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jgraydee's review
5.0
Jacob Barber is a 14-year old student in a small, close-knit Massachusetts community. One of his classmates is murdered, and Jacob is put on trial for the crime. The story is told from Jacob’s father’s (Andy Barber) point of view; Andy is the First Assistant District Attorney in town. More than a legal thriller, this novel explores the coping skills of the Barber family as they defend Jacob and deal with being social pariahs.
The novel explores teenagers’ lives, the affect of bullying and social media. Andy is keenly aware that anything posted is never actually deleted; it can always be subpoenaed. However, he is not prepared for the online bravado and interests of his son. The more he learns, the more he wonders how much he and Laurie ever really knew about Jacob?
Andy and Laurie have the perfect, idyllic family life. They are college sweethearts who are well respected and leaders within the community. But Andy has a family secret that threatens to jeopardize Jacob’s defense. At the very least, it serves to create a wedge between him and Laurie. The author presents this "nature versus nurture" question as a theme throughout Jacob's trial, and then puts a subtle twist into the ending of the novel.
Finally, the story focuses on Jacob’s trial, but a second trial is woven through out, as well. The reader gradually discovers how this second narrative relates to the whole of the story, but it serves to create an added element of suspense and interest.
Author William Landay served as an Assistant District Attorney for eight years before he started writing. He weaves legal jargon into Defending Jacob in a way that is informative but not distracting. He has an art for story telling, and a talent for metaphor. He writes out loud what the reader is thinking. I found this book hard to put down, and plan to read more of his stories very soon.
The novel explores teenagers’ lives, the affect of bullying and social media. Andy is keenly aware that anything posted is never actually deleted; it can always be subpoenaed. However, he is not prepared for the online bravado and interests of his son. The more he learns, the more he wonders how much he and Laurie ever really knew about Jacob?
Andy and Laurie have the perfect, idyllic family life. They are college sweethearts who are well respected and leaders within the community. But Andy has a family secret that threatens to jeopardize Jacob’s defense. At the very least, it serves to create a wedge between him and Laurie. The author presents this "nature versus nurture" question as a theme throughout Jacob's trial, and then puts a subtle twist into the ending of the novel.
Finally, the story focuses on Jacob’s trial, but a second trial is woven through out, as well. The reader gradually discovers how this second narrative relates to the whole of the story, but it serves to create an added element of suspense and interest.
Author William Landay served as an Assistant District Attorney for eight years before he started writing. He weaves legal jargon into Defending Jacob in a way that is informative but not distracting. He has an art for story telling, and a talent for metaphor. He writes out loud what the reader is thinking. I found this book hard to put down, and plan to read more of his stories very soon.
claire_lamb's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Violence
katykelly's review
5.0
Excellent. Really enjoyed this. Spent the book going - did he? didn't he?
Great narrator who turned out to be unreliable - the dad refusing to see his son in anything other than rose-tinted glasses, though Jacob's guilt/innocence is left ambiguously open.
The court case was very interesting, the thoughts and feelings of the Barber family all too real and well-plotted, with an ending you can see coming a little but still shocking.
Very good insight into the parent/lawyer's mind and a good 'light' read, if you can call it that!
Great narrator who turned out to be unreliable - the dad refusing to see his son in anything other than rose-tinted glasses, though Jacob's guilt/innocence is left ambiguously open.
The court case was very interesting, the thoughts and feelings of the Barber family all too real and well-plotted, with an ending you can see coming a little but still shocking.
Very good insight into the parent/lawyer's mind and a good 'light' read, if you can call it that!
myciander's review against another edition
3.0
Bardzo to nierówne. Niby same założenie jest ciekawe. Związek oskarżonego z prokuratorem jest interesujący i mógłby być punktem wyjścia dla fajnej opowieści. A tutaj za dużo ciekawych momentów nie ma. Mam wrażenie, że dało by się tą historię streścić w krótkim opowiadania a książka jest rozwleczona do granic wytrzymałości.
Duży plus za zakończenie - zaskakujące i szokujące i właśnie za nie jest ocena bo bez niego to zdecydowanie 5/10.
Duży plus za zakończenie - zaskakujące i szokujące i właśnie za nie jest ocena bo bez niego to zdecydowanie 5/10.
hannahhbic's review against another edition
2.0
I did not enjoy this book. Getting through it was a struggle, to say the very least. It was assigned to me in a college level course. Originally I tried the audiobook, but found myself too impatient with the tedious courtroom narration to continue to drag out the listening process. The characters were flat, particularly the main character, Andy Barber. I could never make up my mind as I was reading the Kindle version, if Andy was a robot, a misogynist, or both. This book could have done with quite a lot less of the courtroom setting. It was particularly dry, and the author did not make any attempts to make this more interesting. The only character written somewhat decently was the portrayal of Andy Barber's father, Billy. I won't say much more about Billy other than he was the only believable character (his dialogue especially) in this train wreck of a book. I have only given it two stars because of a few plot "twists" that happened in the last 50 or so pages. They were a relief, a brief oasis of action, in what was otherwise an extremely slow book.
brendamcneece's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
pam2375's review
4.0
This is a good one! This is the story about an assistant district attorney's 14 year old son being charged with the murder of a classmate.
The book is a bit frustrating in that it is told in present day, then we go to the past and then we are back in present day etc...However, once you get into the flow of the writing it is good. Really really good.
I must be slipping with my ability to figure out what happened, because once again, I was taken by complete surprise with the ending of this book.
Do you like courtroom dramas? Pick up this book, you will not be disappointed.
The book is a bit frustrating in that it is told in present day, then we go to the past and then we are back in present day etc...However, once you get into the flow of the writing it is good. Really really good.
I must be slipping with my ability to figure out what happened, because once again, I was taken by complete surprise with the ending of this book.
Do you like courtroom dramas? Pick up this book, you will not be disappointed.
bbrown0526's review against another edition
5.0
Great read
Very well told story and surprise ending. It was a quick read and had the right amount of suspense to keep it interesting.
Very well told story and surprise ending. It was a quick read and had the right amount of suspense to keep it interesting.