Take a photo of a barcode or cover
kaileycool 's review for:
Small Sacrifices
by Ann Rule
Read this for murder brunch club. My first Ann Rule, but certainly not my last. Here are some things I noticed that I'd like to talk about at book club:
Central question - what theory on Diane did this book posit? "Bad seed," victim of abuse, somewhere in between?
My answer - I think Rule views her as a sociopathic "bad seed" who may have been abused, but the abuse is certainly no excuse for her actions.
My evidence -
- how sexualized Rule's descriptions of her were (her fixation on the status of Diane's bra, the way she mentioned the size of her bra and underwear at the end, the focus on her appearance at all times, etc.)
- the slow intrusion of Rule as a character (the introduction of an "I" voice during the trial)
- how men appeared to be portrayed as blameless/at the very least guileless, especially the married men with whom Diane had affairs and even men who openly admitted their abusive behaviors (Steve Downs, for example)
- Rule's insistence on Diane's extreme intelligence
I'm also interested in discussing the extent to which misogyny played a role in her conviction and in Rule's portrayal of her. This is not to say I doubt her guilt, but it is clear that her perceived promiscuity and "unfeminine" response to tragedy were enough to convict her in the court of public opinion, if not in her actual trial.
Overall, I enjoyed this a lot. I don't think it was very interesting or empathetic in its portrayal of the human condition, which is why I have given it three stars, but it is a clearly and compellingly told crime story.
Central question - what theory on Diane did this book posit? "Bad seed," victim of abuse, somewhere in between?
My answer - I think Rule views her as a sociopathic "bad seed" who may have been abused, but the abuse is certainly no excuse for her actions.
My evidence -
- how sexualized Rule's descriptions of her were (her fixation on the status of Diane's bra, the way she mentioned the size of her bra and underwear at the end, the focus on her appearance at all times, etc.)
- the slow intrusion of Rule as a character (the introduction of an "I" voice during the trial)
- how men appeared to be portrayed as blameless/at the very least guileless, especially the married men with whom Diane had affairs and even men who openly admitted their abusive behaviors (Steve Downs, for example)
- Rule's insistence on Diane's extreme intelligence
I'm also interested in discussing the extent to which misogyny played a role in her conviction and in Rule's portrayal of her. This is not to say I doubt her guilt, but it is clear that her perceived promiscuity and "unfeminine" response to tragedy were enough to convict her in the court of public opinion, if not in her actual trial.
Overall, I enjoyed this a lot. I don't think it was very interesting or empathetic in its portrayal of the human condition, which is why I have given it three stars, but it is a clearly and compellingly told crime story.