Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
I'm not sure how to review this? I am not usually a true crime buff (I only like cults! Not murders!) but I started reading the new book [b:Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties|43015073|Chaos Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties|Tom O'Neill|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1543561687l/43015073._SY75_.jpg|66837472] and the first chapter is basically "everything in Helter Skelter is wrong!!!" and I was like "OK seems like I should prob read Helter Skelter before I dig into this?" So...I did, IDK, it seems pretty compelling and like a wild story but now I gotta read Chaos to find out how it's all WRONG???
It did get a little overwhelming at times but again I am not usually a true crime fan so...not exactly my jam except like wow, what a weird collection of people.
It did get a little overwhelming at times but again I am not usually a true crime fan so...not exactly my jam except like wow, what a weird collection of people.
I mean, what is there to say? Helter Skelter is THE most renowned book on the Manson Family murders and from my findings, it holds leagues beyond its title. If you want all encompassing insight into the Manson murders, trial, and aftermath, this book is the one for you. Vincent Bugliosi, the prosecutor for the trial of Manson and his girls, goes into exquisite detail on what exactly happened during the Tate-LaBianca murders, why, and how he managed to convict all those involved with first degree murder.
Before reading this book, there was a lot I thought I knew about the murders and motive of Manson and his Family, and a lot, after finishing the last page, I did not know until now. Throughout this very long book, I was continuously shocked, amazed, and surprised with new facts and information that led to these murders and the vicious acts carried out during and after these events. Never has a case been so horrifyingly gruesome, conducted through sheer homicidal desire and manipulation by “divine influence”, like this one.
With that being said: the one warning I have about this book is that it IS very long. It took me quite a while to finish and that is probably because it is non-fiction and has immense detail so I had to pay more attention than I usually do which means reading slower. Don’t be discouraged if you find it hard to grasp in the first few chapters. I promise if you stick to it, it will flow. It only dragged for me at the last few chapters but otherwise I was completely engrossed.
Before reading this book, there was a lot I thought I knew about the murders and motive of Manson and his Family, and a lot, after finishing the last page, I did not know until now. Throughout this very long book, I was continuously shocked, amazed, and surprised with new facts and information that led to these murders and the vicious acts carried out during and after these events. Never has a case been so horrifyingly gruesome, conducted through sheer homicidal desire and manipulation by “divine influence”, like this one.
With that being said: the one warning I have about this book is that it IS very long. It took me quite a while to finish and that is probably because it is non-fiction and has immense detail so I had to pay more attention than I usually do which means reading slower. Don’t be discouraged if you find it hard to grasp in the first few chapters. I promise if you stick to it, it will flow. It only dragged for me at the last few chapters but otherwise I was completely engrossed.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
challenging
dark
informative
slow-paced
dark
informative
tense
slow-paced
I learned some interesting things but I'm not sure I'm glad I know them, you know?
A true-crime classic for a reason! I'd say that it's important to take this book with a grain of salt, in light of the knowledge we've gained in the years since--listen to some Manson podcasts, read some of the girls' memoirs, etc. I don't think Manson is actually THE ultimate mastermind Bugliosi argues he is, but he is definitely powerful, and this book evokes the time and the influence of Manson, not just on his Family but on the country at large, in a powerful way. It can be difficult to keep track of all the names, and Bugliosi isn't afraid to point out the errors of others while praising his own ingenuity, but overall the pacing and sense of scene is quite strong.
4 stars for some annoying minor typos in my copy to one of the most insane, gripping reading experiences I've ever had in my life. This book is 650 pages and it honestly feels like 65, because the story is just so absolutely nuts. Bugliosi writes like you'd expect a lawyer to write, without flowerly language and fanfare, so the killers' depravity and the emotions of the people Manson victimized can take front and center. So. Damn. Good.
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced