Scan barcode
megsymitch's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
4.0
whatcourtneyreads's review against another edition
5.0
Like many Victorians, I can still remember exactly where I was on Black Saturday, when 400 individual bushfires raged across the state on 7th February 2009. In the end, 450,000 hectares and 2,209 houses were burned, and the resulting 173 deaths still remain Australia’s highest ever loss of life from a bushfire. There were various causes in different parts of the state; powerlines, lightning, machinery. But in the Latrobe Valley in particular, where 11 people were killed, the fire was started deliberately.
The Arsonist is a tremendous piece of true crime investigative journalism, following the development of the case and the suspect who was eventually convicted.
What I didn’t know prior to reading this book, is that the person charged, Brendan Sokaluk, was assessed as having both autism spectrum disorder and an intellectual disability. Obviously these conditions do not cause someone to commit arson, but this book raises such interesting questions about culpability where a person may not fully comprehend the gravity of what they’ve done or the consequences. Certainly in Sokaluk’s case, it is stated that throughout the trial he sat with blank expression, often yawning, complaining of being bored, and after conviction, asked when he could go home.
As a book, this was excellent. An endorsement on the cover states “this is true crime at its best”, and I tend to agree wholeheartedly. Cooper clearly threw everything she had into this book, and it absolutely shows. Excellent writing, vivid descriptions, heart wrenching stories, and a critical eye make this an absolutely compelling read, even 13 years after the events depicted.
I picked this up and put it back down again in bookshops so many times in the last three years, I really should have got to it sooner. Highly recommend!
The Arsonist is a tremendous piece of true crime investigative journalism, following the development of the case and the suspect who was eventually convicted.
What I didn’t know prior to reading this book, is that the person charged, Brendan Sokaluk, was assessed as having both autism spectrum disorder and an intellectual disability. Obviously these conditions do not cause someone to commit arson, but this book raises such interesting questions about culpability where a person may not fully comprehend the gravity of what they’ve done or the consequences. Certainly in Sokaluk’s case, it is stated that throughout the trial he sat with blank expression, often yawning, complaining of being bored, and after conviction, asked when he could go home.
As a book, this was excellent. An endorsement on the cover states “this is true crime at its best”, and I tend to agree wholeheartedly. Cooper clearly threw everything she had into this book, and it absolutely shows. Excellent writing, vivid descriptions, heart wrenching stories, and a critical eye make this an absolutely compelling read, even 13 years after the events depicted.
I picked this up and put it back down again in bookshops so many times in the last three years, I really should have got to it sooner. Highly recommend!
tricky's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
5.0
In 2009 two fires were lit deliberately in the LaTrobe Valley, Victoria, the devastation of that single act resulted in the loss of lives and property. Hooper looks at how the police investigated the crime of arson; the impact fire has on the community and the workings of the mind of an arsonist.
Hooper’s book is compelling reading as you are deftly navigated through the police commencing their work to understand where the fire commenced, its path and the outcomes. The stories of those who did and did not survive are heartbreaking. Too often we see numbers on a news headline, 173 dead, over 3,500 structures destroyed, and 450,000 ha burnt. They are big numbers, but Hooper brings in the real damage through the words of the people who were there. It is through their descriptions of the intensity of the heat, lack of visibility, walls of flames, and the speed of what they were facing. Hooper looks at the Australian experience with bushfires and how it is an ongoing legacy of fight to save property or flee to safety. Then Hooper takes an in-depth look at the arsonist responsible for the fires. Following the police investigation, the trial and the aftermath.
This is an incredible piece of writing, it is empathic to all and a masterful piece.
Hooper’s book is compelling reading as you are deftly navigated through the police commencing their work to understand where the fire commenced, its path and the outcomes. The stories of those who did and did not survive are heartbreaking. Too often we see numbers on a news headline, 173 dead, over 3,500 structures destroyed, and 450,000 ha burnt. They are big numbers, but Hooper brings in the real damage through the words of the people who were there. It is through their descriptions of the intensity of the heat, lack of visibility, walls of flames, and the speed of what they were facing. Hooper looks at the Australian experience with bushfires and how it is an ongoing legacy of fight to save property or flee to safety. Then Hooper takes an in-depth look at the arsonist responsible for the fires. Following the police investigation, the trial and the aftermath.
This is an incredible piece of writing, it is empathic to all and a masterful piece.
megav's review against another edition
4.0
I inhaled this book! Such great details and broad connections about fire in Australia, very compassionate and knowledgeable. I wish the author/publisher would capitalise “I” for Indigenous when talking about people/culture though.
joannelock's review against another edition
5.0
This is a brilliantly researched, nuanced and highly compassionate explanation of the deliberately-lit Churchill bushfire of February 2009. Hooper weaves the history of the Latrobe Valley with police investigation, the devastation of families who lost loved ones as well as houses, property and animals, and the life of convicted arsonist Brendan Sokaluk together to explain the inexplicable.
sarjanie's review
5.0
This is the first narrative non-fiction I’ve read (technically listened to) and it had me hooked. I look forward to reading more by Hooper
toriss's review against another edition
5.0
What an incredible book. A must-read for all Victorians.
lovestodancw_81's review against another edition
3.0
This book detailed the 2009 Australian bush fires that burned 1,100,000 acres, killed 173 people, and a number of animals. It was painful to read about the devastating suffering that people and animals underwent on the last day of their lives.
The culprit, Brendan Sokaluk, turned out to be a person who was later found to be on the autistic scale. Although readers never got a real explanation from Sokaluk, his diagnosis explains a lot about his previous questionable behavior, prior to the bush fires as well as at the police station. I'm on the fence about whether Hooper was going too far to defend his actions or not.
The writing style was sometimes clunky. For example, in a two page span, the author introduced at least one new person in every paragraph and it was very difficult to go back and forth between about 8 different people and remember who they were during reading.
This book was somewhat disappointing because the crime was senseless and Sokaluk didn't provide a reason for his actions. I love a good true crime story and I would recommend a story such as [b:American Fire: Love, Arson, and Life in a Vanishing Land|32191677|American Fire Love, Arson, and Life in a Vanishing Land|Monica Hesse|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1498056365l/32191677._SY75_.jpg|52832564] or [b:The Library Book|39507318|The Library Book|Susan Orlean|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1599591284l/39507318._SY75_.jpg|61126110] , which were much better written.
The culprit, Brendan Sokaluk, turned out to be a person who was later found to be on the autistic scale. Although readers never got a real explanation from Sokaluk, his diagnosis explains a lot about his previous questionable behavior, prior to the bush fires as well as at the police station. I'm on the fence about whether Hooper was going too far to defend his actions or not.
The writing style was sometimes clunky. For example, in a two page span, the author introduced at least one new person in every paragraph and it was very difficult to go back and forth between about 8 different people and remember who they were during reading.
This book was somewhat disappointing because the crime was senseless and Sokaluk didn't provide a reason for his actions. I love a good true crime story and I would recommend a story such as [b:American Fire: Love, Arson, and Life in a Vanishing Land|32191677|American Fire Love, Arson, and Life in a Vanishing Land|Monica Hesse|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1498056365l/32191677._SY75_.jpg|52832564] or [b:The Library Book|39507318|The Library Book|Susan Orlean|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1599591284l/39507318._SY75_.jpg|61126110] , which were much better written.