A review by nuii
Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka

dark sad medium-paced
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I like the complexity if the book, there's much to mull over and the writing is neat. 

However, a rant: 
I was having a hard time dealing with Ansel. Because of the different POVs, there's constant back and forth between borderline romanticizing/sympathizing vs criticizing/condemning him. I cant quite decide whether that is intentional, to show the complexity of the human psyche and of the situation or it's just not executed percisely enough. I guess it's just uncomfortable to recogconize this man as an empty shell of a person and a pathetic loser but also gotta feel sorry for him because the story of his mom is very tragic and the system failed him/them. 
Also, to (shallowy) throw in the complexity of the flawed justice system (racism, police incompetence, death penalty...), albeit important, feels a bit too much and your focus is spreaded out too thinly imo. Makes me think of when u try to tackle too many points in an essay that ur pounts get lost or diluted.