published June 5, 2011

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

After visiting the gangster museum in Hot Springs, Arkansas, I knew I had to get my hands on this book! Loved every minute of it!

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always known that Hot Springs, AR, had a "colorful" history, but it was fascinating to get the backstory of Maxine Jones, brothel proprietor extraordinaire, and the most important and connected woman in the South (to hear her tell it). The book is Maxine's own narrative, and it felt more like I was having a conversation with her over lunch, instead of reading a carefully-prepared memoir. Tread carefully if you're the type to cringe in horror and get sucked right out of a story when you encounter a typo (or total lack of editing whatsoever)... Those types of grammatical potholes run rampant through the entire book.

The timeline of the story got really fuzzy for me; she would double back and elaborate on other events that happened, but not really explain where they fit - chronologically - in the story she was telling. I have no doubt she embellished everything in order to paint herself as the "larger than life" superwoman she clearly perceived herself to be.

The former cab stand (with the upstairs brothel) where Maxine first got her start is now a restaurant and bar during the day, and live music and burlesque venue at night. I've been going there for years; I always knew what the upstairs area used to be, but now I have a better feel for why the club is called Maxine's.

[Becky Marietta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating tale of a lady of the night spilling alllll the tea for revenge. The book could have done with some editing, and the inflated tough talking throughout made me wonder how much was really true. However, there is no doubt Maxine was quite a gal in her day, and her story was fun to read. I enjoyed the lingo (calling everybody who lived a normal life "square," calling being out of prison "on the ground," lots of "rackets" being bandied about) and that she included pictures of various times and people in her life. The book went from history to vendetta, and in that, the story starts to peter out a little--she freely admits to writing the story as payback. That's a bit of shame because I would have enjoyed more balance--details of things other than the justices and cops who did her and man wrong.

Reaffirms my belief that characters are all around us. We just have to open our eyes and look for them.

[Courtnee · Rating 5 out of 5]

My hero she’s like a hate-filled Dolly Parton

“I can tell you a profession that makes a prostitute look like a Little Miss Muffet. That profession is none other than politics. The best thing that would happen would be to put all the freeloading politicians behind bars and let the whores out so they could do an honest night’s work.”

[Eli H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is without a doubt Maxine Temple Jones telling her story the way she wants it told. However, that doesn’t mean this is the best way for it to be told. This would’ve have been an improved read had she had an editor friend.

This is still a very good and interesting read if no doubt embellished in places. Miss Maxine Temple Jones was certainly a character that lived an unimaginable life.

[Amanda Plumley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing history!! I picked this book up in Hot Springs and it is interesting to read history of places and people you have heard of or been to.

[Taya Linville · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a life she lived! Her choice in men is questionable and she probably would have gotten a lot further alone or with someone more suitable.