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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
Woaaaaah. I started this off wondering why it was so highly regarded, but finished it fully understanding why. Writing Ansel's chapters as if the reader is Ansel himself was a bold move that really worked - it made me feel kinda spooky/uncomfortable and really makes you question the morality of the death penalty. This book questions justice, media's representations of serial killers/violence, the broken American criminal justice system and how victims can be forgotten when we pin more curiosity towards the people who have committed the act
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
unfortunately all of my thoughts are spoilers 😔
I really liked the epilogue where all the dead girls expressed how they would like to be remembered. Lila's hypothetical daughter falling asleep with the leopard and the exact number of the babies Jenny would have delivered were my favourites. Truly emphasized how Ansel didn't just take their lives, but their futures, and potentially other people's futures as well.
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Notes on an Execution is a haunting look at a serial killer and the women who orbit his life. It explores what makes us good vs. evil and society’s glorification of serial killers as it simultaneously unravels Ansel’s past and countdowns his impending conclusion. The ending was beautifully handled.
MINOR SPOILER:The plot did rely on some rather large coincidences because we are told repeatedly that Saffy is an incredible detective but her actions suggest otherwise.
MINOR SPOILER:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Murder
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Murder
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ok, first of all, ow.
But this book was fantastic. I really enjoyed going back and forth between the murderer and the people affected by his violence. The writing was hauntingly beautiful and I highly recommend this one.
But this book was fantastic. I really enjoyed going back and forth between the murderer and the people affected by his violence. The writing was hauntingly beautiful and I highly recommend this one.