Definitely liked this one more than Ronan Farrow's Catch and Kill, but still ... perhaps a tad bloated. Was kind of surprised that the end of the bookDefinitely liked this one more than Ronan Farrow's Catch and Kill, but still ... perhaps a tad bloated. Was kind of surprised that the end of the book had such extensive coverage on Christine Blasey Ford.
Extremely well-researched and documented.
"The United States had a system for muting sexual harassment claims, which often enabled the harassers instead of stopping them. Women routinely signed away the right to talk about their own experiences. Harassers often continued onward, finding fresh ground on which to commit the same offenses. The settlements and confidentiality agreements were almost never examined in law school classrooms or open court. This was why the public had never really understood that this was happening. Even those in the room with long histories of covering gender issues had never fully registered what was going on.”...more
Major props for telling the story, but did anyone else feel like his "voices" were a bit ... I think stereotypical miFarrow does not hold back—at all.
Major props for telling the story, but did anyone else feel like his "voices" were a bit ... I think stereotypical might be a nice way of saying it. He read the audiobook, and while usually this is a plus, his accents made me feel a little squicky.
Probably more of a 3.5 — it wasn't bad at all, very entertaining, just a decent amount of speculation and "crazy, psychopath" nomenclature.
If you're Probably more of a 3.5 — it wasn't bad at all, very entertaining, just a decent amount of speculation and "crazy, psychopath" nomenclature.
If you're interested in the topic, I recommend it—so many murderesses!
“But I believe in the healing and illuminating power of narrative, and I think there’s something to be gleaned from looking at evil, trying to understand it, wondering if perhaps we are all a little bit responsible. Should anything human be alien to us? That question is terrifying, and beautiful.”
Many of these women killed to improve their lives, a surprising amount used poison, and in some cases, conviction of the crime depended on how attractive the woman was.
“These lady killers were clever, bad tempered, conniving, seductive, reckless, self-serving, delusional, and willing to do whatever it took to claw their way into what they saw as a better life. They were ruthless and inflexible. They were lost and confused. They were psychopaths and child slayers. But they were not wolves. They were not vampires. They were not men. Time and again, the record shows: they were horrifyingly, quintessentially, inescapably human.”
“If crimes reflect the anxieties of our time, then today is the era of the mass murderer, the terrorist. Our violent delights still lead to violent ends, but the ends change as the decades ebb and flow.”...more
Powerful read—Carrie Goldberg is fighting the good fight.
Having had to overcome her own stalkers/aggressive men in the past, she is helping other womPowerful read—Carrie Goldberg is fighting the good fight.
Having had to overcome her own stalkers/aggressive men in the past, she is helping other women take back their lives and fight for their rights. ...more
An ornithological true crime heist with a comprehensive history of the devastation mankind has inflicted on various avian speciesOne Sentence Summary:
An ornithological true crime heist with a comprehensive history of the devastation mankind has inflicted on various avian species.
Favorite Quote:
“Initially, the story of the Tring heist—filled with quirky and obsessive individuals, strange birds, curio-filled museums, archaic fly recipes, Victorian hats, plume smugglers, grave robbers, and, at the heart of it all, a flute-playing thief—had been a welcome diversion from the unrelenting pressure of my work with refugees.”
An informative exploration of feathers and humans. The story is as much about the author's awareness and obsession over the feather caper as it is about the actual pilferage and perpetrators.
Excellent insight into the notorious mass murderer who once saved lives, as well as took them.
For three fourths of the book, I *almost* questioned TeExcellent insight into the notorious mass murderer who once saved lives, as well as took them.
For three fourths of the book, I *almost* questioned Ted's guilt. Ann presents the facts and history in such an unbiased manner, as she herself had trouble visualizing the warm, friendly Ted she had known with the cold blooded serial killer. It seemed like he could possibly have been at the wrong place at the wrong time—why else would so many people fight for his freedom and defend him? Where was the hard evidence?
One thing I still don't understand is how Bundy was able to make so many (30? 300?) women completely disappear, leaving no trace.
My favorite parts of the book were addendums: the afterword in 1986 (six years after the original publication date of The Stranger Beside Me), The Last Chapter in 1989, and the Update: Twenty Years Later 2000. Rule's perspicacity and talent as a writer were sharpened with time, and the developments in the continued delays of Ted's death warrant read almost like fiction. Her correspondence with Ted was extremely unique, and learning of Ted's actual confessions brought more closure to the book. I can't imagine having read this book in 1980 and being very satisfied with the ending.
All in all, this book was very illuminating. I'd say it's a hair under Helter Skelter and light years beyond In Cold Blood.
