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Title:
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Life After Death |
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Authors:
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Echols, Damien |
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Genre:
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Non Fiction: New Zealand |
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Year:
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2012 |
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Publisher:
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Blue Rider Press |
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Language:
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English |
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Description:
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For Damien Echols, the so called 'ring-leader' of the West Memphis Three, there is finally life to be lived after eighteen years on death row. Championed by celebrities (including Sir Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh) before being released in 2011, Echols, and friends Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelly were wrongfully convicted as teenagers of the murder of three boys in Arkansas in 1993.
Both an expose of the American justice system and a raw and gritty memoir of a life beset by many challenges, this is a surprisingly uplifting story of perseverance and hope in the face of bad odds. A powerful and unforgettable read.
Comments from Groups: We found it quite interesting to watch the documentary on You Tube after reading the book. Auckland 301 Very sad, engaging and quite shocking at times. Gore 005 Interesting and challenging. Not an easy read but thought-provoking. Auckland 174 While not exactly 'enjoying' this book, most found it compelling and an appalling indictment of the Arkansas legal process. The local community was easily duped by claims by a legal officer that the boys were cult members. The members were appalled also at the prison conditions, childhood life of the boys, and the difficulty of turning around the convictions even with famous people supporting the cause. There was also comment about Damien's remarkable strength in staying sane through 18 years in prison, and on Death Row. Wellington 120 Much discussion was generated by Echols' story and what he endured. All members were left wanting to know more details/ explanations of his legal case, and how he could have ended up on Death Row with so little direct evidence. Echols needs to write a follow-up! Whangarei 020
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Categories:
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Non fiction, Biography, Human Rights, Social commentary/perspectives, America, Small font |
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Reviews
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By: WHITBY 005
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2024-09-17 14:34:20 |
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Diverse opinions expressed on this well-written book with profoundly disturbing content. Excellent discussion. |
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By: CHCH 194
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2022-11-18 17:50:25 |
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Such a sad situation for the individual and for the society that allows this to happen. An excellent book for discussion and to reflect on our own lives and opportunities. |
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By: DUNED 093
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2022-10-12 12:20:36 |
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Quite a challenging read, both in terms of content and structure. Many in our group didn't finish the book. I personally found it fascinating in terms of the way this young man was persecuted from a young age, and also the insight into life on death row. However there were quite a few gaps in the story and the structure was unusual. Perhaps more was covered in his other books |
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By: HAVE 005
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2021-06-01 11:44:45 |
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A great discussion was had by our group. An insight into how corrupt and unjust the American court system is, and how resilient some people can be. Life is tough. |
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By: CHCH 393
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2019-11-06 10:22:31 |
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A disturbing story about injustice and resilience. The role of Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh was amazing. |
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