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Bonnie and Clyde: A Love Story
She preferred guys with an edge to them. Bad Boys, her mama called them.
Then one night she met Clyde and knew her mama was right. If there was ever a bad boy, it was Clyde Chestnut Barrow. He had that look: those dark secretive eyes that never looked directly into yours. He had a pretty face and a smooth way of talking and she liked his silk shirt and the way he fit into it. He liked her too. They were destined to be star crossed lovers who blazed across the hot southwest in a time of drought and trouble. She wanted to be an actress and he wanted to rob banks. In an era that gave birth to the likes of Al Capone, John Dillinger, Pretty Boy Floyd and Baby Face Nelson--Bonnie and Clyde were to become America's version of Romeo and Juliet--with guns!
Their love for each other was without rhyme or reason, their attraction and bond unbreakable. They vowed the only thing that would ever seperate them was a bullet. A vow the Texas Rangers hoped to make come true. Bonnie, the beautiful petite blond poet was Clyde's equal in every respect. She was his lover and partner, and was willing to die for her man. Clyde was tough and agile, a troubled soul of a man who loved only two things: bank robbing and Bonnie Parker. Whether behind the wheel of a fast-moving Ford V-8, or the sultry bedroom of a Texas motel, their love and lives were unparalleled in the annals of history. Theirs is more than just a story of a fast and furious short and violent life--theirs is a story of unshakable love and devotion few ever experience.
Then one night she met Clyde and knew her mama was right. If there was ever a bad boy, it was Clyde Chestnut Barrow. He had that look: those dark secretive eyes that never looked directly into yours. He had a pretty face and a smooth way of talking and she liked his silk shirt and the way he fit into it. He liked her too. They were destined to be star crossed lovers who blazed across the hot southwest in a time of drought and trouble. She wanted to be an actress and he wanted to rob banks. In an era that gave birth to the likes of Al Capone, John Dillinger, Pretty Boy Floyd and Baby Face Nelson--Bonnie and Clyde were to become America's version of Romeo and Juliet--with guns!
Their love for each other was without rhyme or reason, their attraction and bond unbreakable. They vowed the only thing that would ever seperate them was a bullet. A vow the Texas Rangers hoped to make come true. Bonnie, the beautiful petite blond poet was Clyde's equal in every respect. She was his lover and partner, and was willing to die for her man. Clyde was tough and agile, a troubled soul of a man who loved only two things: bank robbing and Bonnie Parker. Whether behind the wheel of a fast-moving Ford V-8, or the sultry bedroom of a Texas motel, their love and lives were unparalleled in the annals of history. Theirs is more than just a story of a fast and furious short and violent life--theirs is a story of unshakable love and devotion few ever experience.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 11, 2014
I wasn't particularly fond of the author's writing style. And they may have been criminals, but they are also historical figures, and I found some of his scenes to be degrading and disrespectful.
July 22, 2022
An introduction to the famous duo, their families, and an entertaining way to map their journey. If you are looking for a more in depth story, this isn't it. The second half was better than the first. It moves quickly and Brooks does a good job of capturing the times, places, speech, and dress of the 1930s.
October 31, 2011
Kept changing whose point of view it was from and didn't really seem like much of a love story so much as two confused people who just ended up together and then died together....
February 20, 2018
The biggest thing I liked about this book was the dust jacket art. Other than that, the author seemed to change writing styles during the story which was strange and while I did read it to the end, this book just wasn’t my cup of tea. I’ll be putting it in our little free library and maybe someone else will think its awesome. I appreciate winning this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
December 7, 2023
The writing style was a little inconsistent, but for the most part, I really liked this book. I'm not sure how true to life any of it was, because it's obviously fiction. Still, Bonnie and Clyde are always an interesting subject and I thought this was well-done.
December 18, 2021
Explicit sex, rape, and profanity all within just the first couple chapters. DNF after skimming most of the first two chapters.
November 21, 2022
Elementary storywriting, but somewhat informative. It was a bit of a drag to get through.
April 11, 2008
I got this book out of the library on a whim, strolling around the New Books section. Part of what drew me in was the cover art - it's very nicely done. But, as we know... can't judge a book by its cover, right? I breezed through it in a little over a day. Brooks has a very fluid writing style. I could read chapter after chapter and not really find a good stopping place. The story is tumultuous, emotional, and at times violent (but really not very graphic).
