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Post by Randacello (MirandaRae) on Mar 19, 2003 11:47:29 GMT -5
I've been on a true-crime kick as far as my recent reading is concerned. Oh wait...I've been on that kick for a long while now, but here are some of the books I've read recently that really grabbed my attention.
Devil's Knot: The True Story Of The West Memphis Three by Mara Leveritt This book made me realize just how broken the legal and justice systems in this country are! This is a true crime novel about the brutal murder of three 8-year-old boys in West Memphis, Arkansas; as tragic as this crime is, it is just as tragic that the three young men convicted of this crime did not do it, IMO. They were convicted based on their tastes in music and their religions...not on physical evidence.
Lucky by Alice Sebold This is her truth and her survival story; she was raped at the end of her freshman year at college, and as a rape survivor myself parts of this book were hard to read but there is much hope in it. I highly recommend it.
I: The Creation Of A Serial Killer by Jack Olsen This is the true story of the Happy Face Killer; I'm reading it now. Parts have been difficult for me to get through; there are some triggers here for me. I don't know what twisted weird things it says about me but I like reading books about serial killers and infamous criminals because I want to know what makes such people tick. Maybe I expect the answer to that mystery to be in a true crime book, I dunno.
What about all of you? What are you all reading? Recommend some tomes to all of us!
Miranda
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Post by RamirezGhost on Mar 21, 2003 11:57:56 GMT -5
Recent readings...Milan Kunderas "The Unbearable Lightness of Being"...some Winterson...right now I'm reading My Century.
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Roadpan
Avid Muse
The Essential Pegasus
Posts: 111
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Post by Roadpan on Mar 26, 2003 14:06:03 GMT -5
I'm about finished with Patricia Cornwell's Portrait of a Killer. And a 1/3 of the way through S. King's From a Buick 8. Yeah ... I'm all over the place. Who has time for just one book?  |
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Post by Ken Corbett on Mar 31, 2003 9:53:07 GMT -5
I'm hooked on Wilbur Smith novels lately. He writes historical novels, action-packed, set in Africa, anywhere from the time of the Pharaohs to the present day. His detail is exquisite, and his action is raw and breath-taking. I'm only sorry I've read almost all his stuff.
He even manages to convince you to relate to the animals being hunted down by men, old bull elephants and sleek leopards. Corny? Not when you're turning page after page and blocking out the world around you.
I would recommend "The River God". It's one of the first of his I've read. He has about thirty or so out, and they're all thick and deep.
Ken
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Post by hawkspoet on Apr 17, 2003 22:00:24 GMT -5
Miranda...... I knew that we had a bunch in common but I never knew that you also liked true crime..... I had to stop reading those for a while but like you I always want to know what makes these sort of folks tick....... I wanted to be part of the behavioral sciences team..... and might have been pretty good at it but thought that marrying my high school sweet heart was more important...... what an idiot I was.........
anyway
I have just ordered Devil's Knot can't wait to read it now that I know that you thought it was great......
I have been reading James Patterson and some others.... I have all but the latest from Patterson...... he is pretty good ......
right now I am reading a book called
The Book Of Fred...... written by Abby Bardi..... it is interesting..... a story of a little girl that is in foster care because he parents are in jail for the death of two of her younger brothers...... they are part of a cult type thing....... parts are funny living with what she calls Lackers...... they lack religion........
also have only a couple of Anita Shreve's books left to read...... she has a way with a story that keeps me spell bound....... (the pilots wife, sea glass, fortunes rock, to name a few of her books......
I have been looking for Lucky by Sebold..... I have read that it is a wonderfully written book and that it would be a good read for those that have survived the crime of rape.........
I am so glad that you guys have this here....... I might find other authors I would like.......
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Post by Randacello (MirandaRae) on Apr 17, 2003 23:18:32 GMT -5
Ooooh, James Patterson! I read his Violets Are Blue last summer and enjoyed it. DEVIL'S KNOT CHANGED MY LIFE, seriously. You know I'm going to get my paralegal degree soon; well, reading that book really opened my eyes to how broken the legal and justice systems in this country are. It really opened my eyes to how shafted poor people are when it comes to the legal and justice systems; they make money and are built on the backs of poor people. After reading this book, which I recommended to Charlotte (my teacher/mentor/academic advisor) who is now borrowing and reading my copy, Charlotte arranged for me to do my externship for school in August at a place that provides free/low cost legal services to the poor. I am so excited about it too! I know my doing my externship there (and hopefully landing a permanent job there) isn't going to make one whit of a difference in the big picture real world but at least I'm going to be doing SOMETHING except sitting around and just bitching about how things are. Devil's Knot made me want to do something more than just sit around and bitch. And bless Charlotte again for recognizing the effect of Devil's Knot and the change it wrought in me and for helping me out in actually doing something.  Keep looking for Lucky too, hawkspoet. It is an extremely well-written book. As a rape survivor it filled me with hope though some parts of it were difficult to read (brought back some memories). Miranda |
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