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theinstabookworm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I had chosen this book as one of my Book of the Month options back in October, but DNFed it after trying to physically read it. I wasn't going to give it another chance, but after I watched Jananie's @thisstoryaintover YouTube video where she listened to the audiobook and ended up rating it highly, I decided to give the audiobook a shot. And I'm so glad I did. Actress Sutton Foster @suttonlenore was one of the narrators for one of the women, and I really like her work. She did an excellent job conveying the emotions, feelings, and thoughts of the character she read. It's not uncommon for the criminals to be in the spotlight when their crimes are discussed, and I think that, to a certain extent, criminals do need to be given some of that attention in order to be held accountable for their crimes. But I also think it's often lost on us that the victims of these criminals were people who didn't deserve to be subjected to heinous crimes. I love that this book gives a voice to those who are otherwise voiceless. The victims are just as important, and arguably more important, as the perpetrator and this book reminds us of that. If you haven't picked this up yet, I highly recommend the audiobook!
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Child death, Animal cruelty, Dementia, Infidelity, Homophobia, Incest, and Sexual assault
david_slack110507's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I think having Ruth's story be something completely detached from the Ted Bundy-inspired serial killer plotline of Pamela's story made Ruth's ending all the more effective as it showcased what could happen at any moment, especially when your life is beginning to get better, but I also just really liked Ruth's story due to its focus on the acceptance of who you are and freeing yourself from the judgement of others as shown in Ruth's discovery of her sexuality when she meets and eventually falls in love with Tina. However, as much as I like Ruth's story, I think I was more invested in Pamela's search for justice against the man that had wronged her sorority house, as not only was it what the premise of the book but also because it just intrigued me more seeing the situation unfold and how that can be compared in many similar and different ways to now.
Both storylines help present the theme of needing to put women's stories and experiences to the forefront of situations like the one in this book and its aforementioned inspiration rather than putting all the attention and sadly oftentimes subsequent idolisation on the perpetrator of horrible and sickening crimes. Keeping the perpetrator's name hidden under the nickname 'The Defendant' not only avoided giving power to the serial killer that it was based on but also allowed for it to be unilateral in not giving power to all those who have committed terrible acts of violence and violation and instead keeping the women in the spotlight when they are so often ignored even when they are front and centre like with Pamela as a witness or The Defendant's female attorney being the smartest on his team.
I feel like this is just a really important book to read that has many important messages just beyond the criminal and legal aspects mentioned in this review and in the book, such as social issues like the way that lesbians and queer people were seen around that time, the lack of faith in women and their stories/beliefs, and I also liked how it commented on the seemingly necessary need to characterise every man that avoided the legal system due to said lack of faith in women and/or their privilege as being 'smart', essentially acting as an excuse to cover up the incompetence in the police and justice systems for letting it go on for so long.
Overall, this raises many important questions and focuses on many necessary themes that should be discussed in more detail as well as striking a careful balance between not making it too explicit without making it seem watered down to make it easier to digest. It does not shy away from the explicit nature of the case but is not defined by having it as part of the plot.
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Gaslighting, Blood, Sexual violence, Grief, Physical abuse, Rape, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia, Medical trauma, Forced institutionalization, Body horror, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, Cursing, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Gore, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Dementia, Medical content, Incest, Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, Child abuse, Gun violence, and Pedophilia
lindieface's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Murder, Dementia, Sexual assault, Rape, and Homophobia
stilestastic's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Sexual violence, Violence, Rape, Body horror, Death, Murder, Outing, Dysphoria, Grief, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
Moderate: Eating disorder, Gore, Cursing, and Dementia
kitty03's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Blood, Misogyny, Rape, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Body horror, Grief, Murder, Dementia, and Lesbophobia
deetabz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Murder, Violence, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Homophobia, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Death of parent, Confinement, Car accident, Dementia, Gaslighting, and Grief
Minor: Infidelity, Incest, and Alcohol
alite428's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Dementia, Murder, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Lesbophobia, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Mental illness, Death, Sexual harassment, Rape, and Medical content
Minor: Death of parent and Blood
r_o_s_e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Hate crime, Sexual assault, Death, Grief, Murder, and Rape
Moderate: Gaslighting, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Violence
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Dementia, Gun violence, Eating disorder, Medical content, and Outing
shesflippinpages's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Medical content, Medical trauma, Body horror, Homophobia, Grief, Sexism, Blood, Body shaming, Death, Rape, Physical abuse, Murder, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, and Sexual violence
Minor: Dementia and Classism
booksteader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
This was an absorbing and empowering fictional account of one of the most famous and sensationalized serial murders in American history, and as the author so cleverly omitted The Defendant's name from any mention throughout the book (to deny any more notoriety to man who committed these cowardly and abhorrent crimes), I won't give him any acknowledgement here either. I was skeptical about my ability to appreciate a true crime novel but what I found in this book was so much more than another dramatization of the same old story where The Defendant is an "evil genius". Instead, Knoll gives the women the acknowledgment and voice they should have had 45 years ago and again 5 years ago when the Netflix documentary was made. She skillfully frames the case within the context of the late 70s but it is clear that much of the misogyny that passed for normal still runs rampant today. Knoll calls it out over and over and in this small but important way, allows the women to be the center of their own stories and win some justice over their perpetrator and the system that should have stopped him before he had a chance to start.
🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿 Five ferns (from the last chapter)
Would strongly recommend
Graphic: Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Grief, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Rape, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Incest, Dementia, and Death of parent