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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
This is not what I was expecting, but it was super good! Interesting criticism and commentary of true crime as well as some interesting stories. Definitely read at own risk, there are som graphic depictions of atrocities that could be triggering. I also enjoyed how it's a synthesis of many authors!!
This was okay! I guess I wasn't expecting it to be a collection of articles, so that was sort of a letdown considering I had already read at least three of the articles.
This was a fascinating collection of stories. I found so much to learn, think about, and investigate later. One of my favorite quotes:
"It does feel like a shame that so many resources are going to create slick, smart true crime that asks the wrong questions, focusing our energy on individual stories instead of the systemic problems they represent. But in truth, this is probably a feature, not a bug. I suspect the new true-crime obsession has something to do with the massive, terrifying problems we face as a society; government corruption, mass violence, corporate greed, income inequality, police brutality, environmental degradation, human-rights violations. Those are large-scale crimes whose resolutions, though not mysterious, are also not forthcoming, Focusing on one case, bearing down on its minutiae and discovering who is the blame, serves as both an escape and a means of feeling in control, giving us an arena were justice is possible." (pg. 236)
"It does feel like a shame that so many resources are going to create slick, smart true crime that asks the wrong questions, focusing our energy on individual stories instead of the systemic problems they represent. But in truth, this is probably a feature, not a bug. I suspect the new true-crime obsession has something to do with the massive, terrifying problems we face as a society; government corruption, mass violence, corporate greed, income inequality, police brutality, environmental degradation, human-rights violations. Those are large-scale crimes whose resolutions, though not mysterious, are also not forthcoming, Focusing on one case, bearing down on its minutiae and discovering who is the blame, serves as both an escape and a means of feeling in control, giving us an arena were justice is possible." (pg. 236)
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
sad
medium-paced
This book just did not catch m6 attention as I thought it would. I was kind of lost and had to start it over. I can say it wasn’t my choice of tea.
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Unspeakable Acts is a collection of 13 true crime essays that have already appeared in a variety of places. The subject covers most modern day crimes as well as the influence on culture.
It is great that the majority of the essays are by women and that the subject matter is simply more than woman as victim. Additionally, while there are essays about famous crimes such as the case of Dee Dee Blancharde, there are also essays that look at the effect of bullets on a body and the presence of racism and transphobe in investigation.
One of the best essays is “The Reckoning” by Pamela Colloff which is about the Tower Sniper at Texas University. But all the essays are good including those that talk about the ethics of liking true crime.
Reread for using in a class - several of these essay can be used in composition classes to engage students.
It is great that the majority of the essays are by women and that the subject matter is simply more than woman as victim. Additionally, while there are essays about famous crimes such as the case of Dee Dee Blancharde, there are also essays that look at the effect of bullets on a body and the presence of racism and transphobe in investigation.
One of the best essays is “The Reckoning” by Pamela Colloff which is about the Tower Sniper at Texas University. But all the essays are good including those that talk about the ethics of liking true crime.
Reread for using in a class - several of these essay can be used in composition classes to engage students.
An anthology of 13 stories, centered loosely around crime. Some of these have been published elsewhere. The collection includes stories of Ted Bundy , Dee Dee Blanchard and her daughter, Gypsy, who killed Dee Dee after a bizarre childhood, and a story on murders based on the Slender Man myth. For me, the story of Dr. Goldberg, a surgeon in Philadelphia who specializes in gun shot wounds (she opines if the public could see photos of actual gunshot wounds and autopsy photos the conversation around gun control would change) and the harrowing tale of how US Customs and Border Protection takes liberties and plays fast and loose at border crossings were the best.
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced