Reflexion

by Lynette Fromme

"You likely heard about the murders. This book is what happened before and after them along California's beaches and bluffs, San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury, the redwoods, Topanga Canyon, Beverly Hills, the Santa Susana Mountains, and the outback of the Mojave Desert. It's about the Charles Manson I perceived, and a gathering of people preparing to survive either a revolution, or the static institutions that were systematically trading all of our vital necessities for money." -- Lynette Fromme, 2018

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Cults

478 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2018

Reviews

[Keith Kinal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book thinking it would probably be an idealized account of life with Charles Manson and his "Family" from one of his most loyal followers. Ms. Fromme's portrayal of Charlie does come across as something a cult-follower might write about him. His violent, unpredictable outbursts and criminal tendencies are downplayed. But overall the story she tells is worth reading. Her descriptions of landscapes, people and events are vivid. Also included are short passages written at various times by other Family members, including Manson himself. There isn't much in the way of historical context but Ms. Fromme didn't seem very interested in any of the news events, trends or celebrities of that time. She only briefly mentions the Tate/Labianca murders, but then again she really had nothing to do with them. However she does drop a hint that one Family member may have had a lot more involvement with those crimes than is generally believed. Her comments about the massive police raid on Spahn Ranch a week after the killings are also interesting. There's no moral to her story, no character or redemption arc, it's just her impressions, reminiscences and diary accounts strung together into a sort of psychedelic stream of consciousness narrative.

[Nettie Grey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lynette has a way with words. Worth seeking out.

[Sandra Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lynette manages to put a positive spin on many aspects of one of the most notorious groups in US history. Her descriptions of Mendocino County and of Southern California in the late sixties and early seventies were engaging.

[Kristilyn Waite · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read pretty much every memoir written by Family members. Fromme's is interesting, truly just recounting the memories of her youth spent with this infamous group of people, and it's relatively well written. She doesn't decry Charles Manson or blame him for her own actions, and she doesn't dedicate a quarter (or more) of her book to born again Christianity, like all those who committed gruesome and horrific murders conveniently do. This is refreshing.
That said, she did remain a follower, and while I do very much agree with her environmentalist stance and maybe to an extent the necessity of fighting the status quo and offenders a little harder, her bias/willingness to overlook the purely evil deeds of her cohort is hard to ignore.
All in all, if you're strangely drawn to understanding what happened and why, and what it was like to have been there, among them all, this book is certainly worth your time.

[Dana Ravo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is essential reading if you're fascinated by the early years and daily life of "The Manson Family". Very interesting book by Lynette/ Squeaky/ Red who was there from the beginning of the group. This book doesn't focus on the murders as almost every other book on the "Family" does, but rather tells the evolution and history of a group of people during a tumultuous time in our nation's history & how they set up their own alternative community when mainstream ideals, morals and goals left them empty and still wanting more meaning out of life.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful

The book was written so beautifully and I felt like I got to know them in such good ways. I love the way she describes everything and everyone as if you are there yourself.

[Lisa Kleinert · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I appreciate the opportunity to read Lynette's thoughts, and enjoyed it, she needed a better editor.

[Mariah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Fucking dumb.

[matty creen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this

I was so excited to read this and had the proverbial high hopes. There was very little of interest here and seemed to highlight just the most boring parts of Lynette’s years with Charlie.

[David Krajicek · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly, her Manson delusions continue.

[Eva B.]

Look, you gotta hand it to her, the title with that photo is kind of fire.