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Book Review of Go Down Together: The True, Untold Story of Bonnie and Clyde

Go Down Together: The True, Untold Story of Bonnie and Clyde
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I found this book to be a wonderful unveiling about the lives of two young people caught in the throes of the depression and the dust that pervaded the drought torn areas of the Midwest. While newspapers and lawmen built a reputation as gun-totting killers around them, the author uncovers personalities of people who were kind to those who showed them kindness and would rather run than kill. It was only when guns began firing did their own come out with deadly accuracy, especially from Clyde. Bonnie disliked guns but she loved Clyde unconditionally. Both realized that they would probably die as they ran from town to town and from lawman to lawmen. Clyde even asked his parents to put this phrase on his tombstone: "Gone but not forgotten."

Contrary to movie depictions and the flamboyant folklore that emerged, Bonnie and Clyde were individuals who were very much part of the times in which they lived. These young people were really small time criminals who were more often unsuccessful than not. And, they were credited for robberies and killings they did not commit. The telling of their ambush and execution was sad indeed. Neither had a chance to pick up a gun let alone shoot one.

This is a well written and carefully researched book that I highly recommend. Read it! It's quite good and so very interesting.