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A review by eliajor
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I went into this book blind and came out not only depressed but also with a raging anger for the world just like many other women in this book who were let down by people in their lives with the capabilities of helping them.
There are two perspectives: Pamela and Ruth. One is a survivor, the other was a victim of The Defendant. I understand why people don't like how The Defendant is named that way, it does feel reductive, but many serial killers are renowned by their names. By calling him The Defendant I think we can disrespect this puny insecure beady-eyed failure who only got away with his murders for so long due to the utter incompetence of law enforcers. Edward Cowart was the judge who sentenced The Defendant but said it was a shame that he had to be sentenced because he was a bright young man despite murdering at least 10 women.
I applaud Pamela's courage and tenacity to deal with many people in her life who wanted to question her witness statement because that would be easier than to catch The Defendant. How funny that people are quick to support The Defendant as a harmless law student rather than a woman who witnessed him moments after killing her friend. The absolute audacity and this is why high blood pressure is so prevalent today.
Ruth was someone who lived at her family home and never had a good relationship with her family due to her sexuality. This was a time where homophobia was your next door neighbour and what's better than a bigoted mother willing to send her daughter to a mental asylum than support her. I see her journey to counselling where she meets Tina and escapes her home to find friendship among women whilst advancing her skills in baking. She truly came a long way and it was all the more sad and horrific to know she would be killed. Ruth like Denise, were promising young women. It was very difficult to read the final few chapters and when Ruth met The Defendant, he appeared as a young man on the beach with an injured hand and no friends around to help him move his boat. To anyone, we would be kind enough to help out The Defendant and have sympathy for him. Yet there are people out there who would weaponise this kindness engrained especially within women.
This book was brilliantly written and I constantly think about the fears the women in this novel would've felt walking along the street, not knowing whether you'll end up a victim or a survivor within the next few hours.
There are two perspectives: Pamela and Ruth. One is a survivor, the other was a victim of The Defendant. I understand why people don't like how The Defendant is named that way, it does feel reductive, but many serial killers are renowned by their names. By calling him The Defendant I think we can disrespect this puny insecure beady-eyed failure who only got away with his murders for so long due to the utter incompetence of law enforcers. Edward Cowart was the judge who sentenced The Defendant but said it was a shame that he had to be sentenced because he was a bright young man despite murdering at least 10 women.
I applaud Pamela's courage and tenacity to deal with many people in her life who wanted to question her witness statement because that would be easier than to catch The Defendant. How funny that people are quick to support The Defendant as a harmless law student rather than a woman who witnessed him moments after killing her friend. The absolute audacity and this is why high blood pressure is so prevalent today.
Ruth was someone who lived at her family home and never had a good relationship with her family due to her sexuality. This was a time where homophobia was your next door neighbour and what's better than a bigoted mother willing to send her daughter to a mental asylum than support her. I see her journey to counselling where she meets Tina and escapes her home to find friendship among women whilst advancing her skills in baking. She truly came a long way and it was all the more sad and horrific to know she would be killed. Ruth like Denise, were promising young women. It was very difficult to read the final few chapters and when Ruth met The Defendant, he appeared as a young man on the beach with an injured hand and no friends around to help him move his boat. To anyone, we would be kind enough to help out The Defendant and have sympathy for him. Yet there are people out there who would weaponise this kindness engrained especially within women.
This book was brilliantly written and I constantly think about the fears the women in this novel would've felt walking along the street, not knowing whether you'll end up a victim or a survivor within the next few hours.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Murder, Emotional abuse, Lesbophobia, and Rape