While I enjoyed the book, it does bring up a point I raised earlier when discussing Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus. Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were real people. I'm not sure what gives Brooks the right to write a book about their love story, nor how accurate it is; the author cited no sources for his information or interpretation. All I know for sure is, he used the real names of Bonnie and Clyde's associates/relatives etc. There is a brief postscript which tells what happened to the major players, and that's it. Did Bonnie really keep a journal like she does in the book? Were the letters written to her mother based on real letters? Does the book accurately follow the path the couple took through the South? There's no way to know, because Brooks basically just ignores the fact that someone might be wondering these things. Come on... I'm a history major. :)
All in all, if you're looking for an interesting, quick read, I would certainly recommend this book.
While I enjoyed the book, it does bring up a point I raised earlier when discussing Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus. Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were real people. I'm not sure what gives Brooks the right to write a book about their love story, nor how accurate it is; the author cited no sources for his information or interpretation. All I know for sure is, he used the real names of Bonnie and Clyde's associates/relatives etc. There is a brief postscript which tells what happened to the major players, and that's it. Did Bonnie really keep a journal like she does in the book? Were the letters written to her mother based on real letters? Does the book accurately follow the path the couple took through the South? There's no way to know, because Brooks basically just ignores the fact that someone might be wondering these things. Come on... I'm a history major. :)
All in all, if you're looking for an interesting, quick read, I would certainly recommend this book.
June 19, 2023
tell me when we, as a society, decided that clyde barrow was aggressively asexual. like can someone PLEASE explain it to me. i literally do not understand why.
also WHAT was with the two n-words at the end of the book?? bill what did u think you’re doing??
and don’t get me started on how bad the writing was. he kept changing tenses and pov pronouns. it was rotting my brain.
also WHAT was with the two n-words at the end of the book?? bill what did u think you’re doing??
and don’t get me started on how bad the writing was. he kept changing tenses and pov pronouns. it was rotting my brain.
July 28, 2018
One of life’s greatest mysteries to me will be why this book has such low ratings. It’s one of my favorite pieces of biographical fiction, and as an amateur, self-described Bonnie & Clyde historian, it’s a far more accurate adaptation than the 1967 film. (I love that movie despite its flaws, so don’t drag me!) That being said, there were definitely moments where some things were slightly embellished for the sake of literary drama, but it wasn’t so exaggerated I felt like I was being force fed a bunch of lies.
Brooks’s writing style is beautiful, and he captures the difference voices of each character effectively. I never once felt lost or confused with the switches, and what I got out of it was that each person was their own distinct, separate being with their own distinct, separate way of processing and interpreting the world. Brooks’s use of language is lovely, and I just cannot understand the low ratings and the complaints about this book.
Highly recommend, whether you’re already familiar with this tragic tale or not.
Brooks’s writing style is beautiful, and he captures the difference voices of each character effectively. I never once felt lost or confused with the switches, and what I got out of it was that each person was their own distinct, separate being with their own distinct, separate way of processing and interpreting the world. Brooks’s use of language is lovely, and I just cannot understand the low ratings and the complaints about this book.
Highly recommend, whether you’re already familiar with this tragic tale or not.
November 1, 2013
Bonnie and Clyde: American legends. We're all familiar with the classic story of the cold, fierce couple who traveled across the country, robbing stores to make ends meet. Just as one might judge a book by it's cover, we might judge them by their deeds. Underneath the crime Bonnie and Clyde were two people who were very much in love. We see this throughout the story when the going gets rough and leaving would be easier, they remain strong. The story of this book is a true inspiration for all lovers and the perspective from a warm perspective is eye opening. I'd recommend it to anyone who has an interest in history or anything. This story has the potential to appeal to all readers.
July 27, 2015
this book was a "staff favorite" from the library. it was an easy read. I like the author's writing style and will read more. I've always heard about Bonnie and Clyde but never knew details. this book gave me an idea of what their lives were like.. it wasn't as romantic as I thought it would have been. like others who have reviewed this book, they seem to have been instead, confused, lost people. however, I did appreciate the realism of their relationship.
August 22, 2008
Very beautifully written! i could have finished it in one sitting if i had the time.
i didn't finish it because, well, i know how it ends. ;0)
One complaint: if Bonnie truly and wholly loved Clyde, why was she so unfaithful to him?!
September 3, 2007
Ganda! A classic love story, really.
May 6, 2015
The book was good but... the film was better. Arthur Penn genius fleshed out Bill Brooks story and the acting brought the characters, a bit two-dimensional in the book - to life.
September 28, 2012
I read this book several years ago and loved it. I think I'm overdue for a re-read.
April 3, 2016
I love the way this man writes.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews