52 Books in 52 Weeks: Book 15: "The Confession" By John Grisham

It's been awhile since I've read one of Grisham's novels.  As much as I enjoy legal dramas, they started to get repetitive, and I got a bit fatigued and disinterested.  But this one is a gripping and suspenseful story that will keep you guessing until the end.  As for me, it got under my skin.  

Grisham is making a none-too-subtle political statement in this novel.  The main character (or, one of them) is Donte Drumm, a man sitting on death row, convicted of a murder he didn't commit.  Another is Travis Boyette, who comes forward claiming to be the real murderer at the 11th hour, trying to save Drumm from exectution.  The injustices that Donte suffered as he was arrested and convicted of this crime, are central to the story.  Grisham is making a case against the death penalty.

I cannot agree with him 100%, because I do believe in capital punishment, in principal.  Human life has infinite value.  If someone willfully, intentionally takes the life of another human being, the only way that we as a society can uphold the value of the victim's life is to declare the life of the murder forfeit.  This is not to endorse vigilante justice carried out on an individual level.  It is the obligation of the society - law enforcement and the justice system to carry out the actual enforcement of these principals.  

But the above is assuming that: 1) the offender is actually guilty of the crime;  2) the system of law enforcement is free of gross corruption and; 3) the accused has the right to be assumed innocent until proven otherwise and the right to a fair trial.  In "The Confession", Dante Drumm is subjected to illegal, coercive and abusive treatment by the police, and assumed to be guilty right from the start.  He goes into the police department voluntarily, willing to cooperate because he wants to help with the investigation. His defenses are down, because he knows he has done nothing wrong.  Even after he realizes they are suspicious of him, he still believes that he will be OK, because he is innocent.  He believes the system works.  He is wrong.

Despite my belief in the death penalty, I have become convinced over the last decade or so that we have too many innocent people sitting on death row & therefore, we need to have a moratorium on the death penalty, whether it is done at a national or state level.  Too many people have been exonerated because of DNA evidence for me to rest comfortably in the belief that our system is working.   A few examples, in case you are interested: Peter Limone, Jay C. Smith,  Ron Williamson, Glen Edward Chapman, David Vasquez, Charles Fain.... and there are plenty more.  

Have you ever wondered how an innocent person could possibly confess to a crime they didn't commit?  Most people, according to surveys that I have seen, think that this doesn't happen.  Most of us can't imagine ever falsely admitting doing something horrible like killing someone.  Who would do that???  Well, if you've read this book, and read what Donte went through in the interrogation room, can you begin to understand? Some years ago, I was reading about stage hypnotists and I read that approximately 25% of people are susceptible enough to subtle psychological manipulation that they can be put into an hypnotic trance by a skilled performer up on a stage while they are sitting feet away in an audience.  Have you ever seen that?  A person who will go into a kind of trance and do all kinds of crazy things at the suggestion of a stranger?  My point is - that is real.  About 1/4 of people can be very easily manipulated in certain situations.  Most of us think we could not be manipulated into confessing to something we didn't do.  I would guess that a small percentage of the population - maybe 10% or less - is so resistant to manipulation that they could never be convinced - no matter how much pressure, how little sleep, or how much mental abuse you put them under.  But, I believe that the vast majority of us - myself included, would find it almost impossible to hold up under this kind of pressure.  What Grisham is writing here is all fiction.  But I don't think any of it is too far from reality in certain places.  I can't say how widespread it is.  But, anytime you hear about someone confessing to a crime after hours of interrogation, and then immediately recanting it, you can be sure they went through something very close to what Donte experienced in this book.  And, I think if you and I really knew how many people are sitting in prison in this country because they were treated this way, we might have a hard time sleeping at night. 

In the arena of political debate, the anti-death penalty crowd likes to criticize the pro-life crowd for being inconsistant and hypocritical on this issue.  For the reasons I stated in the 3rd paragraph, I believe that upholding a death penalty is actually a pro-life position, because it affirms the value of a human life.  It ties the ultimate penalty to the taking of a human life.  I do not see those two positions as being inconsistent.  As long as the death penalty is only being applied to those whose guilt is 100% certain.

Many who hold to the death penalty will point to the Bible.  The position I've outlined can be found in several places, but is put simply in Genesis 9:6  

Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind.

But, when it came to carrying out Jewish law, the testimony of two or more eyewitnesses was required (Numbers 35:30), Deuteronomy 20:17.  I think it is pretty reasonable assume that these witnesses would be expected to be credible, with nothing to gain from their testimony.  What we have in our justice system today is nothing close to this.   This is why I believe our system is broken.

Here's an article that describes the extent to which our law enforcement system relies on paid informants and how much of a problem it is becoming. 

 If we as a society are putting innocent people to death that should bother anyone who claims to be pro-life.  If you think we as a nation have the blood of the innocent unborn on our hands, I would argue that you ought to feel the same way about the blood of innocent men and women that are being executed for crimes they did not commit.  You can argue there are some differences, but I do not think they are substancial. 

"The Confession" is fiction, but it's not a fantasy. 

Ok.  Now I will get off my soapbox and say, again, that this is a great story that you will have a hard time putting down.

Sojourner

52 Books in 52 Weeks:Books 5 -14

Three Stations by Martin Cruz Smith

This was my first Arkady Renko Novel.  It's rough, graphic, and violent with little to recommend it other than the fact that it is an interesting mystery.  Much as I enjoy crime mysteries, it's probably my last Martin Cruz Smith novel.

Finding Nouf: Zoe Ferraris

Interesting murder mystery - more so for the glimpse she gives us into what life is like for women in middle eastern countries under Muslim law, and how politics and crime enforcement works there, than the mystery itself.  

When Sinners Say "I Do" by Dave Harvey

A great marriage study, but be prepared to be convicted and unsettled.  "Marriage Problems"   = sin problems.  Trouble in your marriage?  Don't try to "fix" your spouse.  Look in the mirror first.  The book has a companion workbook, but we didn't use it much in our study.  Seemed like it mostly just regurgitated a lot of what had been already said in the book.

A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare

Barnes and Noble Shakespeare Series

My first foray into Shakespeare since it was required reading in school, and my first (and so far, only) book that qualifies for the two mini challenges I intended to attempt this year.  I still think I may be able to pull off the 12 Classics. The Barnes and Noble Series has introductory sections on "Shakespeare and his England" - explaining the historical setting in which Shakespeare was living and writing, and "Understanding Shakespeare's Language", both of which are very helpful in understanding and putting the play in context for those of us who are a little rusty in this area. (I hope you can still get the Barnes and Noble Series versions).  I really found this to be an easy way to get back into it and enjoyed this short, comical play.  A Midsummer Night's Dream is short, fairly easy reading (though silly and often nonsensical).  It is a good way to stick your toe in the water and see you want to add more Shakespeare to your reading list.  I will be doing so, but not until I'm more caught up.

Mine is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs

In "Mine is the Night, Higgs concludes the tale begun in "Here Burns My Candle".  These are two historical fiction novels.  She takes the biblical tale of Ruth and re-sets it in 18th century Scotland, during the time of the 2nd Jacobite rebellion.  While I enjoyed this novel, it wasn't my favorite.  I find Higgs style of resetting biblical tales in other historical settings interesting, but not my favorite type of historical fiction.

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

I'm probably the last avid reader in America to read this book, especially since the movie based on the book came out in 2009.  I really think the movie producers under-estimated the American public by changing the ending.  Yes, the book's ending is shocking and gut-wrenching.  But who wants every book and movie to have a predictable and mushy ending?  But I digress - this isn't supposed to be a movie review.  The ending to this novel reminded me of this scripture:

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21.

Think Twice by Lisa Scottoline 

This is my 2nd Lisa Scottoline novel.  It was an enjoyable read, but not nearly as gripping as Look Again. 

From Fear to Freedom by Rose Marie Miller

This is the personal testimony of Rose Marie Miller.  Despite the little "Grace Glimpses" - bulleted teaching points and brief prayers at the end of each section, there's little instruction or substance which would make this book useful as a study or teaching resource.  It really is simply a personal testimony of an one woman's walk with Christ. 

   

Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult

Picoult weaves another gripping tale full of mind-numbing twists and turns.  Max and Zoe have been through the wringer in their attempts to conceive a child, and their last attempt at IVF ends in miscarriage.  The grief and strain ends their marriage.  Max finds solace for his grief when he finds faith in Christ & gets involved in an evangelical church.  Zoe finds solace for her grief through a new friendship which turns into a lesbian affair.  When Zoe and her lesbian partner begin talking about having children, and the topic of Zoe and Max's leftover frozen embryos comes up, a legal battle begins to brew...

If you are a Christian, you will probably not appreciate the picture Picoult paints of the church in this novel.  I don't think it's an entirely fair depiction, but I also think there are places and churches where what she describes could very well take place.  

Zoe is a music therapist and this book comes with an accompanying CD, with music written for the story by musician Ellen Weber - Lyrics by Picoult.  One song accompanies each section of the book. I did not listen to the cd with the book, because I got my copy from the library, and the cd envelope had not been opened yet.  But now, I kind of wish I had.  I think it would have been an interesting way to read the book. 

A Secret Gift by Ted Gup

On Monday morning, December 17, 1933, the following ad appeared in the Canton Repository of Canton, Ohio:

In Consideration Of The White Collar Man!

Suppose if I were confronted with an economic situation where the bread of tomorrow is the problem of today - there is a question in my mind if I would accept charity directly offered by welfare organizations.  I know there are hundreds of men that are confronted with economic problems and think, feel and act the same way.

To men or families in such a position the maker of this offer, who will remain unknown until the very end, will be glad if he is given an opportunity to help from 50 to 75 such families so they will be able to spend a merry and joyful Christmas. 

To such men or families that will request such financial aid, the writer pledges that their identity will never be revealed.  

Please write:  

B. Virdot.  

General Delivery,

Canton, Ohio.  

In writing, please familiarize me with your true circumstances and financial aid will promptly be sent.

That ad caused such a stir in the newsroom, that the editors wrote a front page story about the anonymous donor who was planning to give $750 & distribute it to up to 75 different families to help ease the pain of the Depression. Letters poured in to B. Virdot's address. 

In June, 1998, Ted Gup was back his hometown of Canton, visiting his mother on her 80th birthday.  During the visit she passed on to him some things that had belonged to his grandfather, including a suitcase full of "some old papers". The "old papers" turned out to be the letters that had been written in response to that 1933 ad.  Ted's grandfather, Sam Stone had been B. Virdot. In these letters, the writers pour out their stories of financial hardship, which they were much too proud to share with friends, neighbors, or even charities. The members of "The Greatest Generation" would not depend on anyone else to provide for their families and it was a source of shame to admit their need. These letters give a unique and personal picture of the depression and its impact on a small american town.  Some men were even too proud to respond to B. Virdot's ad, and their wives responded in secret. Many invited him to personally visit them to verify what they were saying about their personal circumstances. Of course, many were his neighbors and friends who would have been mortified to have ever revealed this to him, if they had known who he was.  In researching the book, Gup gives a profile of each family that wrote a letter, and then also follows up with the descendants to find out what's happened to the family in the generations since.  A fascinating, and highly recommended read!

Well, I guess I had more to say about these books than I thought.  I have one more review to do.  I just finished "The Confession" and I'm going to review it by itself.


Sojourner

52 Books in 52 Weeks.....Interrupted.....

I thought it would be easier to accomplish this goal in 2011 than it was in 2010, since I started 6 weeks late last year.  Well...think again, girl.  I'm further behind now than I was at this point last year.  


Back in February, some family challenges began to crop up that interrupted reading.  Ok, not all reading. It just crowded out a lot of my reading for pleasure, and caused me to temporarily put aside the goal of reading one book a week, and posting reviews, which is the hardest part of this challenge for me.  I really never thought it would take this long to get back to it.


A couple of weeks ago, I was just about ready to "get back on track", when a persistent pain in my lower right side kept me awake all night.  A doctor's appointment that next morning resulted in a trip to the hospital in order to have my appendix removed!  After that, I had two weeks of recovery and mandated rest, which gave me lots of reading time - finally!


So now, I have a stack of 10 books - several that I read over the last few months, and the rest that I read while I was recuperating, that I have read but have not reviewed.  Later today I intend to do very brief 1-2 sentence reviews of most of them in one post.  I have neither the time or inclination to do more than that.  But the most recent two that I read I will review more fully because I remember more about them.  


I'm currently reading Grisham's "The Confession", and I can tell this one won't take me long. The review  -in which I will get up on my soapbox about capital punishment and the current state of our justice system - might take longer to write than actually reading the book!


So, that should get me up to about 15 books by that time - I think?  I'll still be 10 books behind the goal, but with a 10 day trip back to the family farm in the wings, I may just get a few more out of the way.


But, sadly, the Well-Read Mind Challenge and 10 Classics challenge may just go by the wayside. I read "A Mid-Summer Night's Dream", and that's about it so far.  Maybe I can pick them back up in the fall. We'll see. Classics don't lend themselves to fast-paced reading or listening to an audio version while working around the house.


Look for a long post with pretty pictures of books, but few words, coming soon...


Sojourner