"Our letters continued, in that odd intimacy that is sometimes maintained through the written word, an intimacy, and, occasionally, an honesty that is more difficult to keep alive in a face-to-face situation."
"The cliche seems to give a sociopath something to cling to—a verbal anchoring place that allows him to communicate, to speak the language of normal people."...more
The Tate-LaBianca murders occurred during the summer of '69, when Charles Manson's "family" snuck into two houses by the Solid 5 Shiver-inducing Stars
The Tate-LaBianca murders occurred during the summer of '69, when Charles Manson's "family" snuck into two houses by the cover of night and gruesomely slaughtered everyone there.
It's hard not to find references to Charles Manson in popular culture, especially on screen (hello American Horror Story: Cult), so I had a general knowledge of the crime before I began. Bugliosi deftly fills in the details.
The information in this book is delivered in a very clear, concise, almost clinical presentation. Vincent Bugliosi is prime to tell this story as he was the prosecutor charged with presenting the evidence of the Manson murders, laying out the facts objectively.
I learned a lot in from this book, and had no idea The Beatles were so influential on Manson. I challenge you to read this book, and NOT listen to The White Album.
The audiobook is read by a man who sounds like an old-timey radio-newcaster, and his voice superbly matched the material. At one point I was taking a hot shower while listening to the book, and broke out in a full body chill.
Manson was a curious cat, to say the least. Life was not easy, or kind to him, but he remains on another level of human. There are interesting similarities with Hitler: both were small men (Manson was 5'2''), vegetarians, and were able to convince others to kill on their behalf. Although he did not physically commit the murders, Manson was the mastermind behind them and was sentenced to death. He served nine life terms in California prisons, dying while incarcerated in 2017.
In closing, there's not much else to leave you with, other than Manson's burning words after his conviction:
“Mr. and Mrs. America—you are wrong. I am not the King of the Jews nor am I a hippie cult leader, I am what you have made of me and the mad dog devil killer fiend leper is a reflection of your society. … Whatever the outcome of this madness that you call a fair trial or Christian justice, you can know this: In my mind's eye my thoughts light fires in your cities.”...more
This book was extremely depressing for me — and perhaps I just wasn’t in the mood — but it also felt 2 Stars: Extended suffering (the reader's), Bleak
This book was extremely depressing for me — and perhaps I just wasn’t in the mood — but it also felt like it dragged on and on.
The details are extensive, and exhausting. To be fair, I was not a big fan of the movie Capote either. Maybe I missed the boat, but the most intriguing aspect of the book for me was the story behind the writing of it — Harper Lee's assistance, Capote's relationship with Perry, the controversy, etc.
Categorized as true-crime, there’s a little too much insight into the minds and motives of people than I would expect from a nonfiction work. Unless everyone told Capote every single thought and feeling they had when something was happening? 🤔
Bookended by brutal deaths, you know it’s not going to be a happy story, but I think I was expecting a gripping tale or elegant prose — and was disappointed. Sleepy Holcomb, Kansas permeates every aspect of the book, from the setting to the pace. At times, slogging through desolate text, I wanted to quit.
“Because once a thing is set to happen, all you can do is hope it won’t. Or will—depending. As long as you live, there’s always something waiting, and even if it’s bad, and you know it’s bad, what can you do? You can’t stop living.”
Ugh! Originally gave it 3 stars, but after reviewing my highlights and notes, I have to take it down one star. There’s an extended dream sequence that attempts to add dimension, but feels more like Capote padding out the edges. The running theme feels more like omniscience than actual truth.
What makes people commit violent acts? Are they genetically predisposed, or is it upbringing? Do people have a choice? These underlying questions are routinely hinted at, and left for the reader to decide.
Yes, Richard Hickock and Perry Smith had hard lives but I never felt sorry for them or felt that they were not consciously in control or responsible for their actions. The best part of the book was the end, and the fact that the men received just punishment for their crime.
Thoughts:
"Put simply, the book was conceived of journalism and born of a novelist." — Kate Colquhoun, The Independent
"Pornoviolence" — Tom Wolfe
"In fact the relationship between author and subject is arguably one of the greatest, and most improbable, literary romances of the 20th century." — Capote: Written in blood
tl;dr
Questionably factual, thereby a weak novel....more
A history lover, I appreciated the personal accounts against the backdrop of the Chicago World's Fair. Yet ... it wasn't exactly riveting. I'd actuallA history lover, I appreciated the personal accounts against the backdrop of the Chicago World's Fair. Yet ... it wasn't exactly riveting. I'd actually give it 3.5, because it wasn't bad, just ... slightly limited. Interesting because it's true. ...more